What's wrong with my AC in my Sportage?

[wedge]

I have a '97 Sportage that runs perfectly except for one thing. The AC wont get cold in hot weather. It gets freezing cold when the temp outside drops to around 20deg C. Above this it gets weaker and weaker until at 35deg C it just wont cool.
I have had the AC unit checked and the report was that it is all OK, but its not! Can a bigger better compressor be fitted to the engine? Is the condenser too small in this mode?
What can I have fitted that will get the interior of the car cool or better yet, get cold?
Is it a big job to change over to a more efficient AC unit?

Gasping in the heat Down Under.

Wedge

[Damkia]

Originally Posted by wedge

I have a '97 Sportage that runs perfectly except for one thing. The AC wont get cold in hot weather. It gets freezing cold when the temp outside drops to around 20deg C. Above this it gets weaker and weaker until at 35deg C it just wont cool.
I have had the AC unit checked and the report was that it is all OK, but its not! Can a bigger better compressor be fitted to the engine? Is the condenser too small in this mode?
What can I have fitted that will get the interior of the car cool or better yet, get cold?
Is it a big job to change over to a more efficient AC unit?

Gasping in the heat Down Under.

Wedge

Welcome to the wonders of Kia Cooling...(not!)

First thing I would do on a vehicle that is 9 yrs old, is take it to an A/C specialist and get them to give it the once over. Several things can cause problems of poor performance. Be aware that the Kia's A/C is not good in the first place, more related to the inside components than the outside ones, and trust me, you DO NOT want to go pulling you dash to bits, unless you have 14-18 hrs and a good supply of Valium to play with, and a bloody good reason to do so...

Whereabouts in Oz are you? (I'm in SE Melbourne)

[wedge]

G'day Damkia,
We live just outside Yeppoon which is about 35 klm NE of Rockhampton. We are only 10 klm from the coast.
cheers
Wedge

[Damkia]

Originally Posted by wedge

G'day Damkia,
We live just outside Yeppoon which is about 35 klm NE of Rockhampton. We are only 10 klm from the coast.
cheers
Wedge

Sorry guys, O/T.......

I know that area (Off shore is Great Keppel Is.). I lived in Brisbane for 11 years and did a bit of travelling before I moved back to Melbourne (REALLY regretting moving back). I'm actually heading up that way in about 2 weeks. Perhaps we could meet up for a beer or something?

I'm doing a bit of a "road trip" looking for work in/around the mining areas (Moura, Blackwater, Surat Basin etc.), so if you have go any tips/contacts that could be of use???? Nursing, OH&S sort of area...