06 A/C failed AGAIN!

[GrantP]

I have never had this many problems with the a/c on any vehicle I've owned. I've been through the usual freon low problem (cold on the driver side, warmer on the passenger side). Ultimately I had a compressor failure almost 3 years ago. After replacing literally everything it worked perfectly until last week. The compressor has failed and I'll be replacing everything again. Is there a better solution out there? I'm curious how many others have had problems with their '06.

I never touched the a/c in my '97 in the 20 years I had it. Frustrating.

And yes, you do need a/c in Phoenix in January.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Any chance your clutch fan is bad?
Even with as little use as mine gets here in W. Washington, at 120K miles mine was lazy and not doing much even though it didn't throw any codes. After replacing it, I realize how much more often I hear it.

 

[GrantP]

That's a good thought but I can hear the fan roaring when I turn on the a/c, it seems to be fine. I'm just curious about the failure rate of these compressors now that I'm about to install my second replacement.

 

[RVTRKN]

The location of the compressor can be related to your issues, it is the lowest component in the system. When I purchased my 07 I would get a loud bang when turning on AC. I eventually narrowed it down to sitting for a week at a time. Lost the compressor in 2015 and replaced every thing. New cheaper compressor did the same, I installed a 10 watt strip heater to the compressor (crank case heater) and it cured that. I believe its the liquid in the crank case that causes the frequent failure rate.

 

[Tuesdak]

AC compressors at parts stores... Well quality can't be used in the same sentence except as a mistranslated term for "something that can't be picked up by a clean end." I have had the Murray Climate Control Red China Compressor turds blow seals just sitting in a battery tray during an engine rebuild.

In our area I would recommend you hunt down the OEM Denso(?) compressor and get it from the dealer or cheaper source.

Unless you monitor the high side pressure you have no way of knowing if the system high side PSIG is operating above compressor long life design due to a lazy fan clutch. IMO if the fan clutch is over 5 years old it's probably time to just replace it ESP. in Phoenix. I fought mine way too long. Yeah, MOPAR part due to reputation of aftermarket not working so well.

As the condenser is full of compressor debris and being replaced anyway I recommend you have it coated with a thermal dispersant. Many places can do it and I include an example below with results I got by doing so.

@RVTRKN (Good solution a heater) is correct about liquid slugging and 4 Seasons makes a Deslugger "soft start" kit for GM stuff to help. It kicks out the compressor so it can slowly choke out the liquid rather than shatter/break things. https://www.4s.com/en/marketing/the-deslugger

If the fan don't get air moving fast enough the ECM ignores it and just blows the relief valve on the AC system. In depth:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...rams-ecm-defect-opening-the-ac-relief.258779/

Thermal dispersant results:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...thermal-dispersant-on-an-ac-condenser.264486/

 

[AEdelheit]

I have had the compressor fail on 2 of my 3rd gens and both times replaces them with a 4 seasons one and never had issues after replacement , I suspect you may be getting low quality compressors.

Has Ram changed the compressor location on the newer trucks? I thought they were still the low point ...

 

[GrantP]

I have had the compressor fail on 2 of my 3rd gens and both times replaces them with a 4 seasons one and never had issues after replacement , I suspect you may be getting low quality compressors.

Has Ram changed the compressor location on the newer trucks? I thought they were still the low point ...

The compressor that just failed was a 4 seasons, and at least on mine it's mounted at the very bottom. I only had 40k on it.

 

[seafish]

OP, while the oem Sanden pump is a robust unit, the same may or may NOT be true about the 4 seasons compressor you put in your truck. Please note that I am NOT bad mouthing 4 seasons, only that I just want to point out that Four Seasons is most likely using "cost efficient" rebuild house to manufacture their pumps. And that doesn't even take into consideration whether or not the quality of the (re)build parts are close to whatever parts that Sanden uses when making the oem compressors.

All that said, there might well be a deeper reason why you have multiple compressors failing...

Installing a "soft start" switch for the pump ( actually I think that 4 seasons even makes one) might well help the longevity of the problem your failures turn out to be related to the pump hydrolocking in some start up conditions.

And then of course there is the finicky operation of the fan clutches on our trucks, particularly if they are also from an aftermarket rebuilder or manufacturer instead of oem.

Just my .02...

 

[Tuesdak]

I wonder if a Sanden from the 2005 and older years than the OP's would bolt up specifically to the AC lines?

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/sanden-direct-ac-compressors-for-1996-2005.264977/

 

[Prairie Dog]

I wonder why my 03 hasn't had any problem other than the standard freon loss.

 

[GrantP]

I wonder why my 03 hasn't had any problem other than the standard freon loss.

It is a different compressor from the 06, at least a different part # anyway. I think yours is the Sanden and mine is the Denso.

After lightening the wallet a little I'm back on the road and the air is cold. Hopefully this one will last.

I am looking into the "soft start", thanks to several of you for that suggestion.

 

[GrantP]

Any chance your clutch fan is bad?
Even with as little use as mine gets here in W. Washington, at 120K miles mine was lazy and not doing much even though it didn't throw any codes. After replacing it, I realize how much more often I hear it.

I did ask about the fan clutch, the tech said he was able to manually engage it with his scan tool and it was fine. But yes, could be a "lazy" clutch like you described but it seems fine...for now. I'll certainly find out this summer.

 

[Prairie Dog]

My clutch seemed fine as well but after having some of the more knowledgeable guys here explain how it looses efficiency every year, I replaced it. The new one runs a LOT more and is a night and day difference.