05 A/C issues , Help please
Thread Starter
Vette Life
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 424
Likes: 176
From: Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey
05 A/C issues , Help please
Hi everyone,
Took my 05 Vert out today and noticed my A/C was not blowing cold.Fan blowing hard but cold air not so much. I don't believe I heard the compressor turning on either. I recently replaced my battery, and this was the first time using since. Any pointers on where I can begin with troubleshooting this? It's always worked great until today. Car has 50k miles. Thanks guys !!
Took my 05 Vert out today and noticed my A/C was not blowing cold.Fan blowing hard but cold air not so much. I don't believe I heard the compressor turning on either. I recently replaced my battery, and this was the first time using since. Any pointers on where I can begin with troubleshooting this? It's always worked great until today. Car has 50k miles. Thanks guys !!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 4,473
Likes: 1,009
From: Pflugerville, TX
Mine in my 05 went out last summer with 28k miles. Mine was the ac clutch stuck.
Replaced the whole system for $2300.
Take it to an ac specialist and have them check the system out.
Manny
Replaced the whole system for $2300.
Take it to an ac specialist and have them check the system out.
Manny
Last edited by Topduarte; Jul 18, 2021 at 05:33 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 611
From: DFW Texas
Not much you can do without R134a gauges to measure the charge. A visual inspection may help. I have attached a procedure to follow to check out the A/C clutch. Otherwise, your best bet is to take it to a good auto A/C technician.
Good luck & let us know the fix.
GD
Good luck & let us know the fix.
GD
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,592
Likes: 1,671
From: Pearland / Houston Tx
Do you have mechanical ability? You can get free loaner tools from Autozone and learn a lot before taking it to a shop.
Loaner AC manifold gauge set.....hook up and check if any pressure/refrigerant in the system. If there is check compressor,clutch, pressure switch, etc.
if no pressure.....Loaner AC vacuum pump and Loaner AC dye injector kit. Also get a can of R134a, a can tap and AC leak detector dye.... about $25 for all 3.
Draw a vacuum, squirt in the dye and a can of freon. Hopefully compressor will kick on to circulate dye. Check for leak with black light that comes in kit.
Good luck
Loaner AC manifold gauge set.....hook up and check if any pressure/refrigerant in the system. If there is check compressor,clutch, pressure switch, etc.
if no pressure.....Loaner AC vacuum pump and Loaner AC dye injector kit. Also get a can of R134a, a can tap and AC leak detector dye.... about $25 for all 3.
Draw a vacuum, squirt in the dye and a can of freon. Hopefully compressor will kick on to circulate dye. Check for leak with black light that comes in kit.
Good luck
Thread Starter
Vette Life
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 424
Likes: 176
From: Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey
Thank you guys. I have enough mechanical knowledge to troubleshoot I just have never messed with an AC system before so looking for some starting points. I'll definitely try some of the ideas you guys mentioned and see what I come up with. Your help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks again
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,527
Likes: 885
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
2019 C6 of Year Winner (track prepared)
Thank you guys. I have enough mechanical knowledge to troubleshoot I just have never messed with an AC system before so looking for some starting points. I'll definitely try some of the ideas you guys mentioned and see what I come up with. Your help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks again
I'd start off buying one of those freon refill cans from an auto parts place that comes with a good gauge. If you follow the instructions you may just be low and topping it up will do the trick.
If your freon level is too low however then the compressor won't even attempt to turn on which means you can't add any more using the refill can. To get around this there's a way to jumper the compressor to force it on and let you top it up. I can't remember the procedure but it's all over the Web. This is how I had to refill the entire system when I replaced the compressor in my truck last year. Even though I replaced it myself at home, it works well on even the hottest days (it hit 113 here last week).
If you successfully add freon and the compressor comes on but it's still not blowing cold then it's Iikely shot. If it works well but only lasts a short while before it gives out again then you likely have a leak in the system somewhere. To troubleshoot that there are UV dyes you can add to possibly figure out where it's coming from.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by subfloor@centurytrans; Jul 18, 2021 at 11:09 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
If the underlying cause is a leak then this suggestion is admittedly a bandaid solution but you might get lucky.
I'd start off buying one of those freon refill cans from an auto parts place that comes with a good gauge. If you follow the instructions you may just be low and topping it up will do the trick.
If your freon level is too low however then the compressor won't even attempt to turn on which means you can't add any more using the refill can. To get around this there's a way to jumper the compressor to force it on and let you top it up. I can't remember the procedure but it's all over the Web. This is how I had to refill the entire system when I replaced the compressor in my truck last year. Even though I replaced it myself at home, it works well on even the hottest days (it hit 113 here last week).
If you successfully add freon and the compressor comes on but it's still not blowing cold then it's Iikely shot. If it works well but only lasts a short while before it gives out again then you likely have a leak in the system somewhere. To troubleshoot that there are UV dyes you can add to possibly figure out where it's coming from.
Hope this helps.
I'd start off buying one of those freon refill cans from an auto parts place that comes with a good gauge. If you follow the instructions you may just be low and topping it up will do the trick.
If your freon level is too low however then the compressor won't even attempt to turn on which means you can't add any more using the refill can. To get around this there's a way to jumper the compressor to force it on and let you top it up. I can't remember the procedure but it's all over the Web. This is how I had to refill the entire system when I replaced the compressor in my truck last year. Even though I replaced it myself at home, it works well on even the hottest days (it hit 113 here last week).
If you successfully add freon and the compressor comes on but it's still not blowing cold then it's Iikely shot. If it works well but only lasts a short while before it gives out again then you likely have a leak in the system somewhere. To troubleshoot that there are UV dyes you can add to possibly figure out where it's coming from.
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Vette Life
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 424
Likes: 176
From: Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey
so I was able to get some time to troubleshoot today. I ran the AC and the compressor was definitely kicking on but still blowing not very cool. I purchased a can of the AC pro and checked the gauge, showed in the green but towards the low end. I topped her off to about mid way of the green shown on gauge , which wasn't very much, and she's back to blowing ice cold again. I'll keep an eye on it the next few days and see if it continues. I appreciate everyone's help and feedback once again. This forum is such a great asset to the corvette community and I'm grateful for everyone's input in helping me out!!
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,527
Likes: 885
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
2019 C6 of Year Winner (track prepared)
so I was able to get some time to troubleshoot today. I ran the AC and the compressor was definitely kicking on but still blowing not very cool. I purchased a can of the AC pro and checked the gauge, showed in the green but towards the low end. I topped her off to about mid way of the green shown on gauge , which wasn't very much, and she's back to blowing ice cold again. I'll keep an eye on it the next few days and see if it continues. I appreciate everyone's help and feedback once again. This forum is such a great asset to the corvette community and I'm grateful for everyone's input in helping me out!!
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective.