A/C problems

MISSYHINKLE

MEMBER
1997 SATURN SL2
199,898 MILES

How do I know what is wrong with my a/c my a/c blows hot air now I very seldom use it last year I had no probs but this year my a/c isnt working I took it to a local mechanic and they said I need a new compressor and that will cost 500 bucks to fix I really dont trust mechanic I have wen to a few places that has ripped me off just so they can make a few bucks cause I guess with me being a girl they can screw me out of a few bucks cuz I dont know anything about vehicle I dont think it is I wanted them to recharge my a/c for me assuming that is wrong my a/c is not making noise when I turn it on it just blows hot air my dad and my boyfriend and his parents dont think its the compressor but how do I know if it is or not

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

So did you just have it recharged and they told you it needed a new compressor?If thats the case then you will need to get a set of R134a gauges and hook it up and turn on the a/c you said your compressor is coming on. If the gauges read equal pressure high and low side with the compressor running then you have a bad compressor. All of those cars with bad compressors that is what I have seen equal pressure high and low side with the compressor running. You can't tell if its bad or good by sound etc its all about the pressure readings. Let me know what you find and if you have any more questions feel free to ask.

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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 AT 2:17 AM

MISSYHINKLE

MEMBER
20 POSTS

I went into the mechanic I told them I think my a/c needed to be recharged I only wanted it recharge at the saem time I was dpoing my state inspection so I had them look at my a/c as well and when they were done with the state inspection they said that I needed a compressor when I turn on my a/c it does not make any noise or anything it just blows hot air my boyfriend dad said that he could look at my car and put some stuff in the lines to see if there is a hole in the line I don know what he said it was but also off the subject I got my car back in 2006 but ever since I got it when I turn the key to turn it on it trys to start but doesnt officially turn on the way it should my car acts like it wants to start but doesnt official initiate I have to turn the key off and then try to restart my car sometime I have to do that 2 or 3 time I know its not the starter cuz I replaced that I hear it may be a fuel pump or maybe the ignition its self

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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 AT 2:57 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

So was it ever charged by that shop?Or did they just hook up a gauge set and tell you it needed a compressor?You cant just add charge to the a/c Without checking stuff or you could end up overcharging the system and wasting money and still have the a/c inop. So when you turn on the a/c does the compressor come on?The first thing I would do is check the pressures high and low hook up a gauge set and see what the pressures are with the a/c compressor off and with it on. As far as your starting concern goes the car cranks ok but you have to cycle the key several times to start it?If so then it sounds like your fuel pump is bleeding down those 1997 saturns are known for that I have a ton of those bleed down. If you hook up a fuel pressure gauge turn the key on a few times and see what the gauge reads if its bleeding down you will the pressure drop fast. If it does you have a bad fuel pump. Those cars are also known for bad coolant temp sensors going bad causing starting concerns and all kinds of other symptoms also the coolant temp sensor connectors get corroded.

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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 AT 3:22 AM

MISSYHINKLE

MEMBER
20 POSTS

That I dont know my mom took my car in because I had to work I dont know if they hooked something to it I told my mom I think my a/c needs to be recharged and she told the mechanic to recharge it and thn 5 mins later they said needs a new compressor I wasnt there to see what and if they did anything to my car I had a feeling that it could be my fuel pump I will have to have that checked out when I get the extra money to fix it cause when I even put my foot on the gas pedal it still dont help it start faster go figure my first car I ever owned is this car and its always one thing or another lol and there hard to find parts from the junk yard cuz a few yrs ago I had a oil leak I was not aware of at the time and my whole engine needed to be replace it took forever to find another engine and it cost me 2 grand to get an engine in my car lol I will have to check that out I have a few friends who works on cars that may be able to figure what is wrong the only prob is they are always out of town or something lol

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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 AT 5:26 AM

SATURNTECH9