Hi everyone, I have a 87' Fiero gt fastback and I have the old R-12 in it. up until about a week ago the a/c would get ice cold. Now it doesnt work at all, It started getting warm then cold, off ando n until it just quit. I haad the level checked and the refrigerant is still full. The compressor is working. And the fan turns on when i click the a/c button. Does anyone know what the problem could be? Thanks in advance - Lorin

Maybe the diverter door inside the duct housing stopped opening and closing correctly and it`s only letting in warm air.
Is the line running to the accumulator getting cold?
Just in case you don`t know, the accumulator is the round cylinder just above the spare tire.

[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 07-30-2012).]

Start by making sure the condenser fins are not damaged or full of debris. Still full is good, what are the pressures on the high side and low side when the car is off, and when it's on and running (and the current temperature when those readings are taken)? The compressor clutch is engaging? Any ice on any of the lines? If you can rule out the refrigerant side, that pretty much just leaves ductwork and doors not opening or closing, or an obstruction inside.

Thanks everyone, What is the "DIverter Door"? and the duct housing? Im sorry i am not very mechanically inclined. also, What are the Condensor Fins... To me it seems as though something is not opening , either that or it is clogged somewhere. But its so hot here in Colorado Springs. I cant take this heat!

The diverter door, or blend door, (or there's another name Pontiac used for it, I can't remember right now) is the door that moves back and forth in the ductwork, varying between letting cold and warm air into the ductwork, Hot air comes from the heater core, and cold from the evaporator. The door moves back and forth with the slider on the dash controls, allowing more or less cold or warm air through.

The duct housing in the big black plastic thing under the dash, that the air travels through. It contains different ducts and doors that direct the air into different parts of the car.

Condenser fins, are the thin metal fins on the condenser. The condenser, is the thing that looks like a radiator, in front of the radiator. If stuff gets stuck in the fins, or the fins are all bent up, the refrigerant will not condense as much, or lose as much heat after going through it.

So, can i open up the duct housing without opening up a can of worms to see if anything is clogged? I will check the condensor first.

You can remove the heater core access cover, and then slide the slider back and forth on the control panel, and see if the door is opening and closing properly. I wrote a how-to on heater core replacement that includes how to remove the cover:

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum9/HTML/000009.html

As previously posted, open your front hood and see if your accumulator is getting cold (large silver cylinder mounted just aft of your spare tire, on the front firewall). If it is, your refrigeration cycle is working and it appears your heater is stuck on. Check this before you tear open your heater box.

Ok, so the cylinder is not getting cold, and actually the compressor is not cycling anymore..... It was cycling at the time it was getting hot,, and cold. but i noticed it was cycling very often. So i take it the whole compressor is broke? like i said previously, the R-12 is full..

Cycling often is usually a sign of a low charge, and not cycling at all is usually VERY low charge. Hook up a gauge set and check the low and high side pressures.

quote Originally posted by signtist2004: I haad the level checked and the refrigerant is still full.

How do you know that? You can't measure correct refrigerant charge by pressure alone.

quote Originally posted by RWDPLZ: Cycling often is usually a sign of a low charge, and not cycling at all is usually VERY low charge. Hook up a gauge set and check the low and high side pressures.

I agree. The reported symptoms are consistent with low refrigerant charge.

Hi everyone... I havnt had the money to take myc ar in to get looked at. But something strange happend. I let the car sit for 2 weeks, and drove it all week this week, and the a/c is gettign cold as ever again..... Not srue what the issue can be? it was cycling off and on over and over yesterday i noticed.... and then went back to normal cycling again. But its working again. The accumulating cylinder up front is getting cold. Any ideas? sill think low refrigerant? Thanks in advance - Lorin