Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Need help with my A/C...

[THenningsen]

My air sucks. Now that it's in the mid 90's in the south, I gotta have my A/C. When I turn it on, even on MAX, the blower doesn't blow very hard and the air is humid and not very cold. Certainly not like most cars you get in that will actually blow your hair around on High. I pulled the blower and was hoping to find a bunch of trash in there, but looked clean. Should I get a can of 134 with the dye in it to see if I have a leak?

 

[kenny61]

if you can put a gauge on it and see if its low

 

[DavidC]

Set the controls on max AC and see if the compressor clutch cycles, stays engaged, or does not engage. On max the clutch should stay engaged at all times. I have to add a can of freon to mine every year, just did it yesterday 6/7/08 as the clutch kept cycling.



Dave

 

[THenningsen]

I'll have to check it again, but I think the other day the compressor was kicking on and off. does that mean the compressor is bad or just needs freon?

 

[DavidC]

If Cycling on/off on max air your low on freon.



Dave

 

[THenningsen]

i put a can in last summer, does this mean I have a leak?

 

[DavidC]

i put a can in last summer, does this mean I have a leak?

Yes. I have had 2 that I have found, 1 was the high pressure test port (required new line as valve is not serviceable) the other was the suction test valve (which is serviceable). I have not looked for the latest leak. If you find yours let me know.



Dave

 

[Beast2B]

Same same for me. My truck A/C was great for 5 years, but ever since I've had to top it off every spring to get good cooling through the summer.

 

[Moose Truck]

It just maybe the Evaporator is bad. It sets on the bottom of the heater box, and any crud in there will rot out the evaporator. It's a real bear to change, do a search on it. The 24V 2nd gen's are really prone to it.

 

[6naline01]

Need help with my A/C

What is proper back pressure for 134a?

 

[DFerverda]

Does the air switch from the floor to the middle ports? If not you may have a vacuum leak or no vacuum at all. Pull the small black hose off above the can on the passenger side and see if you have vacuum at that point,(under the hood, right behind the glove box is where it goes inside the truck).
The door opener on the middle bottom of my box, behind the air bag control,(right side of the hump) fell off and it would not switch from floor to the middle of the dash. It is back on and so is my cooling.
I didn't have any ac working (so i thought) till i found the door was not opening right/at all.
You may also be low on 134, but that is what i figured out.
Hope it helps
Dirk

 

[DodgeWarlock]

Does it start off cold, the first time that day, but then seems to fade away? If so, then after you check the pressure, you should also check the pressure cycling switch. Two shops told us there was nothing wrong with ours, before I changed the switch and fixed it. Factory service manual paid for itself on that one. Unfortunately switch is expensive.

 

[wilsonsh]

Not uncommon to have to add a bottle of freon every year. If the A/C goes unused for a while, the seals shrink a bit. Then, when you pressure it back up and keep using it, the seals stay expanded.



Get a spraybottle filled with soapy water and when you fill the system, soak it down to look for leaks. Test ports are common as has been said.

 

[darkhorse]

Mine is being anemic too. I did add coolant but that didn't fix it. The compressor clutch only engages briefly ever so often.

 

[Mad Bomber]

Here is a good site to read though. Aircondition. Com - Troubleshooting with Gauges FAQ

 

[Mad Bomber]

Mine is being anemic too. I did add coolant but that didn't fix it. The compressor clutch only engages briefly ever so often.

Based on what happened with mine sounds like your volume is low

 

[THenningsen]

I still haven't had a chance to look at it but I'm thinking it's a vacuum problem. Where all do I have vacuum connections that would effect the A/C?

 

[darkhorse]

Based on what happened with mine sounds like your volume is low

Thanks. I think you're right but the cheapo refill kit from NAPA is hard to get sealed onto the low port. There is not much clearance with the exhaust brake bracket being next to the port.

 

[wilsonsh]

I still haven't had a chance to look at it but I'm thinking it's a vacuum problem. Where all do I have vacuum connections that would effect the A/C?

I'm pretty sure that the a/c has vacuum switches at the dash and that's it.