Weird AC problem....need some help please
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA from Boston MA
Originally Posted by YO-EL
First of all, if your system was simply low on refrigerant, you wouldn't be getting the actuator door codes..
Secondly, if only 1/2 the coil was getting filled with refrigerant, it would eventually ice up.....
Index the teeth by 2 on the actuator. There is an internal TSB on this.
Secondly, if only 1/2 the coil was getting filled with refrigerant, it would eventually ice up.....
Index the teeth by 2 on the actuator. There is an internal TSB on this.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 17,707
Likes: 1,218
From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL
Originally Posted by Joel Forman
How do I find out the TSB number and get a copy of it????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
Well,, try this experiment. Turn the temperature to hot and see if you get heat on both sides!! The actuator can fail in either direction (hot or cold). If one side is hot and the other side is still cold or cooler than the hot side, you have proved that the actuator is stuck in the cold position or is out of range in the cold position.
Let us know how it turns out.
BC
Let us know how it turns out.
BC
Both sides turned to cold (ac on)- Driver: mild, pass: very cool, but not cold.
Both sides turned to hot (ac off)- Driver: hot, pass: hot.
Both sides turned to cold (ac off)- Driver: ambient, pass: ambient.
Have not checked codes yet. Is it possible that the driver's actuator is not fully opening? And how difficult is it to access?
Last edited by plaster; Jul 5, 2006 at 01:14 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
Just started exhibiting the same problem. I have the gauges to check the pressure, I just need to go do it. I do know I have a leak at the rear of the compressor that I used some stop leak on last year and it has been good since then but maybe now I'm low again. I haven't looked for any codes and I recently blanketly cleared all codes. I'll check again for any HVAC codes. My compressor does not seem to be cycling but I am again getting a faint 'cooing' sound that was evident when I found the leak last summer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
The high and low side pressures vary with ambient temp and humidity. There is a table in the service manual. Whatever gauges you get make sure they have high and low pressure hookups and gauges. I got mine at Harbor Freight.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 8
From: Corpus Christi Tx.
Same issue
Not trying to hijack your thread, but have the EXACT same issue on my 2000. Lots of good info here but how about a answer to WHERE the actuator is actually mounted so it can be checked ????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Originally Posted by ICUALL
Not trying to hijack your thread, but have the EXACT same issue on my 2000. Lots of good info here but how about a answer to WHERE the actuator is actually mounted so it can be checked ????
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Reno Nevada
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ighlight=b0441
Take a look there for where the drivers side one is.
I was convinced through all of my reading on this site that my actuator was done for. I had both B0361 and B0441 codes. My drivers side was warm and the passenger side ice cold. I tried resetting the HVAC system and it only got worse, so I figured I had reset the actuator but instead of fixing itself, it just got more jammed/stuck closed.
But guess what, I added one can of R134 and it is ice cold on both sides. I dont know why, but I did it all myself and it fixed it.
It is worth a shot. Check your pressures first, obviously.
Take a look there for where the drivers side one is.
I was convinced through all of my reading on this site that my actuator was done for. I had both B0361 and B0441 codes. My drivers side was warm and the passenger side ice cold. I tried resetting the HVAC system and it only got worse, so I figured I had reset the actuator but instead of fixing itself, it just got more jammed/stuck closed.
But guess what, I added one can of R134 and it is ice cold on both sides. I dont know why, but I did it all myself and it fixed it.
It is worth a shot. Check your pressures first, obviously.
Twin Turbo Coupe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 768
Likes: 0
From: Frederick MD
Originally Posted by John600rr
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ighlight=b0441
Take a look there for where the drivers side one is.
I was convinced through all of my reading on this site that my actuator was done for. I had both B0361 and B0441 codes. My drivers side was warm and the passenger side ice cold. I tried resetting the HVAC system and it only got worse, so I figured I had reset the actuator but instead of fixing itself, it just got more jammed/stuck closed.
But guess what, I added one can of R134 and it is ice cold on both sides. I dont know why, but I did it all myself and it fixed it.
It is worth a shot. Check your pressures first, obviously.
Take a look there for where the drivers side one is.
I was convinced through all of my reading on this site that my actuator was done for. I had both B0361 and B0441 codes. My drivers side was warm and the passenger side ice cold. I tried resetting the HVAC system and it only got worse, so I figured I had reset the actuator but instead of fixing itself, it just got more jammed/stuck closed.
But guess what, I added one can of R134 and it is ice cold on both sides. I dont know why, but I did it all myself and it fixed it.
It is worth a shot. Check your pressures first, obviously.
Twin Turbo Coupe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 768
Likes: 0
From: Frederick MD
Originally Posted by ICUALL
Not trying to hijack your thread, but have the EXACT same issue on my 2000. Lots of good info here but how about a answer to WHERE the actuator is actually mounted so it can be checked ????
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Reno Nevada
Originally Posted by longdrive70
Are your codes coming back???
I checked this morning, and this afternoon. (I added some R134 last night, ran it for a test, then went to bed).
I got no HVAC codes this morning. But after all day, I got the B0441 to reappear. AC is ice cold on both sides, I played with the heat/cold and passenger/driver too and it is still working.
I really don't understand why it fixed, but it did.
The link I posted has a very good explanation where the actuator is.
It is pretty much underneath the steering wheel, but up against the firewall. Where the steering shaft goes into the engine bay. You should remove the plastic knee piece under the steering wheel to get to it. Check the link, its got a good picture from a service manual what the actual actuator looks like.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Irvine CA
I've been following this thread for sometime since I've had the same problem. My AC started blowing hot air after my battery died and I needed to jump start it. I've since replaced my battery with a Red top Optima.
I tried all the suggestions here, pulled the fuses, shorted the battery terminals, disconnected the battery overnight. Without any success. I figure before pulling the actuators, I'd try adding more FR134 and SUPRISE - now I have AC again. Seems really strange. But that fixed my problem.
I tried all the suggestions here, pulled the fuses, shorted the battery terminals, disconnected the battery overnight. Without any success. I figure before pulling the actuators, I'd try adding more FR134 and SUPRISE - now I have AC again. Seems really strange. But that fixed my problem.
Twin Turbo Coupe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 768
Likes: 0
From: Frederick MD
Originally Posted by RalphC5
I've been following this thread for sometime since I've had the same problem. My AC started blowing hot air after my battery died and I needed to jump start it. I've since replaced my battery with a Red top Optima.
I tried all the suggestions here, pulled the fuses, shorted the battery terminals, disconnected the battery overnight. Without any success. I figure before pulling the actuators, I'd try adding more FR134 and SUPRISE - now I have AC again. Seems really strange. But that fixed my problem.
I tried all the suggestions here, pulled the fuses, shorted the battery terminals, disconnected the battery overnight. Without any success. I figure before pulling the actuators, I'd try adding more FR134 and SUPRISE - now I have AC again. Seems really strange. But that fixed my problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
Here is the AC pressure chart if anyone's interested.
http://winters.dyndns.org/images/corvette/ACTables.xls
http://winters.dyndns.org/images/corvette/ACTables.xls
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Irvine CA
No I didn't have any of the actuator error codes. But no matter what temperature setting I had the climate control set to it would still blow hot air. This lead me to believe that I have the actuator stuck in the heater position. If it was just an issue with low FR134, I would have expected it to blow ambient air not heated air. That and it suddenly stopped working. Very confusing.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA from Boston MA
I'd like to try to add some R134 before I take it in to the shop.......how do you know how much to add??? I see the cans for sale in auto parts stores.....is there a gauge of some sort you need also????
Any advice will be appreciated.
Joel
Any advice will be appreciated.
Joel