Aircon not working?

So, summer seems to be lurking around the corner and took the car out for a spin last weekend. Having driven with the windows down and the sun roof up, it was time to get the aircon running. Had been driving for a while and set the temp to 19dgrC and then to LO as per the display. The stream of air coming out of the system was powerful enough, but there was just no difference in the temperature no matter what it was set to (hot air worked well though). This in turn meant that the flow of air never came down as I guess the temp sensors didn't register any difference in the temp in the cabin So, I gather I need to have it "re-compressed" or could it be the radiator or something third? Is this a costly affair and how long would it take my Porsche garage to fix would you figure? Do I have to have such a thing fixed at Porsche or would an indy garage do it just as well (who deals with Porsches)? Thanks

Sounds like a simple recharge of the system with R-34 or whatever you have to use in Europe. Mine was not blowing as cold as it used to last week and I just topped it off with R-34. It is icy cold now. Hopefully there are no leaks in your aircon system.

Be aware though, that an A/C system should not be leaking in the first place. Adding refrigerant means the system is leaking in some manner.

Is the compressor clutch engaging at all when you turn ON the a/c? If not, you can check the fuse (need to look up which one though). Most standard procedure is for the shop to diagnose it (there are quiet a few sensors) and if the freon is low, they will vacuum it to make sure it holds vacuum, then refill. If they suspect a leak (e.g., system not holding vacuum), they will do a leak test. Could use dye and/or eletronic sniffer. In any case, should be about 1hr + material to recharge the system. And more hrs if futher leak test is needed. As long as the Indy works on Porsche cars, they should have Durametric or similar that can allow them to diagnose the problem quicker. If there's a leak, still need physically check for leaks (more labors).

Does it blow cold air when the car is moving, but then warm air when idling? If so, then your radiator fan or fans could be bad. Sometimes it's just a relay, sometimes the fan motor wears out. This is a fairly common issue on the 996 and the two most common symptoms are: air-conditioning not working when the vehicle is stopped and temperature running hotter than usual when the vehicle is stopped or moving slowly, such as a traffic jam.

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Hi Dennis C, There is no change in the fan speed and everything seems fine except for no cold air. I'd say that the temperature of the air is the same as that of outside and there's no difference if the car is moving or not. Basically, it's just like the old days before we got the luxury of car air con, just the fan (aircon didn't quite make it in Europe until much later than our dear US cousins got it)...

Frank - just pulled a google.ch search for klimaanlagenwartung and found possibilities there, including ATU, who has a location not terribly far from you, offering their service for circa 93 franc. I've dealt with them in Germany occasionally, and my limited experience was ok. Oddly enough (at least in Germany) the mobile a.c. service that comes to you with all the tools, equipment, etc. on board in a small van is often cheaper than bringing the car in to a shop (less overhead?). They have the capability to test for & repair typical leaks, evacuate the system & replace the gas & oil in the proper amounts. If you want to do a little troubleshooting on your own, first (as mentioned in the posts above) eliminate any electrical issue, then give it a huff of R134 containing dye through the low pressure side to see if the low pressure cut-off switch then lets your compressor engage, which will tell you that it's a leak & perhaps where it is. Good luck!

Thanks for the tip Mark I . Highly appreciated

OK, so I decided to have the job done at Porsche close to where I live as I want them to check other things on the car as well while at it. I just asked for "fun" how much it would cost to only get the freon topped up and was told around CHF 300-400 (USD 320 - 425)... Now I understand why people say it can be expensive to own a 911, but IMO it's worth every single penny So, booked a time in two weeks time... Will keep the post updated.

Wow! I had mine evacuated and fully recharged last year for $150 US by an A/C specialist.

Took my 1999 996 Cab in to my local shop (not dealer) and they diagnosed the problem as evaporator and valve need replacing (part #99657390102). Cost is $1885 for labor and $1041 for parts plus another $238 to recharge with 1LB of freon and adding refrigerant oil. They explained that the entire dashboard had to be removed to do this job. Has anyone else had this failure? Is this cost reasonable?

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Yes, it is reasonable. Last year had to have the AC fixed on the Mini Cooper. New compressor, evap coil, dryer, condenser, basically everything on the AC system. It takes some really specialized equipment to charge the AC system with nitrogen and then freon and refrigerant oil. Total Cost with labor $3100. The AC system is not DIY in your garage, not if you want it done right. On the Mini, the entire front end has to be put in the service mode, meaning the entire front framework of the engine bay needs to come out, everything from the bumper back. I've done that before to service the water pump and friction wheel and motor mounts. Took me 3 days in my garage. The indy shop had everything done on the AC system in one (1) day! Worth the cost IMHO. As said, you cannot do this service yourself so you just have to pay up. Never have had to mess with the AC system on my 99 996. Still blowing cold air after 21 years and 95 degree hot days in Florida.

Thanks for your quick response...I'll start saving up for it now!

I'm facing the same situation, my a/c evap needs to be replaced, and the blend doors foam is also starting to come off. I'm going to start this week and see how it goes. Thinking about removing the dash make my back ache already.