Dear Scotty (and the rest of the awesome car community here),
I have a 2004 Subaru Forester (non turbo) with 184k miles. I've been having an ongoing issue with the AC system going in/out for a couple of years. Had it service by an "AC Pro" who replace the hoses and drained/filled with new fluid. He forgot a gasket and that later had to be fixed by another mechanic. Then, I noticed that the AC would cut off after the car had been driven approximately 20-30min. The relay was replaced just before winter and the AC worked fine. Then, as things have heated up in florida, I've noticed that the AC is going out again at the 20-30min mark. The only thing I can think of is to replace the AC Compressor at this point. Is there anything else I could be overlooking?
Thanks
Don't just throw parts at it. First things you'll want to do is check the system pressures using a gauge set. That will tell you if the compressor is working and give you an idea of the level of refrigerant charge. (Though if you have a variable-displacement compressor it will try to keep pressures up even if low on charge.) Really to make sure you have the correct amount of refrigerant the system needs to be evacuated and then refilled with the proper amount by weight. Did your mechanic check for leaks using an electronic detector or dye?
