A/C working only intermittently for past several years..

Car: Subaru, Forester, 1999 - Back to Fix-It - Subaru Repair Manuals

Q.99 Forester - Air Conditioning working only intermittently for past several years - Dealer service "fixes" it for a few minutes, maybe until I get home, maybe a few days.
May work ok for a couple of weeks, then not for a couple of weeks (short trips around town). Generally starts working after highway driving about 40 minutes to an hour - may or may not last all of a given trip. A/C switch appears to function ok, indicator light always illuminated when switch is depressed. No real pattern to when it starts working - starting working once when I cycled power, a couple of time after bump in the road, but usually just starts pumping out cold air again in normal driving. Sometimes I can feel a slight increase in engine load when it starts working, presumably when compressor kicks in.

Any thoughts on approach or where to start on this?

Answer HI there! I have a couple of thoughts, of course I have no idea what has been tried with the car. I would suspect either the pressure switch is sticking, if this happens the a/c compressor will not get power because the pressure is to low or high,
Second, the ecm sends the signal for the compressor relay to turn the compressor on. If there is a loose wire at the ecm connector or on the wire out to the relay you will have problems, this should be looked at.
The ecm itself could have a problem internally and is not commanding the a/c on until you hit just the right bump.
Lasty, if the cooling fans don't both come on when the.. >> login for more

Please login to your Member Account
to view all answers. Membership required

>>Contribute your Answer<< - Submit your Question

Home Info JDM Chat Free Car For Sale Albums Members Video Bumper Stickers Dealers

Advertisement [ ? ]

Site Links

A/C working only intermittently for past several years..