TL;DR: I don't completely trust the dealer's assessment and have questions about getting the AC to go back to its previously anemic functionality rather than outright failure.

I've been having some issues lately with my AC taking time to start kicking in, warm air at idle, etc. Resigned to the idea that I likely needed a replacement compressor, I took the car to a local dealership for confirmation (mistake #1). Mostly I took it there because I had a coupon (mistake #2) that would have put the cost at close to a standard indie for diagnostics, and I would have been able to get a loaner while I waited for the service.

So previously, the air conditioner worked, just not very well. I was getting compression, but the high side seemed lower than it should have been. According to the dealership, the tech put gauges on it and was not seeing compression. they vacuumed down the system and recharged it, and I was told on the phone the system was not at a full charge. the assessment from the dealer was that the compressor was bad and needed to be replaced along with the receiver drier. Notably suspect to me was that they could not tell me by how much the refrigerant was low.

I picked up the car, and the AC no longer even tries to turn on. When trying to turn it on, I now get the dreaded 5 blinking lights on the AC button. I brought this up with the service adviser and mentioned that the blinking light usually indicates low refrigerant. I asked him if he could confirm whether there was refrigerant in the system. The tech who worked on the car apparently wasn't working that day, so the adviser took the car back to the workshop, had it evacuated and recharged. Still the Compressor does not come on. On to questions!

A) Is this behavior because of a low pressure sensor code being thrown?

B) If it is a code that is preventing the AC from kicking on, is there an amount of time when it will work once the system is pressurized?

C) Is there a way I can reset the code myself (e.g. pulling the battery for x number of minutes)? The dealership claims they did not pull any codes from any other parts of the AC system as it is not part of the service for which I brought in the car.

D) Am I being unreasonable in thinking the dealership should communicate things like how much refrigerant was lacking in the system, failure codes that were stored, or at least be able to supply the information to a customer who asks following service?

E) Is it reasonable that an evacuate and recharge could cause the compressor to fail the rest of the way if it was dying a slow death?

F) Should the shop have put some sort of sticker in the engine bay indicating they put dye in the system? I don't see any indication of it on the cross member (as was done on a previous car I had) and I have not had a chance to get a UV light to look for leaks on the compressor which they assert is leaking.


Thoughts?

 

Sounds like a weak tech to me honestly. Codes could prevent a/c from not working right, yes. But there are so many other variables that go into the a/c system. Wouldn't be surprised if you had a collapsed line. Very common on 211/219. However I can't give you much insight over the web as A/c systems are very complex and need A to work properly in order for B to work. Catching my drift?

However if it makes you feel any better, I've had a customers car for a month for a a/c issue. Complete interior of vehicle torn apart... So there are some techs who actually do want to fix the car or a consumers car correctly. It only takes one lazy sob to ruin it for all the others....

Do you have a magnetic clutch driven compressor or nah? Has your switchover valve ever been changed? If dye was injected i would check for leaks. If i were you i would take my car back and chill in a rental until its fixed....

What year is your 211?

 

Be ready to fork out some diag coin wherever you go though. People make a/c operation seem as easy as cutting a pie.... It's not a simple thing to diagnose at all sometimes, and sometimes it's super easy. It really just depends.

 

Did you run the diagnosis through the climate control unit?

 

You can if you have the one with REST button.
They sell for about $50 on ebay and it is 20 minutes plug&play replacement.
I think you will get your money back and more saving on single dealer visit.