A/C problems

Sounds like its low on gas & the low pressure switch is turning it off. Get someone to put some guages on it & then you'll know what you've got.

 

Why could you not try a local a/c specialist instead of the dealer ?

 

Ditto on that. The AC in these cars is standard AC equipment. There is nothing "Ferrari" about it. Any decent AC shop should be able to diagnose the problem and fix it easily, and a lot less expensively than a dealer.

 

Also, if it needs re-gassing and they say you have to change the type of gas that's in it, DON'T just do it. Come back in here to discuss.

 

Have you checked the condition of the notorious "hidden A/C fuse". Would be a good time to replace this whilst your having the A/C system checked over.

 

You are on the right track mate.

But...................I'd say the thermo fan on the a/c condenser is not working and the a/c compressor is kicking the clutch out under high pressure.

When the condenser cools a little, then the a/c compressor will kick back in again until the high pressure switch kicks the compressor back out again. This process will repeat itself over and over again.

Start the a/c Tom and look at the right front tyre and listen for the little electric fan noise. If the condenser fan is not working, check for power at the fuse and repair or replace.

If it has power, then you might have a dead fan. But check that first mate, it's free to do so.

If the fan is working, then take Iain's advice and put some a/c gauges on it to see what the a/c pressures are doing then go from there.

Please be sure to keep us updated along the way.

 

I second the recommendation to go to a good A/C shop as opposed to a Ferrari shop. However, at the risk of coming across as a jerk, talk to the guy doing the work and explain that scratches in your paintwork are not something you want. The Ferrari guys at my shop wear soft red uniforms featuring pants with draw strings in place of belt loops and they're VERY careful.

But your local A/C shop man may happen to be a Champion Bull Rider with a seven pound belt buckle and not much appreciation for nice cars.

 

I have never made my living servicing A/C systems, but I do hold a federal refrigeration license. I would argue that most likely you did not actually "solve" your problem.

Nearly all automotive A/C systems use a compressor which is driven by a rotating shaft with an ordinary shaft seal separating the refrigerant from the atmosphere. So, unlike your sealed home refrigerator unit which might run for 40 years, your car A/C will slowly leak. However, the leak should be VERY slow and you can help things out by running your A/C for a few minutes every two weeks or once a month. That way the system gets a little work-out, especially the shaft and associated seal.

So if your car hasn't be serviced in 5 or 10 years it is possible that it was exactly half a pound low on refrigerant and nothing else is wrong. But that is a VERY slim possibility. It is possible that your low and high pressure switches can protect your system from serious damage, but I would strongly recommend that you take your car to an A/C shop or find a friend who knows what he's doing and at a bare minimum hook up a set of gauges to see what's going on with your A/C system.

As others have pointed out, there is nothing "Ferrari" about your system and any qualified person can work on it. But watch out for big belt buckles.

 

There ya go, Iain was spot on.

Hence the importance of putting on a/c gauges before you do anything to an a/c system.

If you had gauges or had access to them (or took the car to a workshop) the gauges would have shown low system pressure indicating that it indeed would be cutting out on low pressure.

Topping it up is ok, will just have to see how long it lasts.

Sounds like it has a leak, could be a big one or a very small one. See how you go mate and thanks for letting us know.

+348

 

I don't think there is an automotive AC system out there that doesn't eventually run dry. Last time I had my 328 gassed it was done by a guy who came to my house & so I asked him to check both my and my wife's daily drivers. Both systems far less than full at 4 & 5 years old.

 

Wow, a mobile A/C Guy! Wish there were someone like that around here. I need to inquire...

 

Craigslists under auto services, or auto parts is your friend ,,,

 

They are fairly common in the UK.

 

Yes, based on that I could be one of them. Finding a knowledgeable and recommended tech is the real problem.