Replaced AC Condenser....but...help
 

Hello All,

I had a rock puncture my ac condenser. I ordered a new condenser (Silla brand) and also ordered the condenser grille from racing beat to protect it. I had a local mechanic install it and it worked perfectly for about a week. Suddenly it would not blow cold air any more, the mechanic check it again but could not figure out the problem, he could not find a leak or anything.

I notice when I turn the AC on a clicking sound is coming from the engine, in searching AC related issues in this forum I am guessing that would be the AC clutch trying to engage?....I am not quite sure. It clicks every few seconds but the AC can't get going.

Any ideas on what to do? I really have to get this fixed as I am in Miami and summer came in with a vengeance.....it's hot and humid!

Thank you,
Dion

Sounds like you still have a leak; what kind of pressure readings are you getting?

Clicking sound could be the magnetic clutch on the AC Compressor engaging/disengaging. Could be the fans too. Could even be a loose spark plug wire. Need to localize the sound to be sure its AC Compressor related. If it is then checking this thread out might offer some guidance: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...=ac+compressor.

Thanks for the responses, I ended up taking it in to a AC shop in Miami. The shop mechanic spoke Spanish (very broken English) and my Spanish not great. Anyway the pressure was hitting 30psi and he said R134 levels were low and his sensor is showing there might be a leak in the AC Compressor. I told him I doubted that (what are the chances the compressor springs a leak just after I just finished changing the condenser....pretty low I thought to myself). Anyway with our language barriers I basically asked him to troubleshoot other options first and he agreed....he then said he thought the O-rings could be damaged and creating a leak. To make a long story short the issue ended up being the AC filter, I am not a car tech by any means and for those of you who aren't either, the filter is in the AC line where it connects to the condenser of the lower right side from the front (Driver's side). The only reason I know is because the guy allowed me to hang out in the shop and he would show me everything he was doing which was pretty cool. The filter looks like a large tampon and it is filled with little balls inside (each ball is about the size of the pasta in Italian wedding soup). Somehow the filter got punctured and some of these balls got out and clogged the line so the freon could not circulate and do it's thing. Anyway I hope that makes sense....i am sure some of you RX-8 tech gurus are laughing at me and my explanation but hey maybe it can save someone some time and money should it happen to them. BTW....I was in the shop for 3 hours and he charged me $160 (that includes having to fill the system up twice with freon).

Hello,

I find that my car itself is having A/C issues. Turns out I have to replace my A/C Condenser, High Side Hose ASS, and one A/C pressure switch. Issue I'm running into is I can find the Condenser online for almost half of what the dealership wants but I can not find this pressure switch or this High side Hose Ass. I've checked the following places: Rock Auto, Parts bin, Autuzone, Pep Boys, Bennet, Advance Auto, and Auto Parts Wharehouse. Also, the dealershitp wants 254 for the switch and 169 for the hose assem. Please help!!
2004 RX8, MT, 69,700 miles.