2005 3500 AC performance only cool not cold

[brownc1]

Cooling season just started here. 90F the last two days. It's the first time I have used the AC. It's not much good. Is that normal? It really did not cool the cab, way worse than my '97 BMW. I am a long way from the selling dealer. Thinking about taking it in. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks

 

[fkovalski]

I am going to follow this thread. I live in the hills where a/c is not really needed, but a week ago in Denver it was sure hot and I was thinking that it could cool bettter in the cab.

 

[Rudity23]

My 2004. 5 has always had a weak air conditioner. I think it comes down to typical Chrysler penny-pinching. My truck will eventually get cool but it takes 5-10 minutes and hope that you are not sitting in traffic? I wonder if the intercooler blocks some of the flow and that is what causes it to take so long to cool down.

 

[BimmerAgent]

My A/C works great. It can be 100 degrees, and towing heading West into the sun and it will be plenty cool in the cab. Might wanna get it checked out. Bruce

 

[JRD]

My parents 06 A/C works great. Mine doesnt cool near as efficient as theirs. So Im taking mine in to get looked at, sounds like you should too. My 05 had a low charge, they topped it off and it worked great. Hopefully my 06 is the same. Even though it should have been done in the first place in my $40,000 truck...

 

[vciesielski]

The cool, but not cold is a sign the system is about 1/2lb low.

 

[brownc1]

The cool, but not cold is a sign the system is about 1/2lb low.

thanks guys. Tomorrow I will start the search for a local dealer and get it topped up.

 

[BFaller]

Don't know if this is relevant... ... . but I always found that my diesel's AC had to be on max AC setting around town in order to even cool the vehicle.

I was told that because of the low RPM's on diesels around town, that the AC temp tends to fluctuate. Whereas at highway speeds, the compressor spins at a more constant rate and the AC is colder.

At least I have always found this to be true with my Chevy, Ford and now my Dodge diesel.

 

[NDanecker]

I had my 04 back to the dealer twice for week A/C. They swore on the 2nd time there was nothing wrong until I insisted it stinks. Only then did they evacuate the system and then recharge and found it was low --- from the factory! It works much better now but still week IMO to some other trucks I owned.



The best A/C ever was a VW Convert my wife owned. Damn thing was a Fredericks on wheels!!

 

[brownc1]

You may have hit on part of my problem, we had a transit strike here in Toronto and I was stuck in stop and go traffic but it was P... poor, not even cool really.

 

[oilburner]

The problem up here the last few days is the high Humidity. The moisture uses up most of the A/C capacity, as the specific heat of water is higher than air. Try using it on Max Recirc. I find this really effective in mine in these conditions and stop and go traffic.

 

[fkovalski]

I will be stopping by the dealer next Monday to have it thermometer checked at the registers. What is a proper temperature to expect?

 

[Jaysyl]

I will be stopping by the dealer next Monday to have it thermometer checked at the registers. What is a proper temperature to expect?

The temp on my 05 is only gets to 43 on the highway and will get up to 49 or 50 around town, stop and go. Not to good in Las Vegas. Now my 95 Dakota gets right down to 38 or 37 on the highway and 41 to 43 around town.



I wish the 05 ram was as cold as the 95 Dakota.



To answer your question I would think 40 on the road would be a good temp, and 43 or 45 in stop and go driving.

 

[DPKetchum]

Half ambient temp is ok. Depends on humidity also.

 

[KParsons]

06 ac?

went to nyc on sunday,used the ac for the first time it took 15-20 min. to cool down. not to good? kp

 

[mwhals]

... ... . Try using it on Max Recirc. I find this really effective in mine in these conditions and stop and go traffic.

That is how I run mine to start and it works well.



Mark H

 

[fkovalski]

I took mine to the dealer for an A/C recharge... . It now cools the way it should. Dealer said the freon was low.

 

[BHaden]

Interesting thread. I've had my 06 MC Laramie for 10 days and driving it back to San Diego from Phoenix in 104F weather one of my first thoughts was "The AC doesn't seem to work like my 03 QC did". Further investigation seems in order.

 

[MCrossley]

unfortunatly it seems low freon is pretty typical on the new trucks my uncles 03 would only cool the drivers side not the passengers and found it was really low from the factory my 05 seemed fine last summer cooling better than my 01 which was a refrigerator in any temp but last week my 05 seems to be doing the cold on drivers side only taking it in today for a recharge since I know it is just a tad low it is only at idle it exibits the problem... .

 

[Bertram65]

My '03 has never cooled well, took it to the dealer this spring for the first time for a U-Joint problem 500 miles before the warrantee ran out, asked them to check the AC. Dealer fixed the U-joint and said the AC was fine, first hot day this year it did not work, went to Autozone bought a can of 134A with the fitting on it, put it in, AC works better than it ever has.