Air Conditioning

[GHinton]

Has anyone had a problem with poor a/c output? Took a two hour drive in 90+ degrees a while ago and had to run the a/c at max blower to have a tolerable interior temp. Cycling between recirculate and max settings on the register control seemed to have little effect on temp. Took it to the dealer and of course everything was fine on a 60 degree day, cold air blowing out at 41 degrees from the vent. Anyone on the SE knows how a NC spring can be 60 one day and 95 the next. I hope the dealer fixed the problem and was too embarassed to tell me.

 

[trextoo]

I would say something has to be wrong. It's 105 here and my AC is working great. I would try another dealer.

 

[Boonieman]

I just got back from Florida a few weeks ago and the A/C was great. No way could I have run it on MAX or it would have froze us out. The only problem I had was once I forgot to hit the little snowflake button and it took me a little while to realize I was sweating. Ha!

 

[Prairie Dog]

I just got back from Southern Cal and my A/C was so cold I had to turn up the heat a little bit to keep from freezing. You should get it checked out.

 

[L_Rutigliano]

GHinton:



Go to Harbor Freight or any store for that matter and buy yourself a digital temp probe (a bar-b-que meat thermometer will work).



Install the thermometer probe in center dash outlet and record the temperature on a hot day. Typically, if you see a 30F temp difference between ambient and outlet, you are doing very good, especially if its extremely humid.



It is much harder on the AC system to remove moisture from the air than it to cool dry air. With hot humid air, the AC capacity is being taxed to remove the moisture. That is why it is good to run in recirc on humid days, at least until you are comfortable.



Also, if you run on HI blower, the outlet air temps will be higher than if you run on speed 1 or 2.



From the Dodge SM, it must be at least 70F for the dealer to accurately test the system. Test is simple, set temp to full cold, set blower to HI, push recirc switch and AC switch, run engine at 1000 rpm for 5 min.



At 80F ambient, DS center outlet temp should be 45F or less. At 90 or 100F, it should be 55F. Please remember that this is in recirc, so if you are in outside air mode, the outlet temp will be closer to the 30F temp differential compared to ambient. (Ex: 100F outside, 70F at outlets)



Most common cause of warm air: refrigerant leaks. Check the accumulator inlet and outlet connections, they are those cheap-ass spring lock couplings that are fantastic for manufacturing but really stink at sealing the system. Look for oily residue at all connections for a possible leak.



Hope this helps.

 

[CKimball]

before my condensor blew (3 weeks and 750 miles! 2 weeks for the condensor to arrive!) it would blow on fan speed 2 constantly 38 degrees according to my trusty snap on thermometer and now i cant get it below 45... i checked pressures myself and all are at facty specs... i realize that the system was probably overcharged prior to the comndensor blowing but man do i miss that cool air!!! chryslers air (especially 134 systems) have always been the " 30 degree below ambiant" theory whereas GM (the ONLY thing good about them ) has the BEST where it will blow no matter what at 35 degrees forever... even with the 134 stuff.....

Cameron

 

[Prairie Dog]

Another problem that arises on new vehicles is debris in the orifice tube, they'll have to evacuate the system to check that though.

 

[GHinton]

Thanks for the info, guys. Today I drove home from Cape Hatteras with outside temp @ 83, and the a/c seemed to work better than it had previously. Felt like the output was colder, and the air velocity from the registers was increased. Still going to need another day above 90 to see if it is working well. So, we'll see...

 

[CATCRACKER]

anybody ever hear of THO? well with sliver truck blacked out windows cruising on a 85 degree day on max a/c recirculate that is what many women get in the silver ram . So i will say my a/c is cold enough or at least thats what it looks like to me.

 

[GLolas]

Well, with 3000 miles on it, mine is going back in on Friday as my compressor won't stay on for more than a couple of seconds. Seems that the system is already low on 134a. Gotta have a leak somewhere and it has to be a pretty good one as I have not used the AC all that much.

 

[MMeier]

600 miles this past weekend at 100 degrees plus pulling the trailer and actually had to turn up the blue /red knob a bit to keep from freezing my marbles off!!!

 

[CATCRACKER]

i could have sworn my turbo was broke the other day then i realized it was my a/c blowing so hard on high it sounded like an HT3B going to town

 

[Steve M]

Catcracker,

Down here we call 'em NHO's! Works better than a meat thermometer.

 

[CATCRACKER]

42 degree

I finally installed my air conditioning white faced guage It is reading 42 degrees on max a/c 2nd level fan speed. Damn that thing blows cold. It is 90 degrees out right now. it took it about 5 minutes to get that low. this should give some of you guys w/ a/c problems a bench mark. Sliver color truck with 5% tint all the way around helps also. my guess is that on a long extended trip i will see even lower temps.



calibrated my new guage with my works ac and mine is 10 degrees off so i am blowing 42 degrees not 32