Help! Air Conditioner is Possessed
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 122
Likes: 3
From: Azle Texas
Help! Air Conditioner is Possessed
Car=05 Base/Auto
It's 105 in Dallas and my AC has lost it's mind!
Regardless of the mode, recirc, auto, split climate my AC will blow ambient then cold, then ambient with no pattern or behavior that I can predict.
Also, the fan speed will often times not match what has been selected in the display. i.e. full fan gets no air flow. I can wait a few mins and it will blow like crazy, wait a few more mins and goes to low flow again without me touching it. WTF!
At freeway speed, above 50, it behaves semi-normal. Around town I am lucky if can get it to blow cold at least 50% of the time.
Sometimes I get chilled air (not cold) with high fan speed then HAL 9000 will choose to give high fan with ambient air then just when I can't take it anymore I get low fan with cold air. That cycle with variations continues.
Freeway driving with the temp select at 60 is the only way I can calm it down. i.e. cold air and high fan consistently
If there is anything I can do lets hear it, otherwise I am stealership bound.
It's 105 in Dallas and my AC has lost it's mind!
Regardless of the mode, recirc, auto, split climate my AC will blow ambient then cold, then ambient with no pattern or behavior that I can predict.
Also, the fan speed will often times not match what has been selected in the display. i.e. full fan gets no air flow. I can wait a few mins and it will blow like crazy, wait a few more mins and goes to low flow again without me touching it. WTF!
At freeway speed, above 50, it behaves semi-normal. Around town I am lucky if can get it to blow cold at least 50% of the time.
Sometimes I get chilled air (not cold) with high fan speed then HAL 9000 will choose to give high fan with ambient air then just when I can't take it anymore I get low fan with cold air. That cycle with variations continues.
Freeway driving with the temp select at 60 is the only way I can calm it down. i.e. cold air and high fan consistently
If there is anything I can do lets hear it, otherwise I am stealership bound.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,529
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Car=05 Base/Auto
It's 105 in Dallas and my AC has lost it's mind!
Regardless of the mode, recirc, auto, split climate my AC will blow ambient then cold, then ambient with no pattern or behavior that I can predict.
Also, the fan speed will often times not match what has been selected in the display. i.e. full fan gets no air flow. I can wait a few mins and it will blow like crazy, wait a few more mins and goes to low flow again without me touching it. WTF!
At freeway speed, above 50, it behaves semi-normal. Around town I am lucky if can get it to blow cold at least 50% of the time.
Sometimes I get chilled air (not cold) with high fan speed then HAL 9000 will choose to give high fan with ambient air then just when I can't take it anymore I get low fan with cold air. That cycle with variations continues.
Freeway driving with the temp select at 60 is the only way I can calm it down. i.e. cold air and high fan consistently
If there is anything I can do lets hear it, otherwise I am stealership bound.
It's 105 in Dallas and my AC has lost it's mind!
Regardless of the mode, recirc, auto, split climate my AC will blow ambient then cold, then ambient with no pattern or behavior that I can predict.
Also, the fan speed will often times not match what has been selected in the display. i.e. full fan gets no air flow. I can wait a few mins and it will blow like crazy, wait a few more mins and goes to low flow again without me touching it. WTF!
At freeway speed, above 50, it behaves semi-normal. Around town I am lucky if can get it to blow cold at least 50% of the time.
Sometimes I get chilled air (not cold) with high fan speed then HAL 9000 will choose to give high fan with ambient air then just when I can't take it anymore I get low fan with cold air. That cycle with variations continues.
Freeway driving with the temp select at 60 is the only way I can calm it down. i.e. cold air and high fan consistently
If there is anything I can do lets hear it, otherwise I am stealership bound.
Some early '05's had a bit too much original 'freon' charge, and cycled on and off in the hottest and most humid temps. Removal of a small amount can fix this. It doesn't take much, but best done by the dealer.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 122
Likes: 3
From: Azle Texas
Problem Solved!
Replaced cabin air filter. Done and 
It turns out that the AC system takes a flow reading from some sensors somewhere in the baffles after the filter. Clogged filter equals confused flow readings for computer. All of this equals a fan motor that has no idea what speed to blow at AND a compressor that has no idea to be on or off. Go figure.
I kinda feel like an idiot since this had not been done in 26K. :bb
I did not try the battery thing, it was next though.
All of this was in the nick of time since it is hotter than the 4th ring of hell in Dallas right now.
It turns out that the AC system takes a flow reading from some sensors somewhere in the baffles after the filter. Clogged filter equals confused flow readings for computer. All of this equals a fan motor that has no idea what speed to blow at AND a compressor that has no idea to be on or off. Go figure.
I kinda feel like an idiot since this had not been done in 26K. :bb
I did not try the battery thing, it was next though.
All of this was in the nick of time since it is hotter than the 4th ring of hell in Dallas right now.
