2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission A/C and Steering

[Stake Man]

Ever since we got this truck(2002 3500 Cab& Chassis)we have had problems with the A/C. Every spring it fails to work. It goes in to the dealer and gets a new part replaced. So far we have had the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and (the first time it quit) the O-rings on the back of the compressor replaced. The only think not replaced has been the reciever/dryer. But tomorrow I take the truck back in to have the A/C fixed, AGAIN. Every time it goes through the summer and into the winter without a problem till the next spring. Our extended warranty will soon run out. Does anyone have any suggestions on what else might be causing these parts to fail? Is it caused by my use of the block heater in the winter?





Also, we have had the intermediate steering shaft replaced twice under normal warranty. Both times it was the slip joint. But now the input shaft to the steering box wobbles and there is a click and pop when turning. The dealer is going to look at that too. But I have a sneaky feeling they will find no problems with it. Just like my percieved bad fuel milage(13-14hwy empty) and knocking in the engine when pulling a load up a long hill. My boss is getting tired of the truck having to go in to the dealer for repair and is begining to think the whole CDT Ram was a bad idea.

 

[The Adjuster]

You have had the truck since new I assume, so it is 3 years old and it has been to the stealership 3 times for A/C and 2 times for steering ... 5 trips for warranty work in 3 years does not seem to bad a deal compared to some horror stories I have heard.



Make sure you run the A/C once a week EVEN during winter months ... it stops the seals drying out and leaking.



I have a 2000 with 159K miles and the only problem I have had, was the LP at 125K miles, and now the transmission (5 speed - 3rd syncros & 5th rattles) at 159K aside from normal maintenance it has been trouble free ... I love my truck

 

[jandtjil]

Make sure you run the A/C once a week EVEN during winter months ... it stops the seals drying out and leaking.

Not to steal the thread, but what seals do you mention?

I have a similar problem, usually a re-charge seems to take care of business, until next spring/summer.



JJ

 

[budctdca]

Referring to seals, have you ever fired up a car that hasn't been used in a LONG time, oil comes out everywhere and it usually smokes.

What happens is that seals are made of rubber, and like tires that get weather checked or an old rubber band that breaks, seals tend to dry out and shrink, losing their ability to seal. Seals need the lubricating nature of petroleum to keep them working right.

A/C systems are tricky by nature. I have worked at NAPA for like 4 years and get calls almost every day for A/C seals... they are located on the back or top of the A/C compressor and seal the lines going in/out.

I would recommend a complete overhaul under warranty, not just fixing one thing at a time, this will be your best bet to curb future problems, but I doubt the dealer will go for it unfortunately.

Luke

 

[Stake Man]

We have had the truck since dec. 01. It went in twice in the first 3 months of 02 for A/C failure(compressor O-rings then compressor). Late fall of 02 it went in for condensor failure. 03 was for a leaking line and last year it was the evaporator. There just seems to be a common theme here.



Even through the winter I use the A/C by means of defrost. So that should take care of the drying out seals problem. I just have my suspisions that the mechanics are just in the throw parts at it mentality rather than fix the real problem. My old service manager(from when I worked in a service department at a toyota dealer)used to tell us-"Sales sells the first car but we sell the rest. "

 

[budctdca]

whenever you replace anything on an A/C system you must flush the system to get any contaminants out, if you dont your looking at more problems, i wonder if they do that or just recharge. .

 

[EricBu12]

To any that has a problem with A/C's i had a strange leak on mine.



The hardline just below the low side connector goes to a flex hose by a crimp connector. The connector where it meets the hardline was leaking right there and it was under the insulation cover so I had to peel it back a bit then see the fluid bubbling out... . Used a small amount of J-B Weld on the joint between the crimp and the hardline, charged it up the next day, and so far it is holding good...

 

[Stake Man]

Well the dealer couldn't find the A/C problem. They recharged with a dye. It just shouldn't have failed since last time was less than 6 months ago and only 9k miles.



They looked into the steering problem but couldn't find anything wrong with the rear axle So I went back to the dealer and told them in person about the steering box. I asked them to check it out. So later thtey call back and say they inspected the front axle and found the ball joints were bad. They wanted $1100 for each side(left and right). When asking about the extendwarranty coverage, the service writer got snotty cause it was covered. And still no idea about the steering box. So now I have to go in this morning and talk to another service writer to make sure it gets taken care of.



I am so glad that my only local dealer is a 5 star dealer. I don't know what I would do if they didn't have such great customer service #@$%!

 

[Stamey]

They should have replaced the Filter/Dryer ever time they repaired the system, if the system did not have a charge, such as when the condensor was bad or the line was bad. The dryer is an essential part of the AC system as these systems do not like moisture at all. If they have not been replacing the dryer it may be contributing to the other problems you are having.

I do not necessarily agree with the need to flush the AC system EVERY time you replace a part. I would only flush the system if the compressor commited suicide. When this occurs the compressor tends to spray its guts throughout the AC system, and flushing is required. Nothing else in the system will contaminate the rest of the system (to the point of needing flushing) if it fails*.



*Technically, the system is contaminated if moisture gets in there, but replacing the filter/dryer is the remedy, not flushing.



Chris