The Car Care Clinic with the Dr John

93 Saturn SL-2 - Air conditioner problem

Stewart from Nottingham

Question

I own a '93 Saturn SL-2 with an air conditioner problem. The A/C gives cool, not cold air, and the garage said that the compressor needs to be replaced at the cost of 400 pounds. For a short-term fix, would juicing up the A/C with more Freon do anything to make it colder? Or will it never be cold again? Basically, if the compressor is shot, would I still be getting some cool air or is it a simpler problem?

Answer

Stewart, the A/C compressor is a mechanical pump. If the pump is weak adding additional refrigerant will not make a weak pump, pump any better. If adding more refrigerant does make the A/C system cooler then I would question the diagnosis, (does it really need a compressor?). A word of caution, if the A/C compressor is noisy "DO NOT!" operate the A/C system. Before an A/C compressor fully fails it can pump it’s insides into the rest of the A/C system. The cost to remove the debris from the rest of the system will make 400 pounds look like a deal. I would definitely get a second opinion from another A/C repair shop

Good Luck!
Dr. John