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Last summer, I had working A/C -- for a little while anyway. On hot days, it would cut out after a little while, and not work again until much later that day, or the next day.
Flash forward to this year -- now, when I turn on the A/c, my idle jumps up to 2500, then drops to 1500. No cold air, but there is a drying effect to using it. Any thoughts? My immediate thought is the compressor clutch is going or gone.
98 Silver Frost SVT
97 BMW 540I Sport, six speed
"Blue is for sky, black is for soil, and white is for simplicity, purity and hope for the future"
"A coveted car should never stunt your life, but should make it more rich and interesting."
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I was having the same issue, so I took it to my buddies shop. He filled it back up and the problem went away. Most likely a leak somewhere. Going to tackle it this year.
"Speak English... I am speaking Engrish..."
Steve Chang
99 Silver SVT Contour #196 (Garaged)
06 Dark Blue Pearl Fusion SE V6 (Daily)
05 Dark Shadow Grey Freestyle Limited AWD
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Well, hopefully I'll get a more permanent solution: the regs in Canada are far more stringent than those in the US, and I am not sure if I can simply do that. Of course if it has a dye charge in it to find the leak...... 
98 Silver Frost SVT
97 BMW 540I Sport, six speed
"Blue is for sky, black is for soil, and white is for simplicity, purity and hope for the future"
"A coveted car should never stunt your life, but should make it more rich and interesting."
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Originally posted by Phil Rohtla:
Well, hopefully I'll get a more permanent solution: the regs in Canada are far more stringent than those in the US, and I am not sure if I can simply do that.
Of course if it has a dye charge in it to find the leak......
wal-mart now sells 3oz dye charges that can be used on the low pressure side of the system
as for where the leak is, check the accumulator/dryer the foam traps moisture and it will rust through, this happened to my 99, system wouldn't even turn on because the pressure was to low
- 95 Mystique LS - Zetec/5spd
- 99 Contour SeVT Sport - Duratec/5spd
Official NE-CEG Contour/Mustang Family
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Possible that you have lost refrigerant and the low pressure switch is shutting down the compressor to protect it.
Check the accumulator (receiver/dryer) located lower, left of the radiator. Prior to '99 Ford wrapped it in an insulaing blanket that trapped moisture and caused it to deteriorate. Cut the insulation off and see if it is rusted through. Cost me about $75 US for the part and a couple of cans of refrigerant. If you don't have access to a vacuum pump to evacuate the system, you want to have it done by a pro.
Replaced mine a couple of years ago and it has been fine since.
AL
Red '98 SVT E0 3098/6535
DMD
other stuff
and a Bullitt fuel door
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Originally posted by BrApple:
wal-mart now sells 3oz dye charges that can be used on the low pressure side of the system
I don't think that they can sell them in Canada. R134a is controlled up here, and you can't buy it unless you are "certified" in its use. Been law here since 1992 to discourage people from recharging leaky systems. Also works to keep people from selling cars with working a/c that stops working in a couple of weeks.
And I have thought about the problem being the accumulator, given the problems that they cause. I posted over to ackits.com forums, and the a/c clutch has been suggested as a possible source of the problem.
Last edited by Phil Rohtla; 05/30/06 07:14 PM.
98 Silver Frost SVT
97 BMW 540I Sport, six speed
"Blue is for sky, black is for soil, and white is for simplicity, purity and hope for the future"
"A coveted car should never stunt your life, but should make it more rich and interesting."
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Yeah, mine does that, too (idle jumping 2500 to 1500rpm), but the compressor doesn't run. Even after I put a can of refrigerant in it. The A/C is nice and cold when the car is moving, but the idle performance sucks. It's almost like the car thinks the compressor is running and the idle compensates, but the compressor never engages.
Does anyone know if there's a relay that controls the compressor clutch?
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Parts source has the r134a -$14.99 /can or a kit with 1 can freon,1 stop leak and all the hoses and adapters to do it for $79.99. At least they do in the GTA. 
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If you mean the Duracool stuff, it isn't R134a. It's a hydrocarbon-based coolant, likely butane or propane. http://www.duracool.com/Duracool/faqs.html
98 Silver Frost SVT
97 BMW 540I Sport, six speed
"Blue is for sky, black is for soil, and white is for simplicity, purity and hope for the future"
"A coveted car should never stunt your life, but should make it more rich and interesting."
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No...it's R134a.By the single can or in the kit.
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