2000 Mitsubishi Galant Air Conditioner not cooling air

A.RINGHISER

MEMBER
2000 MITSUBISHI GALANT

Air Conditioning problem
2000 Mitsubishi Galant 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 128xxx miles

I love the fact my Mitsubishi has a very powerful air conditioner, but the other day it completely stopped cooling air... I do not understand why this could happen, as when the air conditioning is switched on the compressor turns on, the engine fan activates and also raises the idle as normal. The only thing I know is different is the cold refrigerant pipes (low pressure) are hot instead of cold like they usually are and they lack the usual condensation. PLEASE let me know what could be wrong with it so I can be sure not to end up replacing the entire system if it could be a smaller item to fix... Thanks!

*Please no junk answers, I would appreciate if you would tell me several different possibilities of what you think is wrong so I get my money's worth on this question ;) I just dont want to hear "oh, your air conditioner is broken, sorry!" I love explanations just FYI! Thanks!*

*UPDATE 9/12/2010*: I just looked at the air conditioner today, and the clutch is not engaging when the air conditioner is switched on, but the rest of the A/C system acts as if the compressor is on (eg; fan, blower, ect). I noticed that the black covered wire (far right on air conditioning compressor in 2nd pic) was separated from the connector. Could this possibly be the wire that controls wether or not the clutch turns on? Let me know what that wire does and what I need to get to replace it! Thanks!

7 Replies

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
5,121 POSTS

Well that is the signal ground from the computer, you should be ok, to reconnect it. Pressure is what switches the clutch on if there is not enough pressure(which translates to not enough refrigerant) then the clutch will not engage, however, if that plug(signal) is not connected it will not engage either, so both are envolved in the engagement of the clutch, there is also a pressure switch which is usually on one of the pipes(high pressure)pipe, and there is a low pressure switch on the low side pipe. The funny thing is, how did that plug get disconected. I think it should work once you plug it back in, because it was just working the other day correct? So I cannot fathom, a leak appearing that quickly and now the clutch doesnt engage, I hope I explained clearly. Let me know whats happening now.

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Wednesday, September 15th, 2010 AT 9:54 AM

A.RINGHISER

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Thanks for your quick answer, it is very detailed and I appreciate that! The ground wire is separated from the proprietary plug that connects it to the clutch... I would believe that a manufacturing defect placed too much strain on the wire so that after 10 years of heat and cold the plastic coating became brittle and cracked causing the wire to pop out of the connector. Like some sort of stress fracture type thing. Yes, the entire system literally just didn't cool air one day, and I was thinking it was due to the fact that all of the original refrigerant is still in the system (there was no need for a recharge or anything it worked like new) and I am glad that you do not think the whole system is broken, and I am attaching a picture of the part to see what you would call it. How exactly would I be able to get ahold of that part? Would a salvage center allow me to cut it from the main harness, or could I potentially be able to order the part from my dealership? Let me know!

Thanks!

where the wire separated from the connector (right above the compressor)

view of the connector

the wire broke off inside the connector, ruling out the idea of a splice?

What to do now is the question XP

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Wednesday, September 15th, 2010 AT 5:58 PM

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
5,121 POSTS

Yes and yes to the question of being able to get the part from the dealer and or salvage. Salvage yards dont care about stuff like that, they may not even charge anything. But it has to be the kind of yard that allows the customers to remove their own parts, as they will not keep nothing like that in their inventory. I believe its called, compressor signal plug. (Not too good with names of the electronic parts).

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Thursday, September 16th, 2010 AT 7:37 AM

A.RINGHISER