Another A/C problem
DeanAtHPC
06-09-2005, 07:18 PM
Well when we bought this van used the A/C wasn't working.. Was told it probably just needed a recharge and everything would be fine.. so finally today i bit the bullet and bought the whole kit ($58) from autozone. I'm not a mechanic by and stretch of the imagination so this is a miracle in itself.. :)
Got everything hooked up nice and easy like.. As soon as I opened the valve he compressor kicked right in! how nice.. I did it.. it's fixed.. so i let it run per the instructions and... well... now the bad news..
The rear a/c is working fine.. nice and cold air.. major improvement.. the front? well not so good.. still warm air... again I'm no mechanic and this A/C stuff scares me to say the least..
Does anyone have any ideas? Is there something I'm missing or is this going to be a waste of my $58? I thought it was going to need another can so i spiked it and well it' not taking it (no idea what to do with that can either - suggestions?). I would love to have the A/C working for the wife and kid but there would be a limit as to how much I'll pay to get it fixed i think... :)
Got everything hooked up nice and easy like.. As soon as I opened the valve he compressor kicked right in! how nice.. I did it.. it's fixed.. so i let it run per the instructions and... well... now the bad news..
The rear a/c is working fine.. nice and cold air.. major improvement.. the front? well not so good.. still warm air... again I'm no mechanic and this A/C stuff scares me to say the least..
Does anyone have any ideas? Is there something I'm missing or is this going to be a waste of my $58? I thought it was going to need another can so i spiked it and well it' not taking it (no idea what to do with that can either - suggestions?). I would love to have the A/C working for the wife and kid but there would be a limit as to how much I'll pay to get it fixed i think... :)
GregA
06-09-2005, 08:55 PM
...
The rear a/c is working fine.. nice and cold air.. major improvement.. the front? well not so good.. still warm air... again I'm no mechanic and this A/C stuff scares me to say the least..
Does anyone have any ideas? Is there something I'm missing or is this going to be a waste of my $58? I thought it was going to need another can so i spiked it and well it' not taking it (no idea what to do with that can either - suggestions?). I would love to have the A/C working for the wife and kid but there would be a limit as to how much I'll pay to get it fixed i think... :)
Dean,
If ANY part of the system is working (and keeps working) you did NOT waste your money. Just wait for one of the hot summer days and you will be happy you spent the money.
As for the front unit, I would suggest you feel the A/C lines going into the firewall (when the unit is operating). If the lines are COLD, you probably do not have a major problem.
It could just be that the air control doors within the front A/C-Heater Assembly are not working. I believe they are vacuum controlled on your van (1998). There is a pretty good diagram at the link below that might help figure out what is going on.
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1b/e9/79/0900823d801be979.jsp
You should probably HEAR the doors move when you change the controls from HEAT to A/C. If you hear a "hissing" sound on the inside of the van when you turn the temperature control, you probably have a leak in the control lines.
I hope this helps,
The rear a/c is working fine.. nice and cold air.. major improvement.. the front? well not so good.. still warm air... again I'm no mechanic and this A/C stuff scares me to say the least..
Does anyone have any ideas? Is there something I'm missing or is this going to be a waste of my $58? I thought it was going to need another can so i spiked it and well it' not taking it (no idea what to do with that can either - suggestions?). I would love to have the A/C working for the wife and kid but there would be a limit as to how much I'll pay to get it fixed i think... :)
Dean,
If ANY part of the system is working (and keeps working) you did NOT waste your money. Just wait for one of the hot summer days and you will be happy you spent the money.
As for the front unit, I would suggest you feel the A/C lines going into the firewall (when the unit is operating). If the lines are COLD, you probably do not have a major problem.
It could just be that the air control doors within the front A/C-Heater Assembly are not working. I believe they are vacuum controlled on your van (1998). There is a pretty good diagram at the link below that might help figure out what is going on.
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1b/e9/79/0900823d801be979.jsp
You should probably HEAR the doors move when you change the controls from HEAT to A/C. If you hear a "hissing" sound on the inside of the van when you turn the temperature control, you probably have a leak in the control lines.
I hope this helps,
cdru
06-09-2005, 11:22 PM
The front A/C system and the rear are all one system aren't they? A leak in one eventually effects the the other? If one works and the other doesn't, I would think that it would be more an airsupply issue rather then a refrigerent or compressor issue.
DeanAtHPC
06-11-2005, 09:46 PM
Well when we bought this van used the A/C wasn't working.. Was told it probably just needed a recharge and everything would be fine.. so finally today i bit the bullet and bought the whole kit ($58) from autozone. I'm not a mechanic by and stretch of the imagination so this is a miracle in itself.. :)
Got everything hooked up nice and easy like.. As soon as I opened the valve he compressor kicked right in! how nice.. I did it.. it's fixed.. so i let it run per the instructions and... well... now the bad news..
The rear a/c is working fine.. nice and cold air.. major improvement.. the front? well not so good.. still warm air... again I'm no mechanic and this A/C stuff scares me to say the least..
