2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission a/c quit working

[RDuncan]

Hi and thanks for reading but my a/c was working great one day and blows hot air the next, when i turn the switch on it sounds like you can here the compressor clutch once and then not again--does not seem to be cycling at all, checked fuses and they are ok?? any suggestions ---thanks Ron

 

[B.G. Smith]

Verify if the compressor is running or not. If it is and is cycling on and off very fast then you are probably low on refrigerant. If it is running and is not cycling, check the line from the evaporator and see if it is cold, if cold then the blend door may be malfunctioning. If the compressor is not running, unplug the connection on the receiver drier(the little tank in the refrigerant line near the firewall) and use a paper clip and connect the two terminals in the line together, if compressor runs, either the CC swiitch is bad or you are low on refrigerant. Hope this helps. bg

 

[Hammer]

2nd Generation trucks are notorious for the evap cores failing and alot of times when they do give up they go just as yours did. Do what BG reccomended above and/or have your system checked for leaks with dye or a sniffer as if you have never had yours done its a possibility that the evap core could be the issue. In 200k on my 98 I have had mine done 3 times... . Andy

 

[scotmartin]

I had almost the same problem. I put a low side gauge on it on and everything seemed fine. Over time it got a little worse and worse. I did notice that it was only happening when I was in town.

Turned out that the Fan-Clutch was bad. Engine temp never rose above normal, but it was bad enough to take out the AC.

 

[hammersley]

Additional Help with AC......

My 01 for the past 2 summers - and again today - does this..... It will blow cold air for sometime - maybe 20 min, and then it goes warm... ... . I shut it off and after some time, maybe 15 min, if I turn it back on... it will again work, but will again stop blowing cold air after some time..... what is this?????>

 

[B.G. Smith]

My 01 for the past 2 summers - and again today - does this..... It will blow cold air for sometime - maybe 20 min, and then it goes warm... ... . I shut it off and after some time, maybe 15 min, if I turn it back on... it will again work, but will again stop blowing cold air after some time..... what is this?????>

Sometimes its just low on refrigerant, it causes the evaporator pressure to be too low and it coats over with ice, hence, no cooling. If you notice a lot of condensate running out after you stop under these conditions then that is probably the cause. bg

 

[fest3er]

Sometimes its just low on refrigerant, it causes the evaporator pressure to be too low and it coats over with ice, hence, no cooling. If you notice a lot of condensate running out after you staop under these conditions then that is probably the cause. bg

If the evap is freezing, you should be able to detect a reduction in air flow. If it's iced over, air can't pass through it. This happened to me once in the 11+ years I've owned my '98.

 

[icman95]

Just paid to have my evaporator replaced for the 2nd time. The shop said that the are well known to have problems and that, in fact, the replacement part is the 3rd generation of the part, indicating they are trying to update it to fix the problem. Maybe this time it will work. All the refrigerant leaks out the evaporator slowly and then all it will do is blow hot air. Have the shop put a dye in the system and check under the dash for any leak.



My wife's 99 Durango has the same problem and will be changed out soon, too. Only thing is that it is the first time in the 11 years we've had it that it's been a problem. Once in 11 years isn't so bad. Twice in the 8 that I've had my truck isn't so good.

 

[hammersley]

How much does this

Just paid to have my evaporator replaced for the 2nd time. The shop said that the are well known to have problems and that, in fact, the replacement part is the 3rd generation of the part, indicating they are trying to update it to fix the problem. Maybe this time it will work. All the refrigerant leaks out the evaporator slowly and then all it will do is blow hot air. Have the shop put a dye in the system and check under the dash for any leak.



My wife's 99 Durango has the same problem and will be changed out soon, too. Only thing is that it is the first time in the 11 years we've had it that it's been a problem. Once in 11 years isn't so bad. Twice in the 8 that I've had my truck isn't so good.

cost ??????

 

[hammersley]

My truck is always having a puddle - always -

Sometimes its just low on refrigerant, it causes the evaporator pressure to be too low and it coats over with ice, hence, no cooling. If you notice a lot of condensate running out after you staop under these conditions then that is probably the cause. bg

running from the passenger side from the AC... . even when I don't use it - but I always have the setting on def and face - so I guess it's always running the AC a bit.....

 

[icman95]

See, now, hammersley, you've asked the million dollar question. I'll start off by saying it's not cheap. Then it depends upon who does it, too.



First time was by the dealership and cost was a bit over $1200. This second time, I had a local shop do it and while they were in there, had the heater core replaced, too. It didn't cost any more labor for the heater core and now I don't have to worry about replacing it sometime in the future at additional charge for labor. Total cost for second time including parts for heater core was a hair over $1100. While alot of money, I consider this a better value than the dealer because I got a heater core along with the evaporator for less money. Considering it was several years later and one would assume there was some inflation on parts and labor costs, the second time around was a much better deal.



Yes, it costs a lot to have it fixed, but we use the truck to pull our RV and I don't see us cruising the highways and byways for hours on end without the a/c. Hopefully this will be the last time.

 

[Missouri Mule]

RDuncan, my A/C did this about 8 years ago it was the high pressure switch.

 

[BDaugherty]

The low pressure switch cycles the compressor. I had a problem with mine last summer. The compressor wouldn't cycle off and it caused the evaporator to freeze. However, your description sounds like you have a compressor clutch problem. When the clutch wears or the coil starts to fail, a common symptom is that the compressor will engage, but once it cycles, it will not engage again until everything has a chance to cool off. You need to verify whether or not the clutch is engaged when you are having a problem. You can do this visually by sticking you head under the truck while it's running and looking at the compressor.

 

[hammersley]

OK-----a little help......

The low pressure switch cycles the compressor. I had a problem with mine last summer. The compressor wouldn't cycle off and it caused the evaporator to freeze. However, your description sounds like you have a compressor clutch problem. When the clutch wears or the coil starts to fail, a common symptom is that the compressor will engage, but once it cycles, it will not engage again until everything has a chance to cool off. You need to verify whether or not the clutch is engaged when you are having a problem. You can do this visually by sticking you head under the truck while it's running and looking at the compressor.

When my AC stops putting out cold air..... is that when I should do this???? Also - exactly what am I looking for again... ... won't the serpentine belt be turning everything?????

 

[BigPapa]

... ... won't the serpentine belt be turning everything?????

The A/C clutch plate, the part you can see on the front of the pulley, will only turn when it is engaged.



Mine went cold one day to hot the next. Turned out the two lines had rubbed until there was a hole in one where they cross going through the core support to the passenger side of the radiator.



Scott