New Cayman AC not working - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

I got my Cayman GTS 4.0 new in late October 2022 and barely used it over winter. Come April time I (about 300 miles in) I noticed the air conditioning wasn’t particularly cold. I just assumed it wasn’t warm enough outside (probably a 20deg C day). As the “summer” has gone on it definitely isn’t working properly, the car is now on 1400 miles. When the AC button is on there is a fairly loud noise so something is working (sounds like compressor but louder than normal) but no cold air. There is arguably a little cold air on the two left hand vents but it doesn’t cool the cabin when it’s above about 20 deg C. I’ve tried adjusting settings but it’s still not working. The car is booked in with the OPC on Monday, but I’m hoping they don’t blame condenser damage, I cannot see how this would be possible as I suspect it’s never worked. If relevant it’s the upgraded climate control. Anyone had similar issues? Cheers Edited by matt21 on Wednesday 9th August 21:48

Have you gone into settings via the MFD and checked its not set on airflow 'low'?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z29rXtrvAKM

Yeah, makes no difference unfortunately whether it’s on low, medium or high except adjusting fan speed Edited by matt21 on Wednesday 9th August 22:54

Had the same problem, hissing / strange noise whilst turned on, topped up the gas and all is good.

That’s it, strange that it’s done it from new. Maybe not topped up properly at the factory? Did you have a leak?

Don't think there is a leak, topped up about 5 weeks ago and pressure is still ok.

It's always advisable to use AC all year round. If you have climate control (not the cheaper base manual control settings) the 'default' for AC is 'On'. Lack of use only goes one way. I've run an Audi that up to 18yrs old didn't require an AC regas. My GT4 is 8yrs in and it's most recent health check at OPC confrmed the AC pressure was fine. The car is normally SORN over winter so doesn't get used for 5 months and this seems to have no detrimental effect. Can't say I notice the AC being noisy when it's on.

matt21 said: I got my Cayman GTS 4.0 new in late October 2022 and barely used it over winter. Come April time I (about 300 miles in) I noticed the air conditioning wasn’t particularly cold. I just assumed it wasn’t warm enough outside (probably a 20deg C day). As the “summer” has gone on it definitely isn’t working properly, the car is now on 1400 miles. When the AC button is on there is a fairly loud noise so something is working (sounds like compressor but louder than normal) but no cold air. There is arguably a little cold air on the two left hand vents but it doesn’t cool the cabin when it’s above about 20 deg C. I’ve tried adjusting settings but it’s still not working. The car is booked in with the OPC on Monday, but I’m hoping they don’t blame condenser damage, I cannot see how this would be possible as I suspect it’s never worked. If relevant it’s the upgraded climate control. Anyone had similar issues? Cheers Edited by matt21 on Wednesday 9th August 21:48 Similar, but not the same. I had a new 718 Cayman 2.0 in November 2021. The air-con was always noisy compared to my previous 718 from new, but it took me a while to figure out that it actually was the air-con making strange ticking and groaning noises when pulling up at a junction. Not loud, and given that I only really bought the car for winter, the air-con never got to do a lot of work cooling the car, I never really found out if it could cool the car on a properly hot day. (Was climate control version, and was never actually switched off). I sold the car back to the OPC I bought it from a couple of months back, with slightly noisy air-con still listed as a known issue. I'm pretty sure it had never been fully gassed up and bled properly from new, and that a top up will likely eliminate the issue entirely. My new Cayman GTS 4.0 is due to land in the UK this week (might already be here, but holding off for the new reg date anyway). Useful to know that the bigger engine cars might have similar issues. Fingers crossed! Liam Edited by LiamH66 on Saturday 12th August 22:01

I've adjusted my reply above for clarity. My GT4 is just coming up to 7 1/2 years old now, and the air-con is not noticeably noisy, and works really well. Liam

My 987 lost it gas due to a leak, OPC was tasked to fix it they only re-gassed it so again it was not working properly, if the system is gurgling i.e. you can hear the liquid bubbling allong the pipes there's not enough gas in the system, car AC systems should be silent when running, finally the leak was traced in mine and is working well...nice and cold. If your cars AC is not working and has no gas don't just let them re-gas it, it has to be fully investigated for leaks.

Klippie said: If your cars AC is not working and has no gas don't just let them re-gas it, it has to be fully investigated for leaks. The gassing process machine usually evacuates any remaining gas in the system and checks for a leak under vacuum. Only then will they re-gas it. I believe there are environmental regulations about letting AC gas escape to the atmosphere (anyone who is of the woke persuasion will no doubt know the exact law) hence they need to establish the system is sealed beforehand. It's an automated process, the only thing the 'technician' has to do is connect the pipes, dial in the car make/model and press a button. Kwik-Fit et al do it for a third of the price and straight refund if there is a leak.

100% correct but they didn't find the leak on mine till I pressed the issue, I'am not convinced these all in one machines are the best option. Getting in a local AC engineer to fault check the car is the way to go, these guys have wealth of knowledge plus industrial grade vaccum pumps to draw down the lines properly, I had one check over an AC system I rebuilt, he pressure tested, vacc'd and re-gassed the system it ran ice cold for years.

My late 22 BGTS had the AC fail about a month ago. It worked from new but it had remained off for several months. On a really hot day in July went to use it and OPC regassed it with dye and it leaked out after 24hrs. Traced to a faulty LP pipe. Apparantly quite a work-up to replace including one inlet manifold removal ! All good now.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Did 280 miles in it yesterday with no AC, luckily wasn't too hot but can't wait to get it sorted. Its going in today.

the OPC refused to repair my AC under warranty (also cayman, <1 year old) because I wasn't using one of the Porsche approved air suppliers for it.

Car is back and has working AC. Apparently the gas needed topping up, as someone had said here. Suspect it never got topped up properly from the factory.

matt21 said: Car is back and has working AC. Apparently the gas needed topping up, as someone had said here. Suspect it never got topped up properly from the factory. Ask if they emptied it ( thus measures the weight ) and conducted a 20 min hold vacuum test , which checks for leaks ? Otherwise you will back very soon if it’s leaking out .ie the factory did fill it correctly.

They said they checked for leaks and none were discovered. Will see if it holds up.