A/C warm driver's side only

[adboll]

I was hoping to maybe get some troubleshooting advice for the A/C system in my 1998 Olds Intrigue (3800 series II motor).
The system is the digital auto dual climate control A/C. Just recently the two driver side vents blow "vent" temperature air while the passenger side blows cold air with the overall temp setting set to 60 degrees. I took it into our local Pontiac dealership and the mechanic swears it is the compressor leaking. He said the system shuts down one side when the compressor is low on freon. This does not sound accurate with what is really going on. Why would one side shut down even though the passenger vents are cold??? It sounds to me more like some kind of dual plenum valve or something would be malfunctioning if there is such a thing. I have purchased a new compressor from Auto Zone ready to go in, but something tells me this won't fix my problem. Although I know how, I would rather not infiltrate my A/C system by changing the compressor, accumulator, and orfice valve if I do not have to. Any advice on this would be much appreciated.

[cleong]

I am having the same problem with my A/C and have been trying to figure out what is wrong with it. Please post back here if you solve the problem.

Thanks

[goaceman]

I have the same exact issue. The car air temp finally gets cold after about 15 minutes. It used to take around 5 minutes to get cold. The dealer put die in the system and ran for about 4-6 hrs cold not find any A/C leak. So when I brought it back 2 months later for the Oil Change, they checked again and this time they did seak the dye/leak. They said it was a very slow leak that the compressor was falling apart from the inside. Repair costs about $1800! I said no thank you it still works, not as good and I got an estimate from an independant mechanic to do it for$800. I just haven't had the time to go get it done. I live in Phx and it is HOT! I'm just hoping it won't run out of freon or just plain ol' die before I get it into the shop on my terms...

[cleong]

hmmm well for me the driver side doesn't get cold after awhile. It just sometimes goes back to normal when i start the car again. Other times it still has the problem no matter how many times I have restarted the car.

[kmohr3]

If the system was low on freon I would think both sides would be warm - there is only 1 evaporator in the car. I read somewhere in the manual that removing the HVAC fuse in the fuse panel for at least a minute can sometimes recalibrate the AC system.

[cleong]

Tried the fuse resetting thing but it didn't work.

[kmohr3]

Maybe you should bite the bullet and see if you can get a GM dealer mechanic to query the body control module with a Tech-II. If you can get any codes from the BCM I can look them up in my book. Unfortunately a generic OBD2 scanner probably wont be able to read BCM codes.

[tomd734]

I just had my 2000 olds intrigue a/c fixed, this is what they did, "problem is with controller count values" having to small of a range (0-255) GM says to replace with new up graded HVAC controller.
My mechanic dropped the dash and reset values,
A/c is now working for how long i do not know. Part of cause according to GM is if battery power is removed from car, the controller will need to resweep the actuator. It thinks door is closed all the way (cold) My guy removed actuator for blend air door move door as far as possible, disconnect battery and reconnect actuatorreconnect actuator and reconnect battery, the controller released new count values and it now works. good luck

[goaceman]

Well my freon finally ran out and I had to git her done! Cost me $800 bucks to replace the compressor. The old compressor had 152K miles on it and in Phx I think I got my moneys worth. The new compressor works as good as new. Although the "shade-tree" mechanic said he has done 100's of auto a/c compressors (he's bonded and certified for home a/c repair) that this auto Intrigue was by far the hardest he had ever done. Took him a good 1/2 day+ to fix it. He had to removed the front fendor, the alternator and the right front tire to get to it. I have a big tip because I still saved money-one dealer quoted $1,800.00 and another dealer quoted $1,250,00.

[salhany]

Originally Posted by tomd734

I just had my 2000 olds intrigue a/c fixed, this is what they did, "problem is with controller count values" having to small of a range (0-255) GM says to replace with new up graded HVAC controller.
My mechanic dropped the dash and reset values,
A/c is now working for how long i do not know. Part of cause according to GM is if battery power is removed from car, the controller will need to resweep the actuator. It thinks door is closed all the way (cold) My guy removed actuator for blend air door move door as far as possible, disconnect battery and reconnect actuatorreconnect actuator and reconnect battery, the controller released new count values and it now works. good luck

I have the same problem right now on my '99 Shortstar, and the tech didn't fix it but did note "new HVAC controller needed." How much does this part and labor to install it cost?

[tomd734]

Originally Posted by salhany

I have the same problem right now on my '99 Shortstar, and the tech didn't fix it but did note "new HVAC controller needed." How much does this part and labor to install it cost?

cost was $226.00, as of 09-12-05 still working fine

[kmohr3]

I had a coolant flush done last week. I turned the heater to control all the way up to make sure the heater core flow was ok, then turned it back to AC - At this point it kept blowing hot air from the left side and cold air from the right side. I drove it a few miles this way, then shut it off, went into the store, when I came back out everything was OK and both sides were blowing ice cold again. It happened one other time a couple months ago when I turned it from AC to heat and back to AC.

[phewop118]

I just bought my 01 Intrigue GLS w/44,000 miles on it. The A/C blows super cold on the pass side, but the driver's blows regular cool air, not A/c. After an hour or so of A/c, the driver's side gets a little cooler, but never as cold as the passenger side. I want to fix it myself. Can someone give me a few directions? Thanks.

[carson60]

Originally Posted by adboll

I was hoping to maybe get some troubleshooting advice for the A/C system in my 1998 Olds Intrigue (3800 series II motor). The sstem is the digital auto dual climate control A/C. Just recently the two driver side vents blow "vent" temperature air while the passenger side blows cold air with the overall temp setting set to 60 degrees. I took it into our local Pontiac dealership and the mechanic swears it is the compressor leaking. He said the system shuts down one side when the compressor is low on freon. This does not sound accurate with what is really going on. Why would one side shut down even though the passenger vents are cold??? It sounds to me more like some kind of dual plenum valve or something would be malfunctioning if there is such a thing. I have purchased a new compressor from Auto Zone ready to go in, but something tells me this won't fix my problem. Although I know how, I would rather not infiltrate my A/C system by changing the compressor, accumulator, and orfice valve if I do not have to. Any advice on this would be much appreciated.

run your car for about 5 min with the air on. Then turne your car off
disconnect the battery Reconnect the battery turn the car on and run it
for 5 min with heat on after that turn off the car turn it back on and then try your air. good luck.

[adboll]

See this outstanding thread for how to fix the problem I had.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=574779