Air Conditioning Improvement?

[Boomshaw]

I have a 2006 Quad Cab 5. 9 that I am very happy with... except for the air conditioning. It is fair, but not good. I have had it checked out and it appears to be all up to par. At least as far as the factory is concerned.

I have done a search of the forum but have not located any tangible information as of yet to help me.

Does anyone have some kind of "fix" or upgrade that can make this unit kick out some "cold" air? I would be willing to forget the warranty on the ac if I could just make this thing boot out some cold air!

 

[gsbrockman]

The a/c system in my previous 2003 RAM 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 CTD was so cold you could hang meat; the daughter and wife always took blankies if we took the truck on a long trip as I like it a tad cooler than the average bear. I've heard of complaints about the shortfalls of the a/c in the MegaCabs, but the a/c in my 2007. 5 RAM 3500 MegaCab has been flawless and has exceeded my expectations.



What method has been used to determine the actual charge amount in your a/c ? Was it evacuated and recharged and measured properly ? Are you using the a/c in RECIRC mode ? If your current dealer isn't giving you any satisfaction, try another.



DodgeTalk member NickBeek has an excellent thread over on dodgetalk.com you may want to explore:



A/C performace - Dodge Talk Community Forum



More discussion on DTR here:



AC performance mod - Dodge Diesel - Diesel Truck Resource Forums



Greg

 

[BenMorgan]

There was a lot of talk on this forum a year or so ago about the lacking A/C in the newer trucks.



I was very disappointed in the performance of the A/C on my '06 when I first got it. I suffered through the end of the first summer all the while complaining to the Dodge dealer to no avail. The next spring I had the windows tinted and could tell a significant improvement. Plus, I always switch to Max (recirc) after a few minutes and leave it there. It's manageable now, but I still have to run it in the next to highest fan position most of the time.



In short... it's an under designed system. Tint the windows and run in recirc mode.

 

[p-Bar]

all a/c units will only drop so many degrees below outside temp. You just need to run it in recirc to pull the cooler air thru the coils.

 

[JBonpua]

Put a shutoff valve from Home Depot on the incoming and outgoing lines of the heater core. I did this and it improved the temp slightly... anything helps.

 

[jelag]

You should see just a nudge over 40* air temperature at the ducts... all my trucks run that way and we have no problem running across the desert in AZ at 115*... going into the sun the AC will just barely keep up at that temp but with the sun to the back of the cab its no problem...

If you have air temperature that starts colder than 40* I'd guess that your system is freezing up... and the frost is impeding the air flow through the coils...

If its always warmer than say 50* you have a problem that needs attention...

I own some other vehicles besides the trucks using 134a and they all do about the same... (40*)... .

Hope this helps... .

BTW - you do need to keep the system on recycle and the blower speed on high when its over 100* outside...

 

[JGates]

I recently had my windshield coated with a clear film made by SolarGuard. Its called ultra-performance and it blocks about 50% of the solar heat coming thru the windshield. This made a huge difference in the cooling of the cab. It now gets cold in there weather I am driving towards the sun or not. I live in Las vegas and was seriously considering trading in the truck because it just wouldn't cool off, the coating made all the difference in the world. Keep in mind to be legal you need to have a prescription for the coating, but like I said it's clear so no adverse effects at night.

 

[TFucili]

I recently had my windshield coated with a clear film made by SolarGuard. Its called ultra-performance and it blocks about 50% of the solar heat coming thru the windshield. This made a huge difference in the cooling of the cab. It now gets cold in there weather I am driving towards the sun or not. I live in Las vegas and was seriously considering trading in the truck because it just wouldn't cool off, the coating made all the difference in the world. Keep in mind to be legal you need to have a prescription for the coating, but like I said it's clear so no adverse effects at night.

How dark is this product? I'll have to check it out.

I know that according to the book my A/C is functioning properly, but I also know, having owned a whole bunch of trucks, that this system is just not sized properly for the job at hand IMHO. I have only owned one vehicle, a '95 Tahoe, that had worse A/C than this one. Every Ford I've owned had A/C that would put this thing to shame.

 

[Tinman]

New, my 06 QC had fair at best a/c. We took a trip to Florida a few months back and it was the first time I used the a/c in hot weather. It barely kept up at full tilt. Thought it may have been low and 134, so I put in a few small cans (4oz total) with we where down there. Didn't help. I took it to the dealer when we got back (fortunately, I still had a few thousand miles of warranty left) and it turns out a piece of the recirculate door had broken off and was down in the fan area. Now it works better than ever. I wonder if the refrigerant charge I added helped. I need to go check the pressure as I didn't have a gauge with me when this happened, so I just put in some refrigerant. The dealer said the pressure was OK, but you know dealers. It might be useful to try and up the charge to high normal. Just a thought.

 

[JGates]

The product I had put on my windshield is listed as 75% light transmission. So technically it is very slightly darker then clear, but I can't tell any difference. I was worried about night driving but the first time I drove with it on at night my passenger had to remind me it was there, I had forgotten, thats how clear it is. I would definately have a very qualified tinter install it, as a perfect install is mandatory for obvious reasons.

 

[TMax]

JGates,

What is the name of the product you had installed? It was on your windshield right? Isn't that illegal? Who installed it for you?

 

[AH64ID]

Here is what a guy in Idaho is doing...

A/C Mod - Idaho Turbo Diesels

 

[JPM]

My 03 will freeze up after a while and will not cool. (works too good!)So to compensate I turn off the air and let it thaw, then its back to cold .

 

[MMeier]

My 03 will freeze up after a while and will not cool. (works too good!)So to compensate I turn off the air and let it thaw, then its back to cold .

If it is freezing up... unless you are in some really humid conditions... something is wrong. More then likely it is a bit low on charge.

 

[RVTRKN]

I've heard that there is a fresh air setting on the damper when in the recirculation mode and is not adjustable due to an air tight cab. If it wasn't for the major job of pulling our mixing boxes/blower I would invent a full closed damper. I don't know if this is true, any thoughts on this guys?

 

[JPM]

If it is freezing up... unless you are in some really humid conditions... something is wrong. More then likely it is a bit low on charge.

Very humid,,,,,yes!

However I maybe should have the air checked over.

 

[MChessick]

JPM, there is a TSB out on your problem. I had the same thing on my 03. There is a sensor on the condenser that needs to be moved over about 4 inches and the problem goes away.



Pitcru

 

[betterthanstock]

If you want to improve performance, nothing will do better than switching to a (still) illegal hydrocarbon refrigerant. Because DOW or somebody has a patent on R134, they lobbied, and got their wish, by banning the supposedly bad (and cheap) R12, and all alternatives. Australia and Canada I believe, do allow an alternative PROPANE refrigerant.



The U. S. replaced the fire-safe freon in most spray cans with butane and propane, but they ban it in automobile AC? As if the fire danger from spraying your armpits is nothing to worry about, but the fire danger from having an accident sever an AC line is any greater?



Search the web for propane refrigerant, and you'll find lots of alternatives, and they say it improves cooling efficiency by 25% or so.



Just don't do like these morons:

YouTube - A video of a hydrocarbon refrigerant demonstration which wen

 

[RVTRKN]

R12 is not illegal, it just costs a lot of money and the systems are designed for 134a. The compressor and refrigerant controls would have to be replaced.

 

[DPKetchum]

Low freon will cause freeze up AS WELL as the fin temp sensor.