Bizarre.

Randomly, the AC will either be blowing cold air or not.

For days it may be working just fine. Then out of nowhere, it starts blowing moist warmer air--to the point of having to roll the windows down.

I noticed that when you step on the gas hard (not necessarily a WOT, but that works too), then it kicks on again and you get cold air for a while.

The wiring seems to be fine, I have a warranty that covers the compressor at a $100 deductible.

When it's NOT cold--the compressor clutch is not engaged, and the accumulator canister does not get cold and wet. NO CODES.

I repeat: NO CODES--at all.



Coincidence or not?: After putting in regular gas (vs premium) stepping on it I heard pinging (cheap gas sound). Could it be related to the compressor? I am going to try a water-remover and premium gas @ the next full tank to report back on the pinging when "pushing the car" otherwise I don't hear it.

Gas is not related. Have you had the pressures checked? Theoreticaly, a low pressure should set a DTC. Checked all the sensor connections as well as the power connection to the compressor?

mtflight, I have the same, exact problem and I had my system evacuated and recharged properly about 4 months ago. I came to "believe" that it has something to do with speeding up the serperntine belt that helps the compressor to kick on. Either that or the compressor is having trouble spinning freely. If that is the case, I'm done buying these cheap remanufactured, "hard to fix" parts.

Ranger, I noticed when you "punch" the gas, it kicks back on--every time... so what clusco says makes sense to me.

Could it be related to my "pinging"? Maybe the compressor is getting harder to turn and thus is creating extra load on the engine?

If the whole compressor is the problem, then I'm in luck that it's under warranty (whew! fingers crossed).

Very possible.

I just called my local Cadillac dealership for a quote on replacing compressor--make sure you're sitting down....

$1300

I'd be responsible for $100 of that, assuming that the warranty company is OK with paying their $110/hr.

Is it similar to other GM cars? I called Chevrolet and they said "take it to the Cadillac store."

Any suggestions on where else to take it?

Yeah, it's probably similar to most GM's except that is it most likely a little tighter and harder to get at. If it's under warranty, I'd stick with Cadillac if you can.

Could possibly be the relay for the coil went bad... just a thought.

I know very little about AC systems... where is the relay for the coil?

The A/C has been working flawlessly for the last two days.... typical. Could it also be the inside air temperature sensor? I did take the dashboard apart to fix the warpage....

Ive seen loose ground wires cause this, stepping on the gas twists the motor and it makes better connections.

I know very little about AC systems... where is the relay for the coil?

The A/C has been working flawlessly for the last two days.... typical. Could it also be the inside air temperature sensor? I did take the dashboard apart to fix the warpage....


Yes it could be the inside air temperature sensor, minus the fact that stepping on the gas corrects the problem.

I believe they made the relay a little hard to get at. They put it next to the fuse box in the engine compartment, but hid it under the big plastic cover. Well that is if its anything like mine.

I believe they made the relay a little hard to get at. They put it next to the fuse box in the engine compartment, but hid it under the big plastic cover. Well that is if its anything like mine.

I switched the relays in the fusebox when the problem started, to make sure that wasn't the cause (about a month ago).

Coincidentally, my A/C has been working just fine for the last three or four days--without glitches. I'm going to leave it alone for now.

I had this problem with my a/c also which i have meaning to post on here. Blows ice cold but then randomly quits. System is pressured correctly. What i have noticed is that when i follow the electrical plug out of the compressor there was small white box covered in black electrical tape. Pulled all that apart and it appears to be some sort of resistor that is attached between the two wires. Oddly enough everytime i move the wires around near this box with the engine running the compressor kicks on but with kick off if not making contact so i believe this resistor could be either the problem or solution. Whatever it is it doesnt look factory. Does anyone else have this on there system?

....so i believe this resistor could be either the problem or solution. Whatever it is it doesnt look factory. Does anyone else have this on there system?

Yup...mines got it too. When I had the engine out last I started from one end of the wiring harness and completely cleaned and retaped all the connectors. When I got to that little white box I was like..."what the hell is this"? Once I opend the thing up I realized it was a resistor for the compressor. I'll be damned if I can remember if the connetions were crimped or soldered though. You should definitely check the connections on that.

Where is this little box? I can see the connector at the Compressor, and then follow it with my finger under the radiator support--then poof! It dissapears.

Yesterday humidity was extremely high, and worse yet--I was moving to a different apt. Carrying boxes up and down 3 flights of stairs. As luck would have it the compressor clutch disengaged (all fans on though). So I was literally pouring sweat--doing WOTs hoping it would kick on. It would NOT this time. The "trick" did not work.

This morning I turn it on--and it's working fine. I have a feeling that this is some kind of circuit going bad and the heat makes it lose connection. Any thoughts? Oh and where's this white box??

the little white box on mine was about 6-10 inches down from where it plugs into the connector. Mine was not soldered but was some sort of slip over wire connector that came loose way too easy for my liking. Took it off, hardwired it, and problem is gone now.
I'm still very curious as to what this is so im planning on looking through the manuals when i get the time. appears to be some sort of resistor, diode, or capacitor. dummy me forgot to put it on the ohm meter when i had it all apart.

the little white box on mine was about 6-10 inches down from where it plugs into the connector. Mine was not soldered but was some sort of slip over wire connector that came loose way too easy for my liking. Took it off, hardwired it, and problem is gone now.
I'm still very curious as to what this is so im planning on looking through the manuals when i get the time. appears to be some sort of resistor, diode, or capacitor. dummy me forgot to put it on the ohm meter when i had it all apart.

I don't think I have one of those. I see the wires, then I can trace them to their tight squeeze under the oil cooler lines and then they go over the frame and I lose them.

My A/C works fine today. No matter what I did, two days ago--it was hot and moist air that came out of the vents. I tried WOT runs--wasted a lot of gas... to no avail.

Then yesterday morning I didn't even bother to turn it on--I went over a bump in the road and then just out of curiosity I turned it on and it was blowing cold..... uuughhh (I mean yay). It's such a tight squeeze I have no idea how anyone would be able to trace the wiring beyond that..... I need to get the patience and do it though. It would be easier if the radiator and fans were out of the way... :alchi:

the little white box on mine was about 6-10 inches down from where it plugs into the connector. Mine was not soldered but was some sort of slip over wire connector that came loose way too easy for my liking. Took it off, hardwired it, and problem is gone now.
I'm still very curious as to what this is so im planning on looking through the manuals when i get the time. appears to be some sort of resistor, diode, or capacitor. dummy me forgot to put it on the ohm meter when i had it all apart.

The little white box is an "AC Compressor Diode." I took it off, and the A/C Compressor works beautifully. I need to purchase a new one to replace it--in the meantime I'm running without it.

I understand it prevents current from flowing in the wrong direction, is that right?

Thanks!

Yup, that's what a diode does. Not sure what would cause it to reverse but since it was put on there I'd be leary of using it without it as it is likely to cause some major damage or it would'nt be there.

I had the same exact problem about a month ago. The compressor would kick on and off and tis make a rattlesnake type soudnb when ti kicked off. The compressor was old, a 10 yr old car..used alot..So i got new one installed for 900...dont go through cadillac to get parts tis pointless. They will rape you in the ass. But yea your not the only one that had that problem, it would blow cold when i was cruising.

and that problem was intermittent just like yours, on and off for a few months but then just stopped working one day, and blew outside temp air...