2001 A/C problems

[dgrayum]

I own a 2001 Venture. When I bought it the AC worked great. By the time I got home it was blowing hot air. Took it back and had it checked out. They told me it could either be the main air control unit or it was in the wiring. We put on a used control unit that we know works and still it only blows hot air. So if it is a wiring problem what should I be looking for or replacing? Bought it as is so no help getting this one fixed. I am clueless! Thanks

More about the AC problems with a 2001 Venture
The blower does work but it blows hot air. The dealership said the freon was charged and no leaks. If they by-passed the main A/C control unit the compressor would kick in but it would only kick in if they by-passed the main control unit. When I push the A/C button the light come on but it doesn't seem to make things work. We checked all the fuses and they all check out okay. We tried putting in a used A/C control unit from a different van that we knew worked and no change in the problem. Is there other things I should check before paying $$$ that I don't have to spend? Any help Please Thanks, Debra
Preasure switches, relays???? Any thing???
Any help would be great. It is just to hot to have kids in a van with no A/C!

[GregA]

Originally Posted by dgrayum

I own a 2001 Venture. When I bought it the AC worked great. By the time I got home it was blowing hot air. Took it back and had it checked out. They told me it could either be the main air control unit or it was in the wiring. We put on a used control unit that we know works and still it only blows hot air. So if it is a wiring problem what should I be looking for or replacing? Bought it as is so no help getting this one fixed. I am clueless! Thanks

More about the AC problems with a 2001 Venture
The blower does work but it blows hot air. The dealership said the freon was charged and no leaks. If they by-passed the main A/C control unit the compressor would kick in but it would only kick in if they by-passed the main control unit. When I push the A/C button the light come on but it doesn't seem to make things work. We checked all the fuses and they all check out okay. We tried putting in a used A/C control unit from a different van that we knew worked and no change in the problem. Is there other things I should check before paying $$$ that I don't have to spend? Any help Please Thanks, Debra
Preasure switches, relays???? Any thing???
Any help would be great. It is just to hot to have kids in a van with no A/C!

I'm not sure what "by-passed the main A/C control unit" means.
Did they SHOW you what they did to make it work?

I had some problems with my A/C too. You can read about those issues (and see some pictures) at the link below. Just scroll down to the entry for Feb. 11 (where is all began) and start there. Also check out the other entries that mention A/C, like the one for May 26 (relay).

2001 Venture Maintenance

Take Care,

[dgrayum]

Originally Posted by GregA

I'm not sure what "by-passed the main A/C control unit" means.
Did they SHOW you what they did to make it work?

I had some problems with my A/C too. You can read about those issues (and see some pictures) at the link below. Just scroll down to the entry for Feb. 11 (where is all began) and start there. Also check out the other entries that mention A/C, like the one for May 26 (relay).

2001 Venture Maintenance

Take Care,

I took it to a dealership and they told me my main A/C control unit was bad or it was some thing in the wiring but they didn't really know. So the guy I bought the van from took the main A/C control unit out of his daughters van and put it in mine and it still only would blow hot air. So we thought we could rule that out. The guy did tell me that the compressor kicked on and it blew cold air if he by-passed the control unit. I am guessing he hooked up a hot wire to the compressor to see if it worked or not. He said the freon was charged and the compressor worked. The problem is that the compressor will not turn on when I turn on the A/C on. So all I get is hot air. I was told I could hook up a switch to the compressor and run it that way. But I would like to fix it right. I was shocked that the dealership was not much help. What a waste of money! Plus I had to call them to find out what the problem could be. They didn't write any thing down on my ticket. No codes just what they charged me. He came out and told me I needed to replace my main A/C control panel ($2??.?? plus labor) and any under lined problems would be more $$$.$$ So I would have been charged for a part that didn't need replaced and then after they would have replaced that part I bet they would have replaced a few more parts before finding the real problem. So now I am scared to take it any where to be fixed with out talking to some one before taking it in. I am clueless so clueless! We did check all the fusses and they are all good.
So if the main control panel is not bad,
the freon is charged,
the fusses are good,
what else should I check? What is there that can go bad? What can I check myself and what do I have to have a shop test?

[GregA]

Dealers are generally the highest priced place to get service done, and they are often the least "helpful" on giving advice about what is actually wrong and what can be done to fix it, especially if they KNOW that the customer doesn't have a clue as to how their own car (or parts of it) operate (at least that is MY experience - check the "Fluid Leak" stuff on the page I mentioned earlier).

What I would recommend, if you are truly "clueless" about the A/C system, is to start asking your friends, family, co-workers, and basically everyone you meet about where they take their cars to get them fixed.

Find a GOOD, HONEST shop (they DO exist) that will treat you right and charge a fair price for their work. Take your car(s) there for ALL the things that you can't handle on your own, and keep going there as long as they treat you right.

Also, get yourself a repair manual for your van, even if you don't think you will need it. I have the Haynes manual and it has some pretty good explainations about how things work and how to do simple repairs. Good information, even if someone else does the work for you.

Sorry this was so long, but I think it is worth saying (typing).

Take Care,

[dgrayum]

Originally Posted by GregA

Dealers are generally the highest priced place to get service done, and they are often the least "helpful" on giving advice about what is actually wrong and what can be done to fix it, especially if they KNOW that the customer doesn't have a clue as to how their own car (or parts of it) operate (at least that is MY experience - check the "Fluid Leak" stuff on the page I mentioned earlier).

What I would recommend, if you are truly "clueless" about the A/C system, is to start asking your friends, family, co-workers, and basically everyone you meet about where they take their cars to get them fixed.

Find a GOOD, HONEST shop (they DO exist) that will treat you right and charge a fair price for their work. Take your car(s) there for ALL the things that you can't handle on your own, and keep going there as long as they treat you right.

Also, get yourself a repair manual for your van, even if you don't think you will need it. I have the Haynes manual and it has some pretty good explainations about how things work and how to do simple repairs. Good information, even if someone else does the work for you.

Sorry this was so long, but I think it is worth saying (typing).

Take Care,

Finally broke down and spent the money to get the A/C fixed.
The Evaporator Temperature Sensor was unhooked and they could not find it. So I had it replaced. Also had the whole A/C serviced and checked, for peace of mind. Total bill was $173.23
This was much better then first told by another Dealership!!! Hopefully this will be the only trouble I have with this van. I have owned 2 Dodge Carvans in the past. I had trouble with both of them and if I was spending the money on a van it would not be a caravan! I was so sick of tranmission trouble! I had 3 put in my fist caravan. 1 was replaced under a repair warranty. When the 3rd one went out I sold it for junk. They guy who bought it has owned it for 2 years and it is acting up. My 2nd caravan had tranny problems so I had it rebuilt and in about 2 years it started to go out so I sold it for junk and bought a Venture. So I pray I have better luck with it. I love having a Mini van but seems like I hear a lot of problems about them!

[GregA]

Originally Posted by dgrayum

Finally broke down and spent the money to get the A/C fixed.
The Evaporator Temperature Sensor was unhooked and they could not find it. So I had it replaced. Also had the whole A/C serviced and checked, for peace of mind. Total bill was $173.23
This was much better then first told by another Dealership!!! ...

Debra,

EXCELLENT - $173 is a GOOD price considering that they would have to get under the dash to replace the evaporator sensor. AND you got an A/C service too.

Good for you. It sounds like you found a pretty good shop.

Take Care,