Does anyone have any ideas? Is there something I'm missing or is this going to be a waste of my $58? I thought it was going to need another can so i spiked it and well it' not taking it (no idea what to do with that can either - suggestions?). I would love to have the A/C working for the wife and kid but there would be a limit as to how much I'll pay to get it fixed i think... :)
No matter.. Just checked the system again.. the back is no longer blowing cold air.. took a look at the compressor and the clutch never engaged.. i'm willing to bet I have a leak somewhere.. and that could very well be why they got rid of it!! :( bummer...
Got everything hooked up nice and easy like.. As soon as I opened the valve he compressor kicked right in! how nice.. I did it.. it's fixed.. so i let it run per the instructions and... well... now the bad news..
The rear a/c is working fine.. nice and cold air.. major improvement.. the front? well not so good.. still warm air... again I'm no mechanic and this A/C stuff scares me to say the least..
Does anyone have any ideas? Is there something I'm missing or is this going to be a waste of my $58? I thought it was going to need another can so i spiked it and well it' not taking it (no idea what to do with that can either - suggestions?). I would love to have the A/C working for the wife and kid but there would be a limit as to how much I'll pay to get it fixed i think... :)
No matter.. Just checked the system again.. the back is no longer blowing cold air.. took a look at the compressor and the clutch never engaged.. i'm willing to bet I have a leak somewhere.. and that could very well be why they got rid of it!! :( bummer...
jhong1226
06-12-2005, 07:48 AM
are you talking about the heater control valve ,CDRU? if so its in the engine compartment above the air filter box,its attached to the strut bar with a mount.
cdru
06-12-2005, 02:09 PM
No what I was meaning was that if one works, the other should work as well. I don't believe the front and back are two seperately sealed off systems.
If the back was working and the front wasn't, most likely the problem with the front wasn't with the actual air conditioning system, but rather either the controls or the air routing mechanism.
Dumping refridgerent into the system was the best thing to do without figuring out what the original problem was. If it had a leak or was opened up to the atmosphere, that means that air could had made it's way back into the system. A vacuum should have been pulled first. That would have quickly told you if there was a leak in the system if it could hold a vacuum or not. Then at that point R134A could have been put back into the system. Now as it stands, you are out $58 and you still don't have AC.
If the system has been open for any extended period of time, the receiver/drier may need to be replaced as well.
If the back was working and the front wasn't, most likely the problem with the front wasn't with the actual air conditioning system, but rather either the controls or the air routing mechanism.
Dumping refridgerent into the system was the best thing to do without figuring out what the original problem was. If it had a leak or was opened up to the atmosphere, that means that air could had made it's way back into the system. A vacuum should have been pulled first. That would have quickly told you if there was a leak in the system if it could hold a vacuum or not. Then at that point R134A could have been put back into the system. Now as it stands, you are out $58 and you still don't have AC.
If the system has been open for any extended period of time, the receiver/drier may need to be replaced as well.
DeanAtHPC
06-12-2005, 05:21 PM
Well I have two cans of R-134 left... Thankfully....
If I had known to pull a vacuum first then I would have done that. This type of system scares me.. I have no knowledge of it which is the main problem. I just know in these 90 degree days with the high humidity I wished I had it working...
If I had known to pull a vacuum first then I would have done that. This type of system scares me.. I have no knowledge of it which is the main problem. I just know in these 90 degree days with the high humidity I wished I had it working...
neoflee
06-14-2005, 11:15 PM
Well I have two cans of R-134 left... Thankfully....
If I had known to pull a vacuum first then I would have done that. This type of system scares me.. I have no knowledge of it which is the main problem. I just know in these 90 degree days with the high humidity I wished I had it working...
in a 2000 venture, where do I charge the ac? is it right behind the fans and in front of the manafold? or is it under the cruise control? I need to get a book but cant really afford one. I have the charging kit but am not sure where to go with it , (not mechanicly inclined)
jon
If I had known to pull a vacuum first then I would have done that. This type of system scares me.. I have no knowledge of it which is the main problem. I just know in these 90 degree days with the high humidity I wished I had it working...
in a 2000 venture, where do I charge the ac? is it right behind the fans and in front of the manafold? or is it under the cruise control? I need to get a book but cant really afford one. I have the charging kit but am not sure where to go with it , (not mechanicly inclined)
jon
DeanAtHPC
06-15-2005, 07:45 AM
in a 2000 venture, where do I charge the ac? is it right behind the fans and in front of the manafold? or is it under the cruise control? I need to get a book but cant really afford one. I have the charging kit but am not sure where to go with it , (not mechanicly inclined)
jon
Mine was located right next to the fans. That was the low pressure side for me. I'm not sure about the 2000 model unless it's the same.
Anyone else like to input on this one?
jon
Mine was located right next to the fans. That was the low pressure side for me. I'm not sure about the 2000 model unless it's the same.
Anyone else like to input on this one?
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2025