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2010 Forester AC Sporadically Stops Working

20 messages,  Last post on Jun 23, 2012 at 10:34 AM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, SUV

Messages Page 3 of 3

#14 of 20 Re: Similar problem [ohmikeyoh] by imaginary

Oct 04, 2010 (7:58 am)

Replying to: ohmikeyoh (Jun 25, 2010 5:12 pm)
Hello ohmikeyoh. Has this problem been resolved for you? I'm curious because I've test drove one 2010 Subaru Forester 2.5 X about 3 weeks ago with the exact same problem. The dealer said he didn't know if it was normal saying "I don't think that's normal." Obviously it isn't but a solution to this problem is something I'm still trying to look for.

#15 of 20 Re: 2010 Forester AC Sporadically Stops Working [gigoypotpot] by fnamowicz

Oct 05, 2010 (10:29 am)

Replying to: gigoypotpot (Feb 08, 2010 10:43 am)
In my experiience most dealers will sub out AC repairs to a specialty shop and won't bother with this type of work since they are only parts changers and do not have any repair experience..

#16 of 20 Re: 2010 Forester AC Sporadically Stops Working [fnamowicz] by ohmikeyoh

Oct 06, 2010 (8:30 pm)

Replying to: fnamowicz (Oct 05, 2010 10:29 am)
Imaginary, yes, unfortunately. And you know what... I was having MORE problems. Every time I'd start the car cold (not having been run in over 3 or 4 hours), when the AC unit kicked on it would make a HORRIBLE grinding noise. My partner is a mechanic and said this was not normal and would eventually ruin the compressor. I took it to the dealer, they kept it for 4 days (FOUR DAYS) only to tell me nothing was wrong and that was usual operation.
I'm sorry but you don't have to keep something 4 days to say, "Oh yeah... that's normal operation!"
 
So, yes, I'm still having this issue. Should be interesting to see what winter brings!
 
I love my Forester... but I honestly think that they may be having some issues with their AC units. I've test driven over 10 of these and NONE of the others did this. None. But I know that sometimes things happen on the assembly lines and random parts might be substandard from a supplier...
 
fnamowicz... I wish they would send it out to someone because it needs to be fixed. Luckily I got the Subaru extended warranty, so I just hope it breaks within that and doesn't take anything else with it when it goes!

#17 of 20 Re: 2010 Forester AC Sporadically Stops Working [ohmikeyoh] by xwesx

Oct 07, 2010 (10:43 am)

Replying to: ohmikeyoh (Oct 06, 2010 8:30 pm)
I wouldn't wait that long. If it makes the noise every time you run it, there is no reason why they shouldn't fix it. If that dealer is not helpful, I would elevate it to Subaru directly and recount your experience at the dealer. If you have a different dealer within reasonable distance, you could take it there, too.

#18 of 20 2007 Forester A/C works for a little while and stops. by mxyz1022

Jun 22, 2012 (3:30 pm)

My Forester now has 129k and over the last year the ac has stopped working as it once did which was pretty good. I noticed last season that it was not staying on. Now this year I have a problem with it working intermittently. Sometimes it cools for a few minutes and sometimes it cools for a half hour. Eventually it always stops working. I shut it off and leave it off for a while but continue driving and then it starts working again for a brief time. Any ideas on what is happening?

#19 of 20 Similar Problem by modeltguy

Jun 23, 2012 (4:20 am)

I have a 2003 Outback 3.0 and two years ago my air conditioning stopped working. I had it checked twice and a dye test was done as well.
 
It works sometimes and doesn't at other time. My wife can tell as soon as it has stopped working because she can smell a difference in our car.
 
I have discovered that if I shut the car off and restart it while going down the road (not a great thing to do on the highway) but it almost always starts working immediately again. Air however always continues to pass through the vents and isn't blocked like the Forester problems described in this post. Any ideas?

#20 of 20 Re: 2007 Forester A/C works for a little while and stops. [mxyz1022] by aatherton

Jun 23, 2012 (10:34 am)

Replying to: mxyz1022 (Jun 22, 2012 3:30 pm)
"... problem with it working intermittently. Sometimes it cools for a few minutes and sometimes it cools for a half hour. Eventually it always stops working. I shut it off and leave it off for a while but continue driving and then it starts working again for a brief time. Any ideas on what is happening?"
 
It could be low on refrigerant. When the compressor loses suction on refrigerant, it has nothing to compress so cooling stops. The refrigerant also contains lubricant, so whenever you feel loss of cooling, the compressor is also being damaged.

Messages Page 3 of 3

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