2001 PF Air Conditioner doesn't work.

[Chuck Tribolet]

It's spring, and I find that over the winter the air conditioner (manual controls)on my '01 PF has stopped working.

The fan blows, and when I turn the temperature up, the heater blows hot air.With the A/C off, and the temperature turned all the way down, and therecirculation switch off, the air coming out is a few degrees warmer than ambient, which bugs me, but it's always been that way.

The FSM has a rather long and involved debug procedure. What's the most hlikely point of failure?

Chuck

[Pwnin O'Brien]

From what you've said it sounds like everything is working as it should.

The fan blows, and when I turn the temperature up, the heater blows hot air.

This sounds fine; you turn the dial to the red side, it starts blowing hot air.

With the A/C off, and the temperature turned all the way down, and therecirculation switch off, the air coming out is a few degrees warmer than ambient, which bugs me, but it's always been that way.

This also sounds like everything is working fine; So you turn the dial all the way to the blue side, A/C: off, recirculation: off and the air coming from the vents is the same temperature as the outside air. When you have the A/C turned off the coldest air it will blow is the temperature of the outside air, only when the A/C is on will it blow colder air.

Now if you meant to say that it blows outside temperature air with the A/C switch on, then your likely culprit is a bad A/C compressor or switch (which you can hear click on when you push the button) or the air mix door. Slickroger posted how you can check proper operation of the air mix door lever somewhere, not sure of the address to that thread.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Here's the picture of the air mix door lever (courtesy of slickroger). You obviously only need to check the lever since you don't have an actuator. This is down in the passenger foot well next to the center stack.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Yes, it only blows outside+5F with the AC on, blower on, and temp set fullcold, recirculation off. That's the same as AC off, blower on, temp set full cold, recirculation off.

Chuck

[Chuck Tribolet]

I did some quick checks this afternoon.

The compressor clutch clicks when I turn on the AC.

With the AC on, the refrigerant line from the compressor to the condenser gets warm enough that I don't like keeping my finger on it, but not
hot enough to burn my finger.

With the AC on, The refrigerant line from the condenser to the liquid tank and from the liquid tank to the cooling unit is at about ambient temperature.
The line from the cooling unit to the compressor seems to be just below ambient temperature.

I checked the plug at the pressure sensor. The ground and +5 lines show what the FSM says. Can't get at the third one plugged in to tell.

Next step is to check the air mix door. I presume I need to pull the glove box out to get at it?

[miamiheat3332]

i skimmed through all these posts quick, forgive me if anyone already mentioned this

but you might need to buy a recharge kit and recharge it.

i know my ac in my path doesnt blow as cold as it did a couple years ago but it already has 112k miles and last summer i drove with the windows open cause it was usually never too hot, but soon im going to be recharging mine.

[Chuck Tribolet]

I'm guessing it's going to come down to a recharge, but I want to eliminate the other stuff first.

And I don't want to recharge it if there's a leak somewhere.


Chuck

[Pwnin Obrien]

Next step is to check the air mix door. I presume I need to pull the glove box out to get at it?

Nope, just stick your head under the glove box and look at it. It is right next to the passenger foot well vent.

[abadlovesong]

You may still want to invest in an A/C pressure gauge. It can save you lots of trouble. If the pressure on the low side is low, and/or the pressure on the high side is low. Then it's simple. Recharge your A/C. Use one with the oil and sealant added. A/C dissipates over time and use. So, it does need to be recharged at some point.

Now, if the pressure on the low side or high side is too high, then you may have a faulty compressor, or evap issues. Or any number of things.

[Chuck Tribolet]

I picked up a manifold set, and based on the high side pressure, it needs a recharge. I can't get the hose on the low side fitting, though (yes, I'm using the right hose).

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I picked up a manifold set, and based on the high side pressure, it needs a recharge. I can't get the hose on the low side fitting, though (yes, I'm using the right hose).

I thought you were only supposed to check the low pressure line. I could be wrong though.

[Chuck Tribolet]

FSM documents the pressures expected on both sides, and the high pressure side was WAAAY low (25 PSI), which I read as needing a recharge.

I returned the manifold set tonight. The problem with the low pressure connection was unique to the one I had, a new unit hooked up just fine. However the new
unit wouldn't pierce the refrigerant can either, so they gave me my money back and I bought a simpler, low pressure gauge only, unit. BTW, the auto parts store folks were
just fine. The auto parts store was Kragan (aka O' Reiley, Checker, and Schuck depending on where you live) and they get points for working with me to sort this out.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

FSM documents the pressures expected on both sides, and the high pressure side was WAAAY low (25 PSI), which I read as needing a recharge.

I returned the manifold set tonight. The problem with the low pressure connection was unique to the one I had, a new unit hooked up just fine. However the new
unit wouldn't pierce the refrigerant can either, so they gave me my money back and I bought a simpler, low pressure gauge only, unit. BTW, the auto parts store folks were
just fine. The auto parts store was Kragan (aka O' Reiley, Checker, and Schuck depending on where you live) and they get points for working with me to sort this out.

25 PSI? That's very suspect when it should read 178-237 PSI with a 77deg. (F) ambient temperature. Are you sure there isn't a leak? Are you just going to try recharging it and see if it holds pressure?

The low side should read 25 PSI, not the high side.

[abadlovesong]

Yeah, that seems VERY low on the high side. Doesn't necessarily mean that anything is wrong. If there is barely any refrigerant in the system, then the compressor has nothing to work with, thus, not building any pressure on the high side and equalizing the whole system. Also, it may be that without any refrigerant, the compress isn't kicking on. So, all is still probably normal. Just need to look out if the high side or the low side is too high. That's when you are in danger of something going wrong. You just may need to add 3 12oz cans to fully charge up to full pressure.

Also, O'Reilly/kragen is always my first choice when it comes to auto parts. The guys know their stuff and always carry better products.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Three 12oz cans (36 oz.) would be WAY TOO MUCH. FSM says 1.32 to 1.54 pounds, which is 21.12 to 24.64 oz That's from empty.

I put in one 12 oz can and the low side pressure is at the low side of OK, and it's blowing cold air.


Chuck