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1 side cold, 1 side hot

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Old Jun 5, 2009 | 10:08 AM
  #1  
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Default 1 side cold, 1 side hot

Can anyone help me please?
1998 C5 Automatic
I had my AC on high and the left side blows cold air and the right side blows hot air even though the tempurature settings are set all the way to the left which is cold. Can any tech tell me how to fix this issue?

Thanks
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Old Jun 5, 2009 | 10:10 AM
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it is most likely the actuator control...my driver side is jacked up

there is a thread hopefully someone will post it
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Old Jun 5, 2009 | 11:08 AM
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I think low refrigerant can also cause this.
Check your freon level before you start taking things apart.
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Old Jun 5, 2009 | 02:10 PM
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I know that there is a post on this, but I don't have the link. If you start a thread saying A/C actuator resetting?, you may get some help. The actuator is located under the dash. It's a real bitch to get to. I got it out, and according to the thread I saw, you have to take it apart, and there are two gears there. You remove one, and turn it to allow the actuator door to reset properly so that the air flow is split between the driver and passenger side. If you are getting cold air on one side , and not the other, this is the problem. I also had an issue with my condenser, and that had to be replaced. Hope your issue is just the actuator door.
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Old Jun 6, 2009 | 01:30 AM
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I'll add another low Freon vote. Why? Cause I've been there done that. Did the reset. Checked and pulled the fuses. Disconnected the battery. Checked for codes. Checked the vacuum line behind the intake. Wasted two days reading and chasing the fixes. Just one can of Freon and I was chillin again.
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Old Jun 6, 2009 | 07:59 AM
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Default Freon

Check through the other posts, I believe that adding freon will only cure the problem of having a cold passenger side and hot driver side... Apparently the "bottom" half of the coil cools the passenger side and if freon is low this is the only part of the coil that gets cold???

My AC seems to confirm this. I have cold passenger and hot driver side. I add a can of freon and I am cold on both sides for months. The drivers side will slowly get warmer and warmer until I do it again.

I plan to go through and tighten some connection points and see if that makes a difference, I have heard that a lot of our systems leak at the compressor hose connection. Also thinking about getting it dyed to see exactly where my leak is.
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 12:34 AM
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Originally Posted by jraddington
Check through the other posts, I believe that adding freon will only cure the problem of having a cold passenger side and hot driver side... Apparently the "bottom" half of the coil cools the passenger side and if freon is low this is the only part of the coil that gets cold???

My AC seems to confirm this. I have cold passenger and hot driver side. I add a can of freon and I am cold on both sides for months. The drivers side will slowly get warmer and warmer until I do it again.

I plan to go through and tighten some connection points and see if that makes a difference, I have heard that a lot of our systems leak at the compressor hose connection. Also thinking about getting it dyed to see exactly where my leak is.
You're right, I missed the left side cold comment. My car acts like yours and I think it's the compressor shaft seal. Usually you will see oil seepage where you have a leak, the area behind the compressor pully is oily on my car. All the other connections are dry.
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 12:54 AM
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I agree. It should be the actuator in the dash. Pull codes to confirm.
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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 01:36 PM
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Try this first, its free and works for me every time.

Disconnect the battery over night. Let it sit for a good 12-18 hours.

Make sure when you reconnect the terminal you don't make a connection then lose it fumbling around. Keep it held tight until you get the bolt secured. 8 MM

For some reason, and especially if you disconnected your battery for a few minutes or had a dead battery the ac needs to re-index itself.

Over the past 2 years I have installed my stereo, had a dead battery and replaced the engine. Every time the AC blew cold on one side. Did this little trick and all three times it reset perfectly blowing cold on each side.


Best of luck

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Old Jun 7, 2009 | 04:01 PM
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The link below shows how fix the hot/cold problems by installing new actuators. I saw a post on how to repair the old ones, but I can't find it.

hvac actuator replacement
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Old Jun 19, 2009 | 07:03 PM
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I had the hot drivers / cold passenger problem on my 98. After searching the forum, I checked the codes. I had 1 of the failed actuator codes.. Cleared the code and it fixed the problem... almost... still warmer on drivers side (but not HOT like before). Needed to add some R-134a.. Now it's like new again.

My advise is to ignore the advise to disconnect the battery or pull fuses . Just check the codes and the freon pressure.
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Old Jun 19, 2009 | 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by pewter99
it is most likely the actuator control...my driver side is jacked up

there is a thread hopefully someone will post it
Here's the link to re-indexing the controls : http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...actuators.html

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Old Jun 20, 2009 | 11:07 AM
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I'll bet you a beer you're freon is low. I just fixed mine 3 days ago. Had the EXACT same problem. Had .57 of the 1.63 lbs she was supposed to have. Charged it up- pulled fuse 18 and 27- and presto!!! We have cold air!!

Have the freon level checked, charge it, then pull the fuses and reset the blend doors. The acutuators do go bad- and sometimes they need to be reindexed (PITA), but try the easy stuff first. And let me know about that beer!
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