Does your fan pull air at idle?

[Dfeland]

Having a little a/c problem at idle and I think I have tracked it down to my chinesse replacement fan clutch. At idle it does not spin nearly as fast as the crank. More importantly it does not pull any air at idle and my a/c high pressures go thourgh the roof 450plus. I am not looking for any electric fan solutions there were thousands of dodge built like this and no one else seems to have this problem. Works fine going down the road but at idle just no air. What do you guys think?

 

[1stgen4evr]

AC

It is normal for the fan to turn less than the crank speed with cool idle but it should pick up when the temp goes up. Your replacement fan may well be the prob. Working well going at road speed indicates such.



Before joining TDR I wasted money on a replacement fan clutch (NAPA) thinking that the temp was too high but I now know that I needed a transmission cooler.



I have had ongoing problems with computer involvment with the AC in the automatic 93 model but none of that seems relative to your situation. I think you are right on with the clutch idea.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[Greenleaf]

Drove my truck into the shop last night where they will convert to 134 refrigerant. The tech said he recommends replacing the fan clutch as P. M. It will cause no A/C, high pressures when stopped in traffic. He also commented that too much of this will render the compressor worthless.



The fan does move air when at idle speed.



-S

 

[bvanetten]

Hey Greenleaf, Are you going to upgrade your condenser? If I were you I'd put the biggest condenser I could fit up front. You will probably be less than satisfied with 134a if you don't.



Bruce

 

[jtwcummins]

My a/c wasn't very cold in stop and go traffic in hot weather. I had to replace the fan clutch this year so got from dealer, original made it over 7 yrs so higher cost of OEM wasn't an issue.

I installed an electric pusher fan in front of condenser. Hooked a relay in the compressor clutch circuit so when it turns on the fan runs. Makes a difference at low speed.

Friend got an 03 1500 and was surprized to see the condenser to the side of radiator with an electric fan.

 

[Greenleaf]

Yep. Changed out the condenser/dryer last week.



While I was in there, I painted behind the grill and pressure washed the IC. Took care of the radiator bug/leaf problem too.



-S

 

[CKnoop]

Greenleaf what condenser did you use? I was also told to put in a biger condenser when I switch to 134 I have several from mid 80s trucks but hoses are in different spot I dont think they are any bigger I am ready to put that stuff back on very soon hope to take it for a drive this weekend cant wait

 

[MRickard]

Mine pulls air at idle, but the clutch is not fully engaged. It sometimes seems to pulsate at being on and off.



Also, if you switch to R-134a, make sure you also switch the hoses. The molecule of it is much smaller than that of R-12, and will seep through them. I would switch mine over, but I have a bunch of R-12 still. Pricy $tuff, i'm keepin it



You can also get a fan clutch that only activates at low speed too. Noisy fans though.

 

[soslow91]

When they first stared doing R-134 retrofits they recommended new hoses but later determined the old hoses didnt leak because they become saturated with oil.



As for the condenser for r-134 they are actually designed different sort of like a cross flow radiator instead of the old s tube units used with r-12 a bigger r-12 condenser will help but only a real r-134 unit will give the best performance r-134 is capable of.