Date: Sun, 09 Sep 2007 11:53:38 +0100 From: Colin Stamp <col.dustbinnospamp.plus.com> Subject: Re: [XP] Sporadic aircon
On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 21:53:39 +0100, Colin Stamp <col.dustbinnospamp.plus.com> wrote: >Hi all, > >I have a 2001 Saab 9-3 Aero with dodgy aircon... Well, the clutch is now re-shimmed, or rather de-shimmed - there was only one shim. The job turned out to be slightly more interesting than I expected. It started out annoyingly. The only access is from under the wheel-arch, so loads of plastic liner bits needed to come off, with the usual broken clips etc. After that, I couldn't work out a way of preventing the driven plate from spinning so I could undo the centre nut. Then I had a brain wave. I bypassed the compressor relay so the clutch pulled in. Then I could stop it turning at the crankshaft pulley bolt. With the nut undone, the driven plate just slid off - no puller required. Out came the shim, and back together it all went. No problem. Then, encouraged by my self-proclaimed stroke of genius, I had a stupidly bad idea. The air vent temperature has always been a bit disappointing at 5-7 degrees, so why not fire it up with the compressor relay still bypassed and see how cold I could get it? What could possibly go wrong? Well, I started it up and sat in the car looking at the thermometer, not noticing that my compressor bypass had also prevented the engine cooling fan from running. I now had no condenser cooling and a compressor that would stop for absolutely nothing! I was just wondering why the vent temperature was still disappointing when all hell broke loose under the bonnet. It sounded like a fire extinguisher on speed. So, the emergency over-pressure vent valve works fine then. Bugger! 50 quids-worth of re-charge later and it all seems to be working nicely, though I need some hot weather to test it properly - that'll be next summer then. Thanks for all who helped. Colin.
