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Old 05-24-2005, 03:45 PM   #1
cliffhanger
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>300WHP White/Silv Cruck

Default a/c problems...

anyone else having/had problems with their a/c? i heard that it was a real problem for subaru... my a/c just died on thursday, she's going to the shop on wednesday hopefully. it actually gets hotter when i hit the a/c button!
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Old 05-24-2005, 05:05 PM   #2
opimax
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I asked the Subaru rep about the A/C today , nothing unusual he said , also the brakes , should last 40k, acted like the he never heard the A/C was a problem....

Mark
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Old 05-24-2005, 05:30 PM   #3
2003Baja
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only problem I had was after removing the whole DIN and disconnecting the cable for the A/C I didnt reposition it correctly so even though I set it for cold, it was more or less in the middle.

Fault was on me.
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Old 05-24-2005, 05:35 PM   #4
mjalex007
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Only problem here in New England is that we haven't had a chance to find out whether there is anything wrong with the A/C. Man, the weather has sucked since last November...
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Old 05-24-2005, 06:46 PM   #5
Chris N
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjalex007
Only problem here in New England is that we haven't had a chance to find out whether there is anything wrong with the A/C. Man, the weather has sucked since last November...
?The New England Bajas came with AC?



getting pretty sick of this cold rain. Can't remember when I saw the sun.
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Old 05-24-2005, 07:56 PM   #6
cliffhanger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2003Baja
only problem I had was after removing the whole DIN and disconnecting the cable for the A/C I didnt reposition it correctly so even though I set it for cold, it was more or less in the middle.

Fault was on me.
i removed the din too, guess ill check that first and hope it was my fault! thx!
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Old 05-24-2005, 10:17 PM   #7
mbaksic
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I haven't had any probs yet. But it has been cooler out here in cheeseland, so I have not tried to use it yet. Should be ok though, since it has not given me any prob yet. Mike
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Old 05-25-2005, 11:23 AM   #8
Guzzler
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Any way to make the A/C colder?!?!?! Living in the desert southwest, I use my A/C 10 months out of the year
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Old 05-25-2005, 07:54 PM   #9
starfox101
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Just got mine back late this afternoon,blew out 2 seals. Last month I had the dealer install the sub, they messed up the controls, had full heat for the weekend.

05 Baja just over 5000 miles.
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Old 05-25-2005, 10:16 PM   #10
baja03
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i got 27000 miles on mine but the only thing i noticed is that it takes about 10 min. to cool down after it has been sitting in the sun here in houston
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Old 05-26-2005, 06:08 AM   #11
Chris N
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guzzler
Any way to make the A/C colder?!?!?! Living in the desert southwest, I use my A/C 10 months out of the year
The AC system relys on a delicate balance of R-134a (refigerant). If theres too much or too little it wont be as warm as it should be. But, R-134a isn't as effective as R-12 (old refrigerant that eats the ozone) so freezing cold temps can't be achieved like the old days.


Stick a digital thermometer in your center vent and put the blower on 3rd speed with the AC on. Usually vent out put temps will drop to aprox. 45 degrees. If you think its not cold enough bring it to your dealer and let them know. I don't know what Subaru's minimum requirement is but Saturn's is 45 degrees after 5 minutes of driving, and usually most systems get down around 40 degrees.
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Old 05-26-2005, 09:38 AM   #12
braveit1
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I think I use my AC almost year round. haven't had a problem with my '03 AC since I got it.
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Old 05-29-2005, 05:49 PM   #13
10.5sec1992AWDtalon
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Mine is still working fine. 2003 with 30,000 miles.
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Old 06-11-2007, 04:10 PM   #14
pdiz
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Mine never really felt too cool from the factory to begin and after 40K it has completely crapped out. No mods done to the DIN or anything. I have no clue what's wrong with it. Fans just blow hot vented air into the cabin. Very annoying. Is A/C still under warranty at 40K?
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Old 06-11-2007, 08:18 PM   #15
Hawk296
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Mine had a condenser replaced under warranty. For some reason they just couldn't get the o-ring to seal. Works fine now.
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Old 06-12-2007, 12:48 PM   #16
moonzie
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I've had a problem with my AC refridgerant leaking out of the system. Not sure where exactly it's leaking yet but I'm keeping an eye on it. You can re-charge the AC with one of those R134a recharge kits at autozone or advanced auto parts - $20. Real easy. The low side service port of your Baja's AC is up close to the firewall - real easy to see and get to; it's got a blue cap on it.

The trick is to pull back on those AC 134A recharge kits and push it on the line good and hard. When seating it on mine, I pushed the aluminum line back at least an inch for it to seat in properly.

In my experience, the most common place for an automotive AC system to leak will be around the compressor - usually a gasket that's leaking either on the high or low side. You can buy a UV-light dye kit or clean the lines and areas around the compressor real real clean and check every now and then for an oily dirty buildup somewhere. If you see a spot that looks like dirt accumulated around oil - your leak is very close to that spot. It's refridgerant oil leaking out with your refridgerant. Don't worry if you've lost some oil though - it's usually not that big of a deal.
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Old 06-12-2007, 04:54 PM   #17
seanr2
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Knock on wood... but I never had a problem with my AC (127000 miles) still blows cold and strong.
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Old 06-13-2007, 10:10 AM   #18
pdiz
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moonzie View Post
I've had a problem with my AC refridgerant leaking out of the system. Not sure where exactly it's leaking yet but I'm keeping an eye on it. You can re-charge the AC with one of those R134a recharge kits at autozone or advanced auto parts - $20. Real easy. The low side service port of your Baja's AC is up close to the firewall - real easy to see and get to; it's got a blue cap on it.

