'99 Pontiac Sunfire with A/C problem. . . .?

Question

Hi! Here's the deal: I have a Sunfire with a constant air conditioning problem. It has been taken to a mechanic several times, and they can't seem to get the problem fixed. The first time the a/c died, they refilled/recharged it, and it worked for a little while. At least until the end of that summer. The next summer it was taken in, refilled/recharged, and it only worked for a couple weeks. Eventually the compressor was replaced and they have put dye in it several times to find a leak, but there is no leak, and it's charged and filled. I believe after the compressor was replaced that it worked for a couple weeks.

It blows air just fine, but the temperature of that air is just about equal to what's outside the car. The thing is an oven in the summer, and nothing (sun shields, rolled down windows, parking in the shade) is enough to cool it down to a comfortable enough level for just going to the store down the street without baking myself alive.

Any ideas what on what could be wrong?

Answer 1

I hope first of all your not taking the car back to the same mechanic every time. I had the same thing happen to me on an old car of mine. they took the compressor out tried to clean it and fix it and then stick back in, and charged me for a new compressor. It worked for about a week and then it died. We took it to another mechanic that was a good friend of my fathers and he told me what they did.

Answer 2

You just had a bad experience with that a/c mechanic. The evaporator box is located under your dash on the passengers side. If the mechanic has x-ray vision he could see the dye.
My advice would be to find a new a/c mechanic and have him/her charge your system with just air and check the gauges to see how fast or slow the leak is. There is a o-ring kit for your car that they may have replaced or not.

I would say your leak is in your evaporator box.

Answer 3

Sounds like a leak somewhere---try a different a/c shop---should not be a problem diagnosing a/c problems or checking for leaks---have them do a vacuum hold test where they apply vacuum to the system for 45-60 minutes to test for leakage and do a dye or sniffer test if it does not hold vacuum. R134 systems may tend to leak more than the old R12 systems because the molecules of R134 gas are much smaller and harder to seal properly...may have to replace all the seals on a 8 year old car.
This site http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/ has recommended shops in many areas or try AAA or BBB for recommendations.