2003 Grand Prix SE: Air Conditioning Problem

[xav78]

Hey Guys looking for anyone who can help me out. I have a 2003 Grand Prix SE 3.1. I've just begun having problems with the air conditioning, when I have the AC on it blows cold air on the passenger side but only cool to warm air on the dirver side. I've been reading a lot of the threads and I just pulled both air blend actuators and checked them, they are ok, no broken gears and they operate as they should. I've powered them up to make sure they both turn and again the both work well. Since I had both actuators already off I tried manually turning the blend doors and there appears to be no obstructions, I can hear and feel them flip back and forth. So here I am no futher along then when I began except with some cut up hands from trying to get to the driver actator. Any suggestions, I've read a few other threads and saw that someone had a similar problem and they had the AC unit recharged and it solved the problem. I guess the question I ask to everyone is, if my AC unit needs a charge wouldn't both the passenger and driver side blow out the same temperature air? Suggestions?

[corem]

You would be right both sides would be warm. You could possible have a control head causing the doors not to blend as they should. You may to get a scan tool and check for trouble codes in bcm and control head . This may help you get the end faster. And would not hurt to check charge on sytem while you are working on it to ensure thatg it will work properly. Hope this helps.

[xav78]

thanks for the reply, I though it may have been the control head as well that is why I manually moved the blender doors by hand without the acutators attached to make sure that the doors were all the way on the cool position but had no luck with that either problem still exists, what is the bcm that you refered to?

[corem]

Did you try ac with manualy in cool postion to see that problem still exsists. If you did may be low on charge or lack of air flow to that side. Hope this helps.

[xav78]

yes I tried it while manually in the cool position, I'm tending to lean to the charge side too. is this something I can do myself or have to take to a mechanic. I am not afraid to say I'm cheap to avoid the high labor rates around here

[tblake]

Originally Posted by xav78

I've read a few other threads and saw that someone had a similar problem and they had the AC unit recharged and it solved the problem. I guess the question I ask to everyone is, if my AC unit needs a charge wouldn't both the passenger and driver side blow out the same temperature air? Suggestions?

I hate to disagree with what corem said, but cold air out the passenger side and warm on the driver side is a classic symptom of a low refrigerant charge.

Before you go replacing the expensive controll head, just take it to a shop and get it recharged.

I would have the system completly evacuated, vacuum pulled, dye injected, and then recharged to the correct amount of r134a.

I bet it solves your problem....

Check around, get estimates from all the shops. Take the best offer.

[tblake]

Plus if you have dye injected and there is a leak in the future, you will be able to find it very easy.

[xav78]

He everyone thank for all your input, I went to AutoZone today and bought a can of $20 refridgerant with a leak sealant in it, not sure how well the sealant will do, but at least for the time being until I can start put aside for a professional repair. The re-charge worked like a charm! I've got cold air again out both driver and passenger sides, acually I can't ever remember it being so cold. It still baffles me how low charge can cause a cool passenger and warm driver I thought the air passes by the same cooling coils, are thier seperate coils for each side?