Newish issue on the LGT. A few times over the last few months a/c wouldn't blow very cold or strong. Cyling the recirc button would fix it, I assume a sticky blend door, common on these? This morning it wont blow cold at all despite cyling everything on the hvac panel, but will blow at full strength ( ), and there is a slight hiss in the dash when I turn the "A/C button" on. Ideas?

 

Vacuum operated doors in the HVAC system?

 

Yea, my first thought too. Just went through the FSM, and they're all electric it would appear, they call them servos, but I would say theyre steppers. Some internet research shows the blend door tracks get dirty, lube drys up, and they get sticky. Apparently there's 4 blend doors in my car..... yay.

So im wondering if the hiss I hear is just a blend door not fully making it and forming a slit that is causing the air to rush through, making the noise.

 

If it's a relatively quiet hiss that goes away after a few seconds, that is likely the air conditioning coming on. Once the compressor kicks on, there is a lot of pressure changing in the AC system and it can make some noises. if it's continuous and/or loud, though, it probably is something else.

 

Its constant and 100% controllable with the "A/C" (compressor)switch. compressor on=hiss, comp off and it goes away almost immediately. Its weird. At least the FSM seriously kicks *** on these cars.

Ill see what it does now when I go to lunch here in a minute, since its sat all morning.

 

OK Lolz ya I overlooked the obvious. The car passed smog with no changes, just by clearing the codes then driving it around to clear the monitors, without flooring it to get the limp mode and CEL.

Next step is to troubleshoot why it limps (probably overboost), and probably make sure it doesn't go lean. I'm a bit concerned about driving it around not knowing for sure the tune is safe.

 

Hissing gone(for now), compressor not spinning. YAY!!!! seriously. Would rather troubleshoot comp clutch over digging into the dash.

 

Subaru Factory Service Manuals (FSM) - Every Model - USDM/EU

 

dye test it

 

You think I have a leak? *** I dont have gauges anymore.... well i have one of those low side gauges that comes with the refill cans.....

 

hook it up and see if you have pressure

if you had hissing and now the comp wont turn on, seems pretty straightforward.

 

 

Pwned

 

Need oil compressor oil. Manual specs ND-8. Thats hard to find. Can I use PAG-46? Quite a few forums say you can, the oddball says your car will burn to the ground immediately after turning A/C on again for the first time.

 

 

That's insane

 

Are plugs on the EJ25 as hard as people make it out to be? I've done plugs on an FRS and they weren't too bad with the right sockets.

 

I paid a mechanic to do mine the first time. I did them the second time, threw a ratchet, almost called a tow truck. Next time it needs plugs I'll probably sell it.

 

I guess I will start at the crack of dawn then lol

 

I ended up using a floor jack to lift one side of the motor to make getting to the plugs on that side possible. As pry bar bending the motor wasn't enough.