http://www.theautolog.com/uploads/grantgorgen/6035/1991-Mercury-Capri-8089.jpg
that's what I was thinking of.
If you like the german driving things, get an mk2 gti 1985-1992.
Many fond memories of TMDF II. :)
I ought to get one just for nostalgia.
So me, of generally bad luck with air conditioing in cars, who has never had an AC system work for more than 4-5 years, got an amazing 12 years out of the A/C in my current gti, until alas, just yesterday, it stopped working.
Sort of. It still cools the air, but nowhere near as much. I put some more refridgerant in, and it didn't help, but it didn't get worse, so I'm sort of at a loss as to what's wrong.
Hmmm... never thought to ask the computer maybe it knows.
Fri Aug 19 2011 05:06:51 PM EDT from Ford II @ Uncensoredhttp://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/03/20/00/53/1974_ford_capri-pic-22463.jpeg
okay that's not what I was thinking.
This looks very much like the one we had when I was a kid, though ours was a more orangish red. I've got a picture somewhere of the four of us standing behind it when I was maybe 8 months old; it's the only family pic I have ever seen.
I slept horribly and dreamed (when I did sleep) that he had called and refused to sell it to me. I woke up very tired and more than a little confused.
Going to go see the guy about it tomorrow.
the ford capri was the european alternative to the opel manta; not even remotely as successfull.
I guess for the american market it was simply to small & light, since a camaro of that time would weight twice as much and double the size.
Sort of. It still cools the air, but nowhere near as much. I put some
more refridgerant in, and it didn't help, but it didn't get worse, so
Most likely the problem is that your Kompressor does not dance. Although I would expect that to be an, it either works or doesn't work, sorta thing.
So maybe a leak somewhere. The computer won't know about that. No sensors.
https://picasaweb.google.com/114397753400901688127/FirstDay?authuser=0&authkey =Gv1sRgCJ_EgPGG0rueVQ&feat=directlink
We went to our evening Bible study in it, with the kids stuffed in the back.
It is definitely not an everyday sort of occurrence, but it's possible. My wife drove home. I don't think I'm in any danger of having her borrow it all of the time.
Mon Aug 22 2011 01:35:42 EDT from Sig @ UncensoredI took some pics today:
https://picasaweb.google.com/114397753400901688127/FirstDay?authuser=0&authkey =Gv1sRgCJ_EgPGG0rueVQ&feat=directlink
ERROR: "Oops... there's nothing to see here. Either you do not have access to these photos, or they don't exist at this web address. Please contact the owner directly to gain access."
Mon Aug 22 2011 01:35:42 EDT from Sig @ UncensoredWe went to our evening Bible study in it, with the kids stuffed in the back.
It is definitely not an everyday sort of occurrence, but it's possible. My wife drove home. I don't think I'm in any danger of having her borrow it all of the time.
Did you say Bible study.... in a hot rod?
Did you say Bible study.... in a hot rod?
Sounds perfectly normal to me. Or did you think that all Christians resemble Mike Myers as "The Church Lady" ?
Mon Aug 22 2011 14:23:18 EDT from IGnatius T Foobar @ UncensoredDid you say Bible study.... in a hot rod?
Or did you think that all Christians resemble Mike Myers as "The Church Lady" ?
Actually, I thought all Christians looked more like Dana Carvey in drag. (Did you notice "in a hot rod" was a link?)
Have you checked the evaporator and condenser coils? They may need cleaned, especially the condenser coils. I can't say for sure that's your problem, though, because the cooling efficiency would've gradually gotten worse as the coils got dirtier, rather than a sudden cooling loss.
Does the airflow output seem reduced at all? Perhaps you're looking at an air leak instead of a refrigerant leak. When last was the cabin air filter replaced? Does your GTI have climate control with a temperature setting?
If so, maybe the sensor in the thermostat went bad.
Another thought I just had would be to check the belt to the compressor.
The belt or the pully might have worn to the point that the compressor isn't getting enough power, though, again, I'd expect that to be either a gradual decrease in cooling, or a complete compressor failure.
Another stoopid question: Is it possible the airflow selectors are stuck?
Maybe it's sending air to the footwells or defroster vents when it's not supposed to be.
Or maybe even the controls. Are they mechanical sliders? Knobs? Electronic controls? Those might be worth checking.
A/C Binder
Mon Aug 22 2011 08:05:20 EDT from zooer @ Uncensored
Mon Aug 22 2011 01:35:42 EDT from Sig @ UncensoredI took some pics today:
https://picasaweb.google.com/114397753400901688127/FirstDay?authuser=0&authkey =Gv1sRgCJ_EgPGG0rueVQ&feat=directlinkERROR: "Oops... there's nothing to see here. Either you do not have access to these photos, or they don't exist at this web address. Please contact the owner directly to gain access."
https://picasaweb.google.com/114397753400901688127/FirstDay?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Maybe that one?
So maybe a leak somewhere. The computer won't know about that. No
sensors.
I'd agree with a leak that's the problem 99% of the time, but I put more coolant in and it didn't get better, but apparetly it doesn't leak enough out to trip the switch to disble the compressor.
I'm giving up and bringing it to somebody who has a degreee in compressed gasses.
That car should have rusted through decades ago unless it was born and raised in california.
Those pictures brough back some fond memories. Cars so simple you could actually see how they worked.
LOOK DADDY! A distributer cap.
I was just marvelling the other day, I saw an ad for a timing light. when was the last time you had a car that you could adjust the timing with a timing light?
Well for you, today obviously, but I mean wasn't it 1996 or so that everything was electronic ignition and fuel injectors?
Another thought I just had would be to check the belt to the
compressor.
all your points are reasonable, but I agree, it would be gradual, not an all or nothing.
I have one serpentine belt, so if it wasn't grabbing the compressor, nothing else would be working either. Belt probably needs to be replaced, but last time I looked at it, it was taught.
The control system is called a climatronic. It was vw's first foray into broken-by-design.
But I can tell it's working because it has a special setting for "low" which forces the ac on at it's lowest possible temperature. And it acts differently when in that mode and it's showing all the signs of being in that mode.
And I feel the humidity too, it's not just the temperature.
Bingo. I reordered the photos and added a quick history on the main page, but basically it was purchased and driven (lightly) in CA for a few decades, and then boxed up and stored from 1995 to 2004. The guy's nephew trailered it up in 2004, replaced all of the stuff that was dead, and put another 7k miles on it between then and now. His kids drove it some, but it was still garage-stored until pretty recently. They don't have a garage slot for it any longer, and decided it was too nice to leave parked under a cover on the side of the street, so they put an ad on Craigslist.
I think they could have gotten more than $3500 if they'd marketed it a bit better in the ad and been willing to wait, but I'm surely not complaining.