2010, 2.4, 5spd, "basewagon". 140K miles, all original except for rear calipers which stuck and needed replaced every 13 months, runs perfect.
AC quit working last year. Compressor used to make some noise according to my wife. Then it quit making noise and the ac quit working... Refrigerant was still fully charged, and it didn't leak a bit. So to me it was obvious--replace compressor AND condenser in case anything went out of compressor into system.
Had system pumped out and took car home to replace the parts.
Replaced compressor, condenser (with filter dryer receiver), and replaced expansion valve. On this vibe you don't need to remove the dash! It's just two allen hex head screws behind the motor on the firewall and it pops out into your hand in five minutes.
Replaced all that, and with gauge set properly hooked up, system vacuum pumped to -29.92+/- for 2 hours, I added R134A to the LOW side port while the HIGH side gauge valve was CLOSED. Slowly opened the low side valve on the gauges to send R134A to the system and it took 3 oz. After 3 oz, the low side gauge was 58PSI and the high side was 0. And no cold air of course.
Evacuated system again. Re-vacuum pumped the system, 2 hours, let hold for another 2 hours. Then tried to recharge with the simple can set up instead of the manifold gauges. Same thing, put in 3 oz, and high side got nothing. Tried this stuff a few different times. Won't work.
It's a compact variable compressor, so no clutch to kick in and out. ANY IDEAS!?