AC not working right
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Check the freon level.
No joke. You would think it would be a damper door or something, but a little low on freon can cause cool air only on one side.
No joke. You would think it would be a damper door or something, but a little low on freon can cause cool air only on one side.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Jan 4, 2008 at 05:23 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
You want AC, move to fricken CT, Its 14 degrees here!!
On a more serious note, Yep,,,,check the DTCs for any HVAC DTCs. If you have them try this procedure:
Turn the HVAC System OFF.
Pull up the DTC and scroll down to HVAC and check for DTCs Write down the listed DTC and then clear them. When you clear them you will hear the HVAC actuators cycle through their full ranges. Once they stop, turn on the HVAC and see if the problem is resolved. If NOT, repeat this procedure a number of times. I had to do it 5-6 times and since then,,I have been code and trouble free!!
The actuators will NOTwork if you have actuator failure DTCs.
If you cant clear the DTCs after trying 5-6 times, the actuator/s could be bad. The gear on the output shaft splits!
If you DONT have DTCs ,,,YEP, check the R-134A level.
BC
BC
On a more serious note, Yep,,,,check the DTCs for any HVAC DTCs. If you have them try this procedure:
Turn the HVAC System OFF.
Pull up the DTC and scroll down to HVAC and check for DTCs Write down the listed DTC and then clear them. When you clear them you will hear the HVAC actuators cycle through their full ranges. Once they stop, turn on the HVAC and see if the problem is resolved. If NOT, repeat this procedure a number of times. I had to do it 5-6 times and since then,,I have been code and trouble free!!
The actuators will NOTwork if you have actuator failure DTCs.
If you cant clear the DTCs after trying 5-6 times, the actuator/s could be bad. The gear on the output shaft splits!
If you DONT have DTCs ,,,YEP, check the R-134A level.
BC
BC
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 3
From: Hawaii
Thanks guys. No codes. First thing I checked. Added some R-134A and that seemed to resovle the problem. STRANGE.....
I've added the refrigerant twice before (with in the last 9 months) when the system was not cold. I suspect I have a small leak somewhere. But the question remains... Why now only the driver's side....?
I've added the refrigerant twice before (with in the last 9 months) when the system was not cold. I suspect I have a small leak somewhere. But the question remains... Why now only the driver's side....?
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 631
Likes: 3
From: Joppa AL
Thanks guys. No codes. First thing I checked. Added some R-134A and that seemed to resovle the problem. STRANGE.....
I've added the refrigerant twice before (with in the last 9 months) when the system was not cold. I suspect I have a small leak somewhere. But the question remains... Why now only the driver's side....?
I've added the refrigerant twice before (with in the last 9 months) when the system was not cold. I suspect I have a small leak somewhere. But the question remains... Why now only the driver's side....?
Since then I have seen dozens of posts just like yours that proved the opposite. I am now a believer but I still can't explain it. I even showed the evidence to a friend of mine who is an AC guru (maintains several thousand tons of AC) and he said "Doesn't make any sense to me".
Perhaps others can explain this better than I. At this point I'm just going to file this in the big folder titled "Stuff I know how to fix but don't fully understand".
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 13
From: Kinston North Carolina
Let me try to explain in a few words. I found out the hard way. When charge refrig is low, the side of the evap closest to the inlet is colder than the side closest to the outlet. With a dual system, the pass side is fed by the half of the evap that is closest to the inlet, so driver side gets fed by the half cosest to the outlet. Someone else should chime in and agree or disagree with my theroy.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Let me try to explain in a few words. I found out the hard way. When charge refrig is low, the side of the evap closest to the inlet is colder than the side closest to the outlet. With a dual system, the pass side is fed by the half of the evap that is closest to the inlet, so driver side gets fed by the half cosest to the outlet. Someone else should chime in and agree or disagree with my theroy.
100% Correct! You posted a few minutes before I did and I was going to explain it in a similar way!
The length of the cooling coil tubing (Evaporator) , the size of the expansion orifice and the correct operating pressure of the system allows the liquid R-134a sprayed into the evaporator tubing to remain a liquid spray long enough to absorb heat throughout the evaporator coil (passenger & drivers side) when the system is at all the correct parameters. When the pressure and R-134a is low, the sprayed R-134a runs out of heat absorbing capacity somewhere in the middle of the evaporator, (leaving the passengers side warmer than the drivers side) and the liquid R-134a is transfered completely to a gas which cant absorb any more heat from the cooling coil tubing.
Thats my theory and I'm sticking to it!
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