Hello,
7 1/2 yrs and 95K miles later, the A/c finally quit.
I was driving home in the usual So Cal Rush hour traffic, when I turned it on (I don't use it a ton). It had a louder than normal noise and started to blow out the usual cold air. Then, about 5 mins later, I noticed it was just blowing out normal toom-temp air. Then 15 mins later I smelled one of those 'hot engine' smells. Looked at my temp guage and the needle was straight up and the red light was on! I pulled over to let the engine cool down and then drove the rest of the way home with the a/c off and the heater full blast to keep the engine cool. Now if I drive with the a/c off, the temp is fine.
Does this story tell any of you what's wrong with it? or is it just what happens when the compressor's gone?
Appreciate any info.....

 

A/C goes off if the car overheats. You have to figure out if the radiator fans work, the radiator is filled and the cooling system is working well. If not, A/C may be fine. Sounds like the cooling system isn't right, check that first.

 

Check fuses for the PS fan and radiator fan. Check that the PS fan moves.
Running ok w/AC off sounds like low or high speed fan has gone out.

 

It sounds like the radiator fan is what went. It will stop the a/c from pumping since that will make the engine even more hot. All the fans on the car.....radiator and power steering.....work under the same circuit. So when one goes the other stops. Like gear head said....check the power steering fan and then make sure that the radiator fan are okay. With you just about over heating it sounds like a radiator fan though. Just my .02

 

Please get this fixed asap...just a couple of overheatings...even one bad one can cause you to loose a headgasket, and cost you some real $$.
1) make sure the radiator is full of fluid
2) make sure the fan on the radiator is working
3) if you have an ac recharge kit WITH a guage, hook it up, and check the fill level according to the instructions.
4) if all these things check out, for the typical diy'er, you then need to get it looked at before it overheats again......a ac compressor problem should not cause a car to overheat.....the fact that unusualy cold air came out just before it blew room temp air may mean the system had an odd event happen...a sudden leak will cause a drop in preassure, making cool air, just before it stops working....and may nessistate a mechanical fix. But maybe it just happened because the car overheated for other reasons...like lack of coolant or fan failure due to a fan, thermostat issue, or other problem. That is why there are pro's that fix cars...do the simple guess/fixes youself...and if you cannot find a fault, get it looked at.

 

I wondered where this thread went. Guess it got moved. Thought I didn't hit save. LOL.
OK, so 3 days have gone by and the temp has been fine with the a/c off. Radiator is full and the fan must be working ('cause I haven't over heated again). I guess this weekend I'll try it with the a/c again and see if it happens again and I'll check the fans. (I work long hours during the week.) Will let you know. Thanks for the info.