The trick is to pull back on those AC 134A recharge kits and push it on the line good and hard. When seating it on mine, I pushed the aluminum line back at least an inch for it to seat in properly.

In my experience, the most common place for an automotive AC system to leak will be around the compressor - usually a gasket that's leaking either on the high or low side. You can buy a UV-light dye kit or clean the lines and areas around the compressor real real clean and check every now and then for an oily dirty buildup somewhere. If you see a spot that looks like dirt accumulated around oil - your leak is very close to that spot. It's refridgerant oil leaking out with your refridgerant. Don't worry if you've lost some oil though - it's usually not that big of a deal.
Thanks, I'm gonna try to charge it after I find out of it's leaking first. I can hear a really weird whistling/whine/roar type sound when I run the A/C that comes and goes, but mostly is not there. Of course, it's just hot air now, so no point in running it, but that's what I hear.
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Old 06-13-2007, 10:26 AM   #19
moonzie
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pdiz View Post
Thanks, I'm gonna try to charge it after I find out of it's leaking first. I can hear a really weird whistling/whine/roar type sound when I run the A/C that comes and goes, but mostly is not there. Of course, it's just hot air now, so no point in running it, but that's what I hear.
Yup. When I was low on refridgerant I heard a whistling sound coming from the dash too. Most like because I was so low on freon so the liquid was more of a thick vapor than a liquid. You're low. Fill'er up!
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Old 06-13-2007, 12:56 PM   #20
Kev5n24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by seanr2 View Post
Knock on wood... but I never had a problem with my AC (127000 miles) still blows cold and strong.
127K and you've never even needed to fill it up? Holy shhhit is Collegeville Pa anywhere near Antarctica?
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Old 06-14-2007, 11:59 PM   #21
pdiz
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moonzie View Post
Yup. When I was low on refridgerant I heard a whistling sound coming from the dash too. Most like because I was so low on freon so the liquid was more of a thick vapor than a liquid. You're low. Fill'er up!
I filled it up today with just a small can of R134a (unfortunately, no gauge) and it seems to be blowing cold now! :-) I'm sure there's a leak somewhere, but hopefully it'll last a while.
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Old 06-15-2007, 12:06 AM   #22
moonzie
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I think the AC system takes somewhere around 22 or 24oz of freon. I emptied an entire 18oz can (a big one) and that put it right at about where it should have been. Those smaller cans only have about 12oz in them, so you may want to put another can in it. The labels under the hood indicate how much refrigerant the system needs.
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Old 06-15-2007, 10:03 AM   #23
pdiz
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moonzie View Post
I think the AC system takes somewhere around 22 or 24oz of freon. I emptied an entire 18oz can (a big one) and that put it right at about where it should have been. Those smaller cans only have about 12oz in them, so you may want to put another can in it. The labels under the hood indicate how much refrigerant the system needs.
Well I don't know how much was already in the system, so I really need to buy a gauge, but it blows pretty cold for now so I'm not going to worry about it just yet. But anyway, doesn't it seem odd to anyone else that we have to recharge it at all? Obviously it has a leak somewhere, or was undercharged from the factory. I guess time will tell since I just recharged mine.

I had a Miata I bought new in '93 and when I sold it two years ago, the A/C was still working great. Same with my girlfriend's '01 Kia Rio. I just don't know about Subaru quality. Don't mean to troll, I really like my Baja, but there's been several other common issues (driver's door weatherstrip, lower radiator hose leak, etc.) and when I try to take it to the dealer (when it was under warranty), there was always some lame excuse (the weatherstrip is the "turbo warning system" warning you to slow down as the turbo's breaking in, that's why it buzzes at speed). Lame!
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Old 06-15-2007, 10:48 AM   #24
downhilbil
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I did have two probs with it early 2K miles 1. the vents wouldn't stay in place and the other was not cold enough. It was overcharged from the factory. They let some out and has been good ever since now have 40K miles. Today its 108 degrees here and mine is working fine as well as my wrx although the wrx seems to be much cooler faster
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Old 06-15-2007, 11:26 AM   #25
moonzie
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pdiz View Post
Well I don't know how much was already in the system, so I really need to buy a gauge, but it blows pretty cold for now so I'm not going to worry about it just yet. But anyway, doesn't it seem odd to anyone else that we have to recharge it at all? Obviously it has a leak somewhere, or was undercharged from the factory. I guess time will tell since I just recharged mine.

I had a Miata I bought new in '93 and when I sold it two years ago, the A/C was still working great. Same with my girlfriend's '01 Kia Rio. I just don't know about Subaru quality. Don't mean to troll, I really like my Baja, but there's been several other common issues (driver's door weatherstrip, lower radiator hose leak, etc.) and when I try to take it to the dealer (when it was under warranty), there was always some lame excuse (the weatherstrip is the "turbo warning system" warning you to slow down as the turbo's breaking in, that's why it buzzes at speed). Lame!
Eh, it doesn't surprise me. Seeing how many other folks now that seem to have the problem I'm somewhat cynical now of the A/C system on Subarus. More than likely you've got a leak somewhere and you're not the only one.

I checked with advanced auto parts and they can order Subaru Baja specific AC gasket kits (ALL gaskets) for $18.

I noticed a spot that I suspect might possibly be leaking refridgerant on the driver side of the radiator. Cleaned it. Will keep an eye on it.
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