Diagnose my AC problem.

[cstraw]

Hello,
2004 Mazda 3 GT Sport.

Air Conditioning has been acting up all summer, compressor squeeling, belt slipping. In the last two weeks the ac is on all the time upon engine startup wheter or not I press the ac button and within 5 minutes of the car being on, the air blowing out of the vents decreases to nill even on the high (4) switch setting. Then yesterday while waiting at a intersection a loud hissing/whistling noise accompanied by white steam/smoke emitted from under front of engine for a few seconds. Drove for the next 30 minutes with no other problems while keeping a close eye on all gauges.

Thanks for any assistance

Chris

[TheMAN]

your AC compressor took a dump
I think you will find out soon that you are learning an expensive lesson... those early symptoms were signs of a bigger problem (which should've been addressed immediately)... when it finally blew up yesterday, your repair bill skyrocketed! there is high probability that the compressor fully seized, internals broke apart and sent debris all over the system.... catastrophic AC failures like these cost thousands of dollars to fix because of the expensive parts (have to replace half the system), and the labour costs involved

hopefully it isn't that

good luck!

[cstraw]

your AC compressor took a dump

hopefully it isn't that

good luck!


I fairly confident that the compressor is certainly on the way out, but not yet as the AC is still working which is part of the problem. I cannot turn off the ac.

Chris

[MajesticBlueNTO]

I fairly confident that the compressor is certainly on the way out, but not yet as the AC is still working which is part of the problem. I cannot turn off the ac.

Chris

out of curiosity, which setting is your vent selector switch pointing to?

[TheMAN]

"white steam/smoke emitted from under front of engine" = freon leaked all out
no way your AC is still working at all... even if it is and you're "confident that the compressor is certainly on the way out", you should spare no time and have this checked out by a shop! if it's not a big problem yet, then it's better to take care of it now than later as I've explained already

you're asking for help on the internet when your car can't be seen, so you can only get so much help

[Souls]

out of curiosity, which setting is your vent selector switch pointing to?

x2 sounds like it's gonna be a headslapper

"white steam/smoke emitted from under front of engine" is not a good sign. I couldn't imagine any system not having a low pressure shut off switch, there's no way your a/c can still be running for short periods of time anymore. if you are certain the compressors still running, I would strongly suggest then, pulling the fuse and/or relay. Then definitely have a shop test it out.