Yesterday was the first really warm day of the year here in Northern California - I drove home 40 miles with the a/c working fine.
But, today it doesn't work at all - I can't hear the compressor kicking on, I see a telltale streak of "something" on the gravel under the left-engine bay underside where I parked when I got home.
I live at the top of a really steep hill, so I'm guessing something bad happened climbing the hill, it puked out the a/c fluid at the top, and now I have low fluid pressure.
Checking around the engine bay this afternoon:
- On the left side engine bay all I'm aware of are the unions into the a/c radiator - and both look tight with no tell-tale green stuff sprayed out. But that could be misleading, the bottom one is hard to get a good view.
- I can see one or two drips of green liquid formed under the left driveshaft. I would have guessed coolant dripping from coolant reservoir underside, but maybe a/c fluid?
- the a/c fuses all look fine - the big 40A one behind the firewall and the 10A ones in the fuseboxes
- lines on rear of compressor all look clean and dry
- same for components on right fender and in front of passenger windshield - all dry
So questions:
- if the fluid pressure is low, does that stop the compressor kicking on?
- if the engine suddenly ran hot (climbing final hill) could that cause extra pressure in the a/c fluid somehow and trigger a leak?
- is there anything other than radiator unions on the left side of the engine bay that is a/c related?
- does a/c fluid vanish when it leaks? or should I see telltale signs?
- any tips for a/c system sealing? where to look for most common leaks etc.
Thanks for any leads,
-Richard
Santa Cruz, CA
But, today it doesn't work at all - I can't hear the compressor kicking on, I see a telltale streak of "something" on the gravel under the left-engine bay underside where I parked when I got home.
I live at the top of a really steep hill, so I'm guessing something bad happened climbing the hill, it puked out the a/c fluid at the top, and now I have low fluid pressure.
Checking around the engine bay this afternoon:
- On the left side engine bay all I'm aware of are the unions into the a/c radiator - and both look tight with no tell-tale green stuff sprayed out. But that could be misleading, the bottom one is hard to get a good view.
- I can see one or two drips of green liquid formed under the left driveshaft. I would have guessed coolant dripping from coolant reservoir underside, but maybe a/c fluid?
- the a/c fuses all look fine - the big 40A one behind the firewall and the 10A ones in the fuseboxes
- lines on rear of compressor all look clean and dry
- same for components on right fender and in front of passenger windshield - all dry
So questions:
- if the fluid pressure is low, does that stop the compressor kicking on?
- if the engine suddenly ran hot (climbing final hill) could that cause extra pressure in the a/c fluid somehow and trigger a leak?
- is there anything other than radiator unions on the left side of the engine bay that is a/c related?
- does a/c fluid vanish when it leaks? or should I see telltale signs?
- any tips for a/c system sealing? where to look for most common leaks etc.
Thanks for any leads,
-Richard
Santa Cruz, CA