Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) A/C hot at idle, COLD at interstate speed - Help?

[AndyMan]

While driving down the interstate or any other long stretch of road, I have noticed that my air conditioning works great... however, when I stop at a red light or anywhere where I idle for more than 30 seconds, I start getting hot air.



Any ideas? I have done ZERO troubleshooting. I haven't even listened to see if the compressor is cycling constantly. I have a bad feeling it's not low 134a... Hopefully it's something simple.

 

[JFaughn]

Put a small electric fan on top off it , on the grill .
Sitting in traffic there is no air flow to take heat away so it comes back into cab , with an electric fan it will cool standing still , this is comin .

 

[NHelmer]

What is your engine temp doing while you are sitting? If it goes up it sounds like your fan clutch has gone t*ts up. You might also check for any build up. The fan may not be enough to pull air through a blocked condensor but at highway speeds there may be enough "push" to flow through the blockage. Just a few thoughts. Good Luck

 

[CJNielson]

I had the same issue, then I cleaned my radiator, and everything else in front of the fan.

 

[AndyMan]

Thanks for the tips guys. My engine temp has been consistently 200 this summer. It doesn't seem to get any higher when idling...

cleaning the radiator makes sense. . it wouldn't surprise me if that were the case. I may try draining it, pulling it, cleaning it and re-filling this weekend. I just did a flush and fill about a month ago... sure wish I had pulled and cleaned it then... .

thanks again.
Andy

 

[JKinney]

Thanks for the tips guys. My engine temp has been consistently 200 this summer. It doesn't seem to get any higher when idling...



cleaning the radiator makes sense. . it wouldn't surprise me if that were the case. I may try draining it, pulling it, cleaning it and re-filling this weekend. I just did a flush and fill about a month ago... sure wish I had pulled and cleaned it then... .



thanks again.

Andy

Andy, Get in there with an air hose/airgun and blow out the condensor, blow out between the cond, and radiator, and blow out the clutch fan. Get the gun between the engine and the rad and blow toward the front. I had issures with the clutch fan and blew it out the dust came out and issures went away.