Mega cab Weak a/c

[DPKetchum]

Wife took mine(ours)into work with her to the Caddy dealer. Did a evacuate and recharge on mine yesterday. Cools to 50 degrees in 87 degree heat on recir medium speed blower. Tech at Caddy dealer did make a comment about air flow through intercooler and ac condenser. Said it just seemed a LOT to draw air through to get proper exchange and or condenser maybe on the small side. My 1998 1500 same conditions or even on a HOTTER day like 96 degrees pulls down to 40 degrees in less time and maintains 40 degrees both left and right vents. I too will call D. C. tomorrow.

 

[CDonaldson]

Checked mine this afternoon, cools to 56* in 92* heat on recirc med speed blower, no gain-or more cooling on high speed blower. I had my home HVAC guy take a look at it he thought the condenser might be on the small side too. I am going to dump a 24oz can of 134a into it and see if it is just an undercharge problem. If that does not bring it down to an acceptable level - somewhere in the low 40's - I am going to complain to the DC helpline also. I think the only way that this issue will get resolved is via complaints, may generate a TSB or recall if we all are persistent.



CD

 

[blacksmoke10]

Same for me today in phoenix, 108 degrees drove around for 2 hours left truck running. Would only pull down to 54 degrees. I contacted dodge I have already had the truck in one time, they said they fixed the recirc door and the a/c was fine they said. I love the truck, Mega cab with tiny a/c unit. Its kind of funny they keep running this add around phoenix on the dodge commercial and it says not happy with your truck bring it back within 30 days. I asked them how you do that and they said first of all you could not do it if you had a trade when you bought the truck. So that took care of me. then he said you would have had to financed with dodge, out again. Then he said the dealer has to agree to take it back. Not sure I even want to take it in to the dealer again. Like I said We have 3 of these truck but the other 2 stay up in the high country so the air works fine there. Took it to church this weekend. had 3 friends with us we were all dressed up for church. It was really funny here I just spent over $50,000. 00 for the truck and they asked next sunday if I could drive the chevy avalanche or the chevy tahoe because the air works better. You should have seen the look my old lady gave me!!!!!!!! the a/c works fine up till about 95 degrees.



I guess we need to figure out what to do. Do we go nuts and start spreading the news mega cab tiny a/c don't buy dodge if you don't live in Alaska. I really hate to do that to dodge but some of us have already called with no fix. I really hate to spend a couple thousand dollars to make mine right but I will probably have to do that if they wont fix em.



Also I talked to a local dodge dealer sales manager. I asked if he was aware of any problems with the a/c and he quickly said that he was not and that he has sold them to many friends and relatives with no complaints. I really don't understand that are they full of bs or have they really just never driven a ford or chevy around phoenix in the summer.



It's kind of weird I started this post to try to get some followers, seems like I mostly get people who think I don't have any money and just want to take my truck back for a refund. I wrote right in my original post that if it does not get hot where you live your a/c will work fine. still I get people writing me and telling me how to work my a/c. Also think about this I have probably owned over 20 dodge vehicles so I was a pretty big fan of chrysler. I really think there trucks are the best besides the a/c units. I will fix mine at a price but I don't think the average guy should have to spend his hard earned money to put a a/c unit in a truck that he paid for in the beginning.



I guess I cant get the family to ride in my new truck in the summer but about once a month I pull my 2002 plymouth prowler out and they could care less how hot it is. And yes I think it is the best car I have ever owned.

 

[MRFost]

Keep in mind that Chrysler USED to have an air conditioning company called "Chrysler AirTemp. " They used to know how to engineer air conditioners. Actually, to change the subject, these vacuum controlled doors are WAY past their prime, and that needs fixed too. They haven't been paying any attention to the HVAC system in these things since DC was formed, and the good engineers bolted. It was slop luck that the second gens were better -- and I had one of those ('96).



A sun roof in AZ? I'm bald -- the sunroof would have been an option to avoid. They do, however, help ventilation if cracked open. I know from younger days... ouch! a comb on a burned scalp hurts. I'm not suggesting the use of the sunroof to assist a crappy A/C design. Per my previous comments to local buddies -- it's got the power to run the A/C -- why would I want to open the window and let in the cacophony?

 

[DPKetchum]

Nothing vacumn in the Dodge truck ac unit. That was done away with on 3 Gens,All electric.

 

[JWilmer]

I took my '03 to the dealer a while ago with the same complaint, they said everything was fine, what a waste of time. I got this kit here at Autozone, my AC was 16oz low on 134a. For $25 it is a lot easier than dealing with the dealer and you will know for sure it is filled correctly.

I realize some/most of you have tried the dealer with no luck...



AND I know none of us should go elsewere for an obvious WTY issue..... :-{}



BUT we are TDR's... . if it aint right... JUST FIX IT!!!



ANY shop that does A/C work can evac and recharge the system to its proper level (under $100)... . sounds like that has fixed most... . thats what I'm gonna do-BJ

 

[DPKetchum]

Its a DESIGN issue not a DEALER/TECH issue is the way I look at it.

