danny951

My A/C has been great up until today. Driving home, it was pretty hot out (100+) and the car just never cooled down inside like it had been before. Tonight, I drove it expecting it to be nice and cool since it was in the 80's outside, but it was still not very cold. I can hear and feel the compressor kick on when I turn on the A/C and the air blowing out does feel a bit colder with the compressor on so I know it's working, but something isn't right.

Then I noticed that when I turn the temp **** from cold to hot, I don't hear the thermostat "click" like I always had before telling me that it is registering a need to cool or heat the cabin.. Even if I turn it to all the way hot, the air stays so-so cool. EDITED SOME INCORRECT STUFF OUT. I can get hot air, but not cold air even though the compressor is turning on and staying on -- if the compressor is working why no cold air?

Any ideas?

hosrom_951

That is the interior temperature sensor, the thermostate is on the condensor.

Note: The clicks you head when adjusting the tempereature, is coming from the solonid valves (one controls the flaps and one controls the heater valve).

danny951

So, if i can't get hot or cold air out of the vents, even though the compressor is kicking on and staying on, then either both my solenoids are bad (unlikely at the same time) or the temp sensor is faulty and not sending the proper temperature to the thermostat or wherever it sends the temperature to. Is it just like a electronic sensor/sending unit?

EDIT: I can actually get hot air, just not cold.

danny951

I found this at paragon -- AC Temp Switch for $25.. I can't really tell what it does though. Is this what tells the air to get colder if you set the **** to full cold?



PP000.820.80.10

cruise98

Have you checked the plastic clips? They fail to full heat.

danny951

plastic clips?

ZV

He's not getting full heat though. He's gettting lukewarmth.

danny951

yeah, i can only get heat if I depress the Defrost button -- which is really an override for all the other controls to go full heat and full fan, so that makes me think my temp control adjustment is stuck somewhere in the middle (straight up) or the sensor that measures the inside air is not working anymore.

EDIT: This is not the case after further testing - I DO get full heat by adjusting the temp control, just no cold.

A friend of mine asked me about a flapper door that you can see from the driver side footwell that moves when you adjust the temp. I couldn't find anything like that. You guys have any idea what that would be?

cruise98

The plastic clips control those flapper doors. They are a common failure item. I was thinking that the heat may be warming the cool air.

On to your train of thought. When you have the thermostat turned down, does the compressor clutch engage? If not, then the control unit or the t-stat are likely culprits. The control unit is the more likely suspect. The snowflake switch is available separately if you are handy with a soldering iron. Otherwise, call George B. for a refurbished unit.

cruise98

One more question....when you press the snowflake switch, do the fans come on high blast?

danny951

The clutch engages and stays engaged anytime I press the snowflake switch. My previous diagnosis may be incorrect. After messing with it to see exactly what's going on, I notice I DO get heat when I turn the **** to the heat side and the compressor is on. Then when I turn it down to cold, I DO hear a small click and the air gets slightly cooler than outside evening air (82 degrees outside). So the air gets around 79 degrees, but no cooler and definately not as cold as it was 2 weeks ago. The fans get higher when I go to the cold side, so this, I think, says that my control unit is good, but I'm still not sure about the unit that measures the cabin air through the small vent tube by the cig. lighter. I'm still not sure how to check the "clips" that control the flapper doors. It seems very possible they are not closing properly and mixing hot and cold air.

danny951

The clips are fine. The metal rod is in place and that makes sense really, I DO have full heat, just no cold.

I double checked and the compressor is staying on, so I don't see a low refrigerant being the culprit.

Everything seems to be working fine -- BUT NO COLD AIR!

I even blew into the small vent in case the fan that pulls air in to test the climate was stopped and it didn't change anything. I hate to start replacing things, buying parts and all, just to test various parts, but I may have to.

Anyone have any ideas??

cruise98

If the compressor is engaging, the control unit is working, flaps closing... I would check the condensor to see if it is clear, and then put gauges on it to check the low and high side pressures.