A/C Question

[Eric Moore]

Started up the car yesterday morning...and noticed that I had no a/c. So I figured I'm probably out of refrigerant (Retro-fitted to R134). Tried to recharge it, and about a few seconds after charging, all of the refrigerant I added seemed like it was blowing out of some kind of pressure relief valve or something on the bottom side of the compressor/condensor. Somebody mind trying to give me a hand with this one? I dont know much about a/c units. This is in the 4 cyl SOHC atx if that matters. Damnit its fuggin hot down here in south florida without a/c right now!!!!

[perhapsadingo8yerbaby]

I'm no a\c expert but it sounds as though you have a leaky compressor unit. South Fla. in the summer-ouch. You could try adding sealant to the system but if it's that loud it's probably too big a leak to be fixed that way. Worth getting it looked at by a shop. They should be able to tell ya in a heartbeat. If you end up having to replace the compressor, figure on replacing the receiver/dryer canister as well as I believe that is pretty standard practice.

[Eric Moore]

I think I figured it out...theres a small valve on the right hand side and below the compressor as you look at it from the front of the car. Thats where the refrigerant was coming from. I took it off and inside it looked like it had a small crack on the valve portion itself. Tried to to a cheap fix just to see if that was the problem with some JB Weld and some B sealant. It worked for a little bit. but the pressure eventually broke through that (of course). Now I just have to figure out what the heck the name of the part is. Unfortunatly I'll probably have to go through Mazda to get my hands on a replacement. Unless by some chance somebody out there has a junked 4 cyl that I can get the part off of cheaply (preferrably free ) If somebody does, give me a shout and I'll gladly handle the shipping and all.

[perhapsadingo8yerbaby]

Their are a few different "valves" on the compressor. According to my Mazda shop manual (for a 95 but should be the same or close for a 134 retrofitted 93?), you are probably seeing the "pressure relief valve" based on your described location. You could always go into a dealer and have them pull the compressor diagram up on screen, get the price & availability, then tell em you'll think about it-leave and try to find it cheaper elsewhere. Not an honorable approach but definitely does work... uhhh... so I've been told

[Eric Moore]

Thats what I was figuring it was. I just dread dealing with Mazda at times...gives me a bad cas of the runs...or somethin like that...