air conditioning

[tmpenner]

Does the compressor run when the switch is on the vent? I seems on mine that I never need to turn the switch to the snowflake for cold air, just adjust the temp knob. I haven't even checked to see if the compressor is running. Something just seems strange. I'll have to check it out sometime. Anyone else have this?

 

[roadranger]

A/C

On my truck (and company Durango) the vent does NOT run the compressor.



BUT the vent&floor position (the next one ABOVE the snowflake) DOES.



The two Defrost settings run the compressor too.



So, the only two positions that don't run the A/C compressor are vent and floor.

 

[Great White]

is the AC Bombable?

I was just wondering if anyone else has AC that just seems weak? Is there some "tune up" that can be done to optimize it's performance?

Rich

 

[desert ram]

Maybe your A/C needs service. It's been 110 to 114 here, and my

A/C has no problem. Hope you get that cold air back.

 

[Archive]

The owners manual for my 99 says that on a snowflake or immediately next to a snowflake will give you air.



Mine will freeze me out... you might want to get yours checked.

 

[Shooter]

G W: The only BOMB would be a Horton fan. In town there is no air flow across the condenser unless the fan clutch engages, not likly and not often.

 

[DBCooper]

I just went through this with my truck. The air volume was good out of the vent, but wasn't very cool. I did a quick recharge of the 134 with a hose bought from Schucks (Kregan and Checker are the same) and a can of 134 with pump lube, and a sealer. Works great. Very easy to do and costs about 20 clams. Just be sure you get the hose for 134 and not R12. The conectors are different. Hope this helps.

Dan

 

[Great White]

I know that additional 134 can be added, but I really do not wish to over fill the system. Is there an easy way to verify the correct amount of refrigerant? Systems that I have seen have a "watch" glass thru which you could look for bubbles. Does our trucks have similar device?

Rich

 

[CJ Johansson]

Yes, there are ways to check on how much refrigerant you have. The only way that really works is to get a set of AC guages and a good thermometer and check the pressures. You need the pressure/temp charts and the thermo to know what the pressures should be.



As for bombing the AC, yes, there ways to bomb the AC as well. Some may or may not be legal in your state, but most are fine according to the EPA, etc.



R134a is a so-so refrigerant, not nearly as efficient as the old R12 that supposedly destroys the ozone layer. Consequently, condensers (the radiator up front) and evaporaters (the radiator under the dash) have to bigger, etc. Well, it turns out that there are a number of alternative refrigerants available that are more efficient than R134a. Some of the best are so-called HC or Hydrocarbon refrigerants. A few of the commercially available brands are "Envirosafe", "Duracool", and OZ Technology's HC-12a.



So, what are they, really? Well, generally just mixtures of various hydrocarbons, usually propane and isobutane. What, you say? Propane and butane are highly flammable! Yup, in the right concentrations with air, but they make dandy refrigerants and are used all over the world as such without incident (it's way less dangerous than the 20 gallons of gas people haul around in most cars).

And, it turns out, R134a can be highly flamable under some conditions as well, and it's really poisonous nasty stuff too.



Anyway, the EPA says it's OK to convert R134a systems to HC's (not R12 though, you first have to convert those to R134a, then decide to go to HC - usual gov't weirdness).



Hmmm, I seem to have drifted a bit there. The bottom line is, that you really need a guage set, etc. to check your refrigerant level (probably easier to go to an AC shop and get it checked). You can try just adding some R134a, but if it's not low, you could overcharge it and risk high pressures and blowing seals, etc. (way more costly than paying the pro to check it).



-cj

 

[DBCooper]

CJ, you obviously know more about this than I do, so I thought I'd pass a question by ya. I was under the assumption (I know, I know) that as long as I didn't heat the cheezy little can of 134 to push it into the system I wouldn't over fill. I kept the can as cool as possible and let the pump pull it in. Am I WAY off on this? Also, wouldn't the high pressure switch shut the whole nine yards down if it was too high? This little trick has worked for me in the past, and I'm not saying its right or anything. Am I just lucky? Thanks for the info.

Dan

 

[Great White]

Interesting, just how expensive and/or available are the alternate gasses?

Rich

 

[SteveAZ]

Was pushing 116 here, after a couple miles it's making ice cubes w/ great volume. By far the best ever performing A/C I've ever owned.



Have GM and Ford products at work and friends, some come close to being that cold, none have the cold AND volume mine does.



And that's NICE! Oh yeah