how cold is the a/c supposed to be - Diesel Forum

chris bottom · 08-03-2005, 06:33 PM

ok a quick history, bought my 01 new and ever since i bought it the air doesnt get as cold as i think it should......been back to the dealer over 10 times in such time and its been dyed and the everything is normal routine is given, whined again here lately since the temp coming out of the vent at full blast is 53-56 degrees in a 90 -95 degree outside temp.......replaced the compressor and the clutch and recharged.....90 degrees outside now its 51 in the truck....the weird thing is that it gets colder idling,to the tune of 46 degrees but once you drive at highay speeds its back to the 51-53 degree readings.......whats up with that shouldnt it be doing the exact opposite [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]
update is i put the a/c mod on and it brought it down to 48 on the highway today in 99 degree heat so i know it works but do i have any recourse or is there something else i should be looking for to fix [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

WannabePSD · 08-03-2005, 06:36 PM

Dude honestly, I'm not any sort of mechanic....but that seems plenty cold to me. 51 degrees??? How much colder to you think it should be or even want it?

Alin

drdenny1 · 08-03-2005, 07:09 PM

My 97 went back to the dealer 12X's when my buddy the original owner had it. I bought it and the first time I turned the A/C on it wasn't to my liking. It to had been dyed and sniffed to no end. I threw some gauges on it saw them going up and down all over the place. I drained ,opened the system and there was NO oriface tube in it. Put one in $3.15 later evacuated/recharged, just like a meat locker. I told my buddy(who lives in Oregon) and he about fell out of his chair. He went back and gave the dealer and mech an ear full.

Good Luck,
Denis [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

chris bottom · 08-03-2005, 07:37 PM

51 degees is a joke honestly, i have a 96 with over 250k on it and it gets to 40 without the a/c mod and had cars that would blow frost out of the vents so i like my vehicles to be able to put frost on the windshield [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

**DIESELSITE** · 08-03-2005, 07:53 PM

34 degrees here [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

chris bottom · 08-03-2005, 08:28 PM

ok bob dont make me wanna kidnap your ac system [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

TedExcursion · 08-03-2005, 08:37 PM

Wow! what is the AC mod?

Dubco1 · 08-03-2005, 08:49 PM

Ok Bob, you gotta spill the beans on how to get that temp. I haven't seen temps like that since R-12. Help us hot people out. I already have your valve installed and get about 48 degrees.

FOMOGO

TBAR · 08-03-2005, 08:55 PM

At 100+ degrees ambiant I get 40 degree air out of the vent. Below that I get get 38-39 degree with no problem.

I have done part of the a/c mod.

Tbar

MarvinVR · 08-03-2005, 09:05 PM

Mines a 2001 with NO air cond mod and the things so cold I cant keep it on high. Havent taken a thermo to it. Going to do the mod just for kicks and see what I get.

chris bottom · 08-03-2005, 10:53 PM

ok now im getting the feeling they replaced my freon with liquid heat the way some of you guys are talking [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

dlinville · 08-03-2005, 11:09 PM

for what it's worth, I did the a/c mod and saw less than a 1 degree difference at the vent when the heater core was bypassed. Readings were taken with a calibrated digital thermometer and thermocouple.

**DIESELSITE** · 08-03-2005, 11:09 PM

It was a combination of things. We were having a/c "issues". So, the obvious was to check refrig levels. After 4 companies' checks, we got it EXACTLY on the money. Then, we realised the blend door motor doesn't always close completely. We changed that and made sure it worked and closed all the way. Then we changed the clutch and magnet on the compressor, but the key was shimming the clutch just right. You'd be surprised how much slippage occures. It works just like a transmission clutch. The two surfaces slip and you don't have "all the power". After every component was in tip top shape, I let her idle for 15 minutes with the doors closed. The duct temps were 34 degrees and blowing smoke. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] It's never been this cold. I guess the trick is optimizing every part of the system. Of course, it goes without saying....our a/c valve is also installed as well. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] But seriously, that only got us into the 40's.
Bob

quadracer70 · 08-03-2005, 11:40 PM

I also found that the A/C may be cold but there is very little air flow that comes out the vent. My mechanic installed a vent fan out of a lincoln which mounts up the same but flows about double the amount of air.

THE4X4PIG · 08-04-2005, 03:18 AM

Ok Bob Riley my wife hates you. I have heard enough and ordered the air conditioning thingy. Send it quick, I am tired of my lousy air conditioning. I should have ordered it when I ordered my monster box.

Dave