Strange/Unusual AC problems this summer

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Chris142

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As many of you know I work at a shop that specializes in Auto AC. This summer we had some weird failures.

1. Almost every Honda that came in had a bad Clutch coil. Nothing else wrong with the system and they worked great after I put a compressor on with a new coil.

2. Dodge Diesel fan clutches. Wont pull air @ idle. Quite the job to change out as they are electric and huge!

3.Dodge Challenger/Charger. Driver side blend door motor. Thankfully we have a young kid helping us as My boss and I are not limber enough to do this job.

5. Ford truck Condensers. All leaking in the corners. They seem fine on Monday. Come back on Thursday with green A/C dye puking out of every corner.

It's like the scenery never changes! Same jobs over and over,
 
Originally Posted by Chris142
5. Ford truck Condensers. All leaking in the corners. They seem fine on Monday. Come back on Thursday with green A/C dye puking out of every corner.


What about the 2015-2017 Mustangs with leaking evaporators? Seen any of them come in?
 
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
Originally Posted by Chris142
5. Ford truck Condensers. All leaking in the corners. They seem fine on Monday. Come back on Thursday with green A/C dye puking out of every corner.


What about the 2015-2017 Mustangs with leaking evaporators? Seen any of them come in?

Nope.
 
My Rav4 took 3 cans of refrigerant last summer. Put one can it in June and it's been ok all summer. Not ice cold air but cool enough that my wife didn't complain about it.
 
Originally Posted by Chris142
As many of you know I work at a shop that specializes in Auto AC. This summer we had some weird failures.

1. Almost every Honda that came in had a bad Clutch coil. Nothing else wrong with the system and they worked great after I put a compressor on with a new coil.

2. Dodge Diesel fan clutches. Wont pull air @ idle. Quite the job to change out as they are electric and huge!

3.Dodge Challenger/Charger. Driver side blend door motor. Thankfully we have a young kid helping us as My boss and I are not limber enough to do this job.

5. Ford truck Condensers. All leaking in the corners. They seem fine on Monday. Come back on Thursday with green A/C dye puking out of every corner.

It's like the scenery never changes! Same jobs over and over,


the more you do, the faster you get at it. more money in your pocket
 
Originally Posted by Chris142
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
Originally Posted by Chris142
5. Ford truck Condensers. All leaking in the corners. They seem fine on Monday. Come back on Thursday with green A/C dye puking out of every corner.


What about the 2015-2017 Mustangs with leaking evaporators? Seen any of them come in?

Nope.


Those would mostly still be under warranty. The amount we have done has slowed down a bit.
 
Originally Posted by Leo99
My Rav4 took 3 cans of refrigerant last summer. Put one can it in June and it's been ok all summer. Not ice cold air but cool enough that my wife didn't complain about it.

Have you added any oil?
 
Can the clutch coil just be replaced instead of the whole compressor on the Honda's. My civic cools great going down the road not so much sitting at a stop light. Clutch sounds a little noisy when it engages also. Symptoms sound familiar?
 
Originally Posted by bruckus
Can the clutch coil just be replaced instead of the whole compressor on the Honda's. My civic cools great going down the road not so much sitting at a stop light. Clutch sounds a little noisy when it engages also. Symptoms sound familiar?

When the clutch coil fails you have no magnet to engage the clutch so you have no AC what so ever.

The labor to R&R the compressor,buy a coil,labor to tear it apart to replace the coil is nearly the cost of a brand new compressor. We rarely replace coils these days since today's undersized compressor's with 80-100k on them are due to be replaced soon anyway.
 
Have you had to replace any condensers on 2014+ GM 1/2 tons? On one of the GM truck forums I visit their seems to be quite a few 2014+ Sierra/Silverado's with bad condensers. From what I have gathered their is a design issue that causes a crack which intern causes a leak. I guess OEM condensers where even hard to get for a period of time. I believe the updated the design so newer replacements shouldn't develop the leak.
 
Originally Posted by gonefishing
Have you had to replace any condensers on 2014+ GM 1/2 tons? On one of the GM truck forums I visit their seems to be quite a few 2014+ Sierra/Silverado's with bad condensers. From what I have gathered their is a design issue that causes a crack which intern causes a leak. I guess OEM condensers where even hard to get for a period of time. I believe the updated the design so newer replacements shouldn't develop the leak.


It affects Suburbans/Tahoes/Escalades, too.

There were a lot of angry people last year. Some were driving around their $90k Escalades the whole summer without A/C due to the condenser shortage.

We almost bought a new Tahoe last summer, and honestly this tipped the scale in favor of going another direction.
 
Last edited:
I'm interested to see the going rate to replace the compressor in the Honda's? Was told the clutch relay and compressor were shot in her Fit and almost fell over when they said how much it would be.
 
Originally Posted by Blue_Goose
I'm interested to see the going rate to replace the compressor in the Honda's? Was told the clutch relay and compressor were shot in her Fit and almost fell over when they said how much it would be.

If the compressor blew up and contaminated the system with metal your looking @$1500-$1800. All new parts,no rebuild garbage.
BTW today's condensers can't be flushed,must be replaced.

If just the coil quit your looking @ about 1/2 that.
 
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