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Old 08-21-2013, 12:06 PM   #1
fhofstra
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2000 Intrigue A/C problems

My 2000 Intrigue has joined the ranks of those with A/C troubles. Specifically, warm air for driver, cold air for passenger. I have the dual-temp control.
After reading over the considerable number of forum threads on this problem, I did the following.

First, confirmed that both driver's and passenger's vent control actuators were working. I think they are. The air is controlled properly, to the floor, to the dash vents, to defrosting, and to their various combinations. It was just the difference in temperature that I was troubleshooting.

Next, since low Freon is apparently a common reason for this, I put two 12-ounce cans of Freon in the system. I used a short hose and gauge that came with a previous can of Freon. I was able to confirm at the start, that the pressure was low, about 35psi, where it should have been between 40 and 50, at the the-current air temp of 80.

Near the end of getting the second can installed (only the bottom of the can was still cold), I checked the pressure. According to the instructions, you can only get accurate pressure indications when you have closed the valve at the can end. I did so, and it showed 45, or just about right. I reopened the valve, and walked away for a few minutes. On returning, I found the pressure was off the scale, high, whether the valve at the can was open or closed.
The gauge uses a standard 270-degree reading scale, from 0 psi to 80 psi max, at the end of its range, red-lined at 55 psi. If you extrapolate beyond the 80, you'd get to about 110 psi when the needle hits against the zero stop. The gauge now reads to that zero-stop, immediately on putting it on the low-pressure port. So there is over 110 psi on it.

The current A/C behaviour is essentially the same, except the passenger side is now only cool, no longer cold. After two 12-ounce cans of Freon, it should have been at least as good (cold) as before, right? But the sudden, wildly-high pressure reading at the low-pressure port indicates something must have seriously failed, so that would be first thing to troubleshoot and fix.

Does this behaviour sound familiar to any of you A/C experts? Thanks for ideas and suggestions.
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Old 08-21-2013, 01:07 PM   #2
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Re: 2000 Intrigue A/C problems

My first mission would be to get that extra refrigerant out of the system. To much refrigerant is worse than not enough. You are now running the risk of literally blowing a pressure line. Start there and proceed forward. You are right 99% of the time hot on one side cool on the other is an indication of low charge level.
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Old 08-21-2013, 01:59 PM   #3
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Re: 2000 Intrigue A/C problems

Kevin - thanks for your reply.

1. Any tips on how would I get excess Freon out of the system? I've not had to do that one before. I can check youtube.

2. Since 3/4 of two cans got me from say, 35psi to 45 psi, the last 1/4 of the total amount would not likely have put me beyond 50 psi, would it? I have often heard of users putting in "a couple of cans" of Freon when their systems were low, and assume that the amount I put in was not excessive in this case. I could be wrong,

3. Wouldn't the huge jump from 45 psi to (well over) 110 psi indicate that something has indeed already, blown?
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Old 08-21-2013, 02:20 PM   #4
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Re: 2000 Intrigue A/C problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by fhofstra View Post
Kevin - thanks for your reply.

1. Any tips on how would I get excess Freon out of the system? I've not had to do that one before. I can check youtube.

2. Since 3/4 of two cans got me from say, 35psi to 45 psi, the last 1/4 of the total amount would not likely have put me beyond 50 psi, would it? I have often heard of users putting in "a couple of cans" of Freon when their systems were low, and assume that the amount I put in was not excessive in this case. I could be wrong,

3. Wouldn't the huge jump from 45 psi to (well over) 110 psi indicate that something has indeed already, blown?

The environmentally friendly responsible (run on I know) way would be to take it to a shop and have them evacuate the system of the excess. This costs money obviously, and they get to keep your refrigerant. The backyard shade tree mechanic way of doing it is to just put the hose back on it without the can and vent it off. Before the tree huggers attack me though, those little cans of air you use to clean your electronics, primary ingredient...134a.

2. Every vehicle has a sticker under the hood that tells you how much refrigerant goes into the system. Sometimes those little cheap gauges are not accurate. You could have been over when you thought you were fine. I have a full professional set of gauges just because I don't trust those cheap ones. The gauge could have been stuck. Any number of possibilities.

3. If the system is still working you are ok. When I mean blow, I mean it literally. One of the lines will usually go before anything else, and it is usually a high pressure line. If it blows, you will know. I just hope you don't have your face down there if it happens. Just don't operate the system until you get the extra refrigerant out.
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Old 08-21-2013, 04:52 PM   #5
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Re: 2000 Intrigue A/C problems

I'll bet the manufacturer of that cheap guage didn't put as much thought into it as you have. And your logic has no bearing on the construction of that guage. Why did you reopen the valve and walk away?? Like the previous poster said you need to have that system evacuated before ya blow something and it gets expensive. Your system needs to be evacuated,leak checked,repaired properly and then have the proper refrigerant charge and oil weighed in and recharged. These "A/C Pro" kits are gonna be a real money maker for alot of us guys.
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Old 08-22-2013, 07:54 AM   #6
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Re: 2000 Intrigue A/C problems

W-cars (as is yours) are known for cracked gear inside temp door actuator (you have one for each side since dual air system) so check the operation of the temp door for driver's side- you checked mode door-not temp door.

The actuator locks up and wont operate with the crack inside- I've changed about 20 W cars in my reign--they are pricey- try rock auto..
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Old 08-22-2013, 09:10 AM   #7
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Re: 2000 Intrigue A/C problems

Whenever, you have one side cooling and the other side warm, the first thing you do is to check the temp door actuators for the passenger and driver's side......

You can either go into ECON mode(which shuts off the compressor), or you just go into heat mode.......

Then you set both sides for full heat and measure each side with a thermometer.....they should be the same, around 145-155 on a fully warmed engine.....then set both sides for full cold.....both sides should drop to whatever the ambient air temp is....if they are the same, then the actuators are ok....

The reason why you have one side warm and the other cool, is because when you are low on freon, the refrigerant takes a short circuit through the upper half of the evaporator......so, since one side is fed by the upper half, and the other side is fed by the lower half, that's what causes the temp difference....
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Old 10-04-2013, 10:17 PM   #8
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Re: 2000 Intrigue A/C problems

Update: the A/C low-pressure port reading was accurate, verified with another gauge. It is back to normal pressure.
Finally got some time to take the IP apart enough to check both temperature actuators. Found the left (driver's) actuator not cycling. Removed both actuators and swapped them, to troubleshoot. Problem stayed with the original driver's actuator, now on the right (passenger's side). Took it apart to look for the broken gear mentioned by brcidd and adboll (another thread), but all gears were OK. Put it back together, and it worked. Temperature control seemed normal for both driver and passenger. If the actuator quits again, I will have a good idea what to replace.
Thanks for the suggestions.
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