A/C Performance degrading.....
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Cypress (Houston), Texas
A/C Performance degrading.....
Looking for some help.
Got a 2001 SCrew, 7 mos/9,000 miles old. The AC worked great until a few weeks ago. I live in Houston, so it gets used all the time.
I run the system on "max" most of the time since it is so hot and humid down here. Always turn to 'panel" when I get out of the truck.
The system cooling started fading. Noticed when driving home in traffic (the hottest part of the day) with the truck idling along. I know the system performance changes with ambient temp, but this is different. The air kind of feels "wet" coming out of the vents. It's cool, but not as cold as it has been. Also, I haven't seen the usual large puddles of water under the truck from condensation when I stop. Also, I can hear what sounds like a hissing from the dashboard after I park the truck.
Taking it in on Sept 11. Want to be able to talk "intellegently" with the dealer.
Thanks.
Got a 2001 SCrew, 7 mos/9,000 miles old. The AC worked great until a few weeks ago. I live in Houston, so it gets used all the time.
I run the system on "max" most of the time since it is so hot and humid down here. Always turn to 'panel" when I get out of the truck.
The system cooling started fading. Noticed when driving home in traffic (the hottest part of the day) with the truck idling along. I know the system performance changes with ambient temp, but this is different. The air kind of feels "wet" coming out of the vents. It's cool, but not as cold as it has been. Also, I haven't seen the usual large puddles of water under the truck from condensation when I stop. Also, I can hear what sounds like a hissing from the dashboard after I park the truck.
Taking it in on Sept 11. Want to be able to talk "intellegently" with the dealer.
Thanks.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Could be a number of things.
Low refrigerant could be causing this which means you have a leak somewhere in the system that will have to be found and repaired before they recharge the system.
Compressor cut-out faulty. There's a switch, vacuum operated I'm guessing, that cuts off the compressor when you hit the pedal.
Dirt in the system. Dirt (be it solder, metal, flux...) could have gotten dislodged in the system and gotten caught at the capillary tube, partially blocking it.
Vacuum leak or faulty controls could be causing the fresh air intake door opening which will introduce hot humid air into the system as though you had the control an the A/C position. Easy enough to check, just feel the grill below the windshield to see if air is being sucked thru it, or blow some smoke above it to see if it's sucked in.
Faulty clutch, easy to see. Just open the hood to see if the hub of the a/c compressor is slipping.
Low refrigerant could be causing this which means you have a leak somewhere in the system that will have to be found and repaired before they recharge the system.
Compressor cut-out faulty. There's a switch, vacuum operated I'm guessing, that cuts off the compressor when you hit the pedal.
Dirt in the system. Dirt (be it solder, metal, flux...) could have gotten dislodged in the system and gotten caught at the capillary tube, partially blocking it.
Vacuum leak or faulty controls could be causing the fresh air intake door opening which will introduce hot humid air into the system as though you had the control an the A/C position. Easy enough to check, just feel the grill below the windshield to see if air is being sucked thru it, or blow some smoke above it to see if it's sucked in.
Faulty clutch, easy to see. Just open the hood to see if the hub of the a/c compressor is slipping.
Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Strong Wind,
You may want to have your dealer check the Freon level. Was at the dealer today and found that mine was low from the factory. Had noticed that it cooled OK while riding down the road at normal speed but on hot days would seem to blow a little hotter air at stoplights, stop signs or just sitting at idle. Dealer said this was not "uncommon" to find low levels since they are "assembly line filled" and according to him probably not gauged by vehicle after filling but by a certain amount from whatever dispenses the freon.
You may want to have your dealer check the Freon level. Was at the dealer today and found that mine was low from the factory. Had noticed that it cooled OK while riding down the road at normal speed but on hot days would seem to blow a little hotter air at stoplights, stop signs or just sitting at idle. Dealer said this was not "uncommon" to find low levels since they are "assembly line filled" and according to him probably not gauged by vehicle after filling but by a certain amount from whatever dispenses the freon.