AC Problem
Asked by ghenry Sep 04, 2012 at 02:26 PM about the 2004 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
The first time I drive my car that day the AC comes on for about 20 to 30 minutes with cold air but after that time it only blows warm air until it sits overnight and the same thing the next day. We had a Saab repair place diagnose it and we were told the compressor was going out. We had our mechanic install a new compressor but on the way home it did the same thing and also did the same thing the next day. He took it out and reinstalled the old one so we still have the same issue. We know for sure he did the job right and he did put in the oil that is needed. From the answers to this problem that other saab owners have had it could be a compressor control circuit (bad sensor), Compressor fuse, AC control unit (I have no idea what that is), or the AC gas container. There is another saab place we can take it but they charge $150 to diagnose it and we don't want to pay to do that. Please let me know how we can figure out what the problem is. The place that diagnosed it continues to say it is the compressor and because they didn't do the install of the other one they won't do anything.
11 Answers
It is not the fuse.. AC would not work at all. I honestly doubt it is a pressure sensor (hi or low), but it could be?? Greater chance it is the AC accumulator (or as you call it the AC gas container) or possibly a clogged orifice tube. Typically you change the orifice tube and the AC accumulator when you replace the compressor because used refrigerant oil tends to gel when exposed to air. And I am assuming the ac control unit is that thing in the dash that you use to turn the ac on :-) and depending on whether it is vacuum or electric, that could also be the culprit (especially since this was a pre-existing issue).
Thank you for your suggestions. I have another mechanic looking at it and I will run these by him.
Sommerdans answered 11 years ago
Hi Michael! How did you solve your problem? I have same problems with my Saab-93
Sommerdans answered 11 years ago
Sorry! I ment Hi ghenry! How did you solve your problem? I have same problems with my Saab-93
casper1086 answered 10 years ago
did anyone ever figure this problem out I'm having the same issue with my saab 9-3
me too I'm having same issue took car to firestone they said its a electronic problem waiting on car now.
Has anyone figured out this issue, as my car is doing the same... 07 saab 93t
Im going to try a used climate control unit and see if that corrects my problem,My climate control unit barely lights up and as others have mentioed my a/c works great for 20 min or so then blows warm air,I try to turn it off which it does,Then try to push the blue(cold)button and i see what looks like the letter L, Anyways thats where i will start
Used climate control did,nt do it,Going to try to find a way to bypass the climate control nxt
TerriG5180 answered 6 years ago
My Car 1999 Saab 93 - I was at the shop today. Had the freon serviced a few months ago. Because I have a convertible I rarely use the AC except on weeks like today, the humidity is through the roof and it is pouring out. When I got to the shop, the guys had me turn off my car. They opened the hood and then had me turn the car on. I have a manual control panel for the AC/Heat/Defrost. As soon as I pushed the snowflake on the panel, the AC worked. Ran for 10 minutes, then I put the car in drive to move forward. AC stopped working. I have a Saab mechanic who is the only one I let service my car. He has always told me based on my car's age, NO AFTERMARKET PARTS, Unless a mechanic knows how to service a Saab. My mechanic for instance, my convertible stopped opening and closing. He took apart the motor and it was only a bad gear so he replaced it and it works fine. My AC group asked if I have an ECM which I have no clue. Plus he said to have the Heat/AC/Defrost unit checked. See if the snowflake on the control box is bad. I'm in the same boat and have no clue. Freon is fully pressurized and proper.
Expansion valve ,replace , and all o'rings and refill
