I was at the Mazda dealership for 4 hours this afternoon, trying to figure out what was wrong with my A/C. It was working perfectly yesterday and just started blowing ambient temperature air the next. They said that my compressor was shorted out by a wire rubbing against it, and there was a leak somewhere because there was no freon in the system. What would cause the freon leak practically overnight? I can't afford a new compressor- or justify it for a car this old, so I didn't have them install that. What they did do is charge me $150 for a new alternator belt and sent me on my merry way after being stranded there for 4 hours- they offered no shuttle service or loaner car.

 

It would seem impossible to have a shorted out compressor and a leak happen at the same time. These are two totally seperate issues. If the power wire for the coil which engages the compressor clutch was shorted just fix that wire and replace the affected fuse. If it is out of freon it should have had a leak check performed. I would also suggest a dye made for the a/c system be put in the system. The dye shows up in the leaking area under a black light.