air conditioning problems...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 143
From: Goodyear Az
air conditioning problems...
About 1 week ago my A/C quit putting out cold air. Now if I depress the AC button on the car, it shuts itself off and there are no codes. Is this a job for a shop, since the A/C won't run and there are no codes? I've checked the AC belt and it's intact. No noises from the AC system, it just won't stay on, and when it did, the air was no longer cold.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 966
Likes: 9
From: Phoenix AZ
If the system either has too little or too much pressure, it won't turn on and the a/c light will flash. Not sure if either condition is supposed to set a code, but when I evacuated my a/c system, I know that no codes were set in the DIC. There are a few good posts regarding a/c diagnosis (search for one by member Plasticfan). Depending on what you're comfortable doing yourself, you may be better off taking it to a shop. There, they can check the pressure and pull a vacuum to determine if there are leaks before recharging the system. Probably cost ~$100.
Rocco
Rocco
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 9
From: Eddy Texas
When you say "shuts itself off", do you mean the A/C light on the controller shuts off? Does it flash and then go off? What does your outside temp reading say, and is it correct?
p.s.: If you were low on Freon, you should have a code.
p.s.: If you were low on Freon, you should have a code.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 143
From: Goodyear Az
Yesterday the I would depress the AC button, the light would go on, and then a few seconds later the light would go off. This morning I tried it again and now the light turns on, then starts blinking, and within a few seconds it turns off.
I have the Service Manual set, but no AC tools, so I think I'm just going to take it to a shop.
I have the Service Manual set, but no AC tools, so I think I'm just going to take it to a shop.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
Get a can of refrigerant with a gauge on it, maybe $20 at almost any store. Then check the normal fill port, with the engine running. It should give you an idea if the pressure is causing the issue. Besides that I'd check the fuses, wires to the compressor, and the belt. Fuse 24 under the hood and relay 34. That would be pretty cheap and quick to do before taking time to go to a shop, unless you don't want to do any work which is the way I'm feeling about my current project LOL.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 7
From: Bucks County Pa
Need the AC to be running
Get a can of refrigerant with a gauge on it, maybe $20 at almost any store. Then check the normal fill port, with the engine running. It should give you an idea if the pressure is causing the issue. Besides that I'd check the fuses, wires to the compressor, and the belt. Fuse 24 under the hood and relay 34. That would be pretty cheap and quick to do before taking time to go to a shop, unless you don't want to do any work which is the way I'm feeling about my current project LOL.
Last edited by bestvettever; May 12, 2008 at 11:28 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Doral FL
Can some one direct me to where is the normal fill port on a C5 97. Thanks
Hi, the problem with this test is that the AC (not only the engine)needs to be running to get a reading. If as he says it won't stay on he won't get a proper reading, unless he trips either the low, or high or both pressure switches with a trip wire, paper clip or some other ingenious way. But as a general rule, if you hook up the guage and turn on the AC and watch the guage at the same time, in the instant the compressor turns on if the pressure drops below the ok level,(30psi), real fast before the comp shuts off, and then shuts off, it may indicate a low refridgerant level . It could also mean a few other things like a restriction in the low side,or orifice tube, etc. If On the other hand, if the guage shows a higher level and then the comp shuts off, it may mean a clogged condenser. Fwiw I believe on the vette if either of these conditions are there, they will throw a code. Also if you don't know for sure that the ref level is low, DO NOT add more refridgerant to the system. To much ref is as bad as not enough. Good Luck..
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