 

[DPKetchum]

Only holds about 2lbs of freon. Overcharge is EASY to do on these systems.

 

[fozzy]

I must have the deluxe sun roof because it has a shade that keeps the sun out when closed. :-laf It really does help my truck and you even feel the pressure leave your ears when it is open (on the higher settings). I got this out of the DR service manual on page 24-213

 

[DPKetchum]

Then most of these poor ac cooling complaints are in a normal range.

 

[sag2]

Blacksmoke10

You are getting a 54 degree drop in temp. I have to say that your truck is better than normal based on my experience. If your wondering, I have 27 years Chrysler experience, and hold a valid A/C license. I'm sure your air is drier than here, and that can make a big difference, but yours also exceeds the Chrysler service manual specifications. Also, there is no difference between the A/C units on standard cab to Mega. That would explain the perceived difference in cooling, as there is much more volume to cool in the mega. Cooler air is not going to do much good, what you need is more volume of the same temp air. So the bottom line is mechanically the system is operating as designed, but the mega cab might be taxing the system a bit too much in extreme temps or humidity. But the bottom line is, a properly sized unit will not get any better temp performance than what you have now. You can only pack so much equipment under the dash.

 

[tobaccogrower]

i also have a 06 mega with crappy a/c! BTW, this is my 4th ram ctd and has by far the worst cooling of all. on my 99 i removed the fan and installed dual eletric fans that cycled on with the compressor. a/c was alot cooler then stock. my wife had a 96 benz c230 that would freez you out! also, we have a 2005 jeep grand charokee. air will also freeze you out. i always find myself turning the speed and temp back! i'm going to have my system evacuated and recharged. i read somwhere on the TDR there is a product out there that will cool a/c down like 20%. i also notice when a/c is on the engine fan noise is rediculas! sounds like i'm going to take off! what really sucks is my buddys 99 F350 with 240,000miles on it and is beat to crap has twice the a/c of my 2006!!!!!!... james

 

[JWilmer]

OK... . MN. is getting hot... 95 degrees and dew points reaching 70% (near tropical conditions)... ... I must have a "good one"... . did more tests...



max cool, recirc only



fan on low- not enough..... head was warm... . legs cool-LOL

fan on med low- just enough... even temp in the cab

fan on med high- cool enough to redirect vents

fan on high- same as above but colder





center console temps in the low 50's..... suppose to hit 99-100 on Saturday... with more humidity..... we'll see if things change-BJ

 

[Walker]

Justed finished watching a taped episode of Truck Universe. They had a product called "ARCTIC FREEZE" by Interdynamics that is a can of 134a with a built in pressure gauge on the can. Just attach it to the low side. They said it had "special" chemical created for/by NASA that would cool down the air temp a lot faster than normal. Also had a leak stopper, oil (lube), and something else in it.



I thinking about a re-charge with this stuff. Anyone seen it around?

 

[DPKetchum]

Kinda tried it. gauge was very in accurate and noticed no differance in final ac temp out of vents. I used the stuff without the leak stopper. Give it a try and let us know your results. I watched their videos also. Then I e/mailed them a question and never heard back from them. This was about 10 days ago. Showed my system to ber very low,adeed until their gauge said full. Turned out was WAY overcharged. Did a totaly evacuate,vacumn system,filtered what came out and reinstalled proper about by the specs under the hood. .

 

[Megadesertdiesel]

made a call to the no help line yesterday, he opened a file and they said they will call dealer i took truck to and get more info. well no call back yesterday or today so i called and they told me if the system is working to specs there is nothing they can do for me. they said i could get another opinion from a different dealer if i wanted. so i will take it to another dealer in the near future and see then. good luck to everyone and maybe we can make a difference, if enough of us complain.

 

[blacksmoke10]

Mega cab Mini A/c

lets face it, If you live where it gets really hot the a/c works about 1/3 as well as ford and chevy.



If you live where it stays under 98 degrees a/c probalby will be ok for you.



I think I am going to have big signs made for my mega cab that say's



Mega Cab Mini A/c unit.

if you live where it gets hot don't buy a dodge truck!!!

 

[DPKetchum]

I'm under 98 degrees as a rule and its not acceptable.

 

[KNeeley]

After looking at the chart above, my pressures are dead on the money after charging 24 oz in. I did check pressures with a set of Snap-on manifold gauges as well rather than the mickey mouse low side gauge on a recharging kit.



AC performance is still doing very well.

 

[JWilmer]

lets face it, If you live where it gets really hot the a/c works about 1/3 as well as ford

I have 3 neighbors all with 6. 0 PS Crew Cab Fords (I'm the lone Dodge boy)... asked them about there A/C... .



ALL said they work good "IF" on a longer trip... any short trips might as well open the windows...



ALL my Chevy's had better A/C... BUT they all were smaller cabs.



Blacksmoke- dont get me wrong... I believe yours isnt cooling down to your liking... I'm just posting what I get outa mine-BJ