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98 RAM, A/C stuck on HELP


rgabel
11-16-2004, 07:29 AM
My air conditioner keeps calling for the compressor to cut in. THe clutch is not stuck. It cuts in and out to keep the refrigerant cold. I found that the A/C clutch relay is always getting a 12V signal so somehow the PCM (or something) is telling it to be on, even though it doesn't seem to matter what position the heat selector switch is in. I haven't taken the switch out to check/clean yet but I think that is my next move. I have taken the relay out for now and, of course, that has stopped the cltutch from engaging/disengaging. Is this OK to be removed? temporarily?

What could be causing this??

Here is hoping that I don't have to replace the PCM. I imagine its one of those EXPENSIVE parts.

scoutinkeith
11-16-2004, 03:29 PM
what year is your truck? on my 99, the AC cycles on and off in most of the vent settings, the only ones that it DON'T cause the air to kick on are "face only" or "feet only" I've read someplace that the air IS supposed to cycle in all the other positions, I think it has something to do with removing moisture from the incoming air to keep the windows form fogging up. the cycling of the compressor also helps keep the system lubed so that the seals don't dry out and leak refrigerant.

rgabel
11-16-2004, 04:11 PM
It runs intermitently on any heat setting, even the floor and panel ones. When I removed the relay, I checked for voltage on the tab connector that power the relay and there was 12V no matter what setting the dial was on. I even tried putting it on the floor setting, turning off the truck and restarting it, but still 12V. With the relay in, if I have it on floor setting and turn the emperature dial all the way down to the left, I can freeze my feet off (must be fully charged with refridgerant).

I will have to start checking all of the vacuum lines (hoping thats cheaper than a PCM)..

scoutinkeith
11-17-2004, 06:58 AM
yea, vac lines would be my next guess too. however, I'm not sure if the AC is the same way, but I know that the lights on these trucks are switched on the ground side of the circuit. there is always power at the light socket, and the switch breaks the ground. if the AC is switched the same way, that may explanin having power at the relay all the time.

rgabel
11-17-2004, 07:27 AM
Unless i'm thinking wrong, if the swithch is open then there should be no ground side to the relay contacts and there shouldn't be 12V. otherwise the relay would always be calling for the A/C to run.
BTW, I still haven't had time to check the vac lines, probably thursday.

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