Air Conditioning Question....

maiahsdad · #1 (**permalink**) 06-27-09, 09:47 AM

Hello, I have a question:

1. I noticed yesterday (it's HOT here in Indiana) that the PASSENGER side AC is ice cold, and the DRIVER side is NOT cooling at ALL. I'm NOT using the passenger side temperature adjustment, only the normal driver side control. Can someone help me with this? Are there TWO different places to add refrigerant? Or, are there TWO compressors? Because the passenger side is COLD. It's the driver's
two vents that are blowing just fan air.

greg-sls · #2 (**permalink**) 06-27-09, 10:48 AM

You probably just need to top off your freon, but check DTCs for a possible air mix problem.

maiahsdad · #3 (**permalink**) 06-27-09, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg-sls

You probably just need to top off your freon, but check DTCs for a possible air mix problem.

Thanks Greg! But I'm sorry that I've only owned this car for a couple of months. What are DTC's? I'm not using the passenger temp setting at all, and just using the "Auto" mode all the time.

Thanks for your response! You guys are awesome!

**Ranger** · #4 (**permalink**) 06-27-09, 12:51 PM

DTC = Diagnostic Trouble Codes. See the sticky at the top of the page.

maiahsdad · #5 (**permalink**) 06-27-09, 01:16 PM

Thanks. I just stumbled onto another thread where the person has the EXACT problem. He was more informative though. But it's EXACTLY my problem! I'll go by CAR-X and let them look at it on Monday I guess.

maiahsdad · #6 (**permalink**) 06-27-09, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger

DTC = Diagnostic Trouble Codes. See the sticky at the top of the page.

OK, went out in the HOT weather and got my codes.

NO current codes, but here's what I have that were all followed by "history".

B1652 - Loss of Keep Alive Memory (KAM)
B1983 - Device Power Circuit Low
B1344 - HeaterDefrost/AC Door Movement Fault
U1064 - Loss of Communications with DIM

Doesn't seem like this is indicative to my current situation. There were a LOT of test areas, but they all said NO prior to their symbols as it toggled through.

Suggestions from here?

**Ranger** · #7 (**permalink**) 06-27-09, 09:58 PM

None of those are relevant. I think you just need a refrigerant top off.

steve1123 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-27-09, 10:00 PM

Hello. I had the exact same problem, cold passenger side but warm driver side. At first I thought it was an air mix problem because I obviously had cold air. But I didn't have any DTCs indicating a mix door problem. Then I read a few posts saying how this is a common problem when the refrigerant is low. I thought it sounded too simple. But I bought some refrigerant and.... THAT WAS IT!!!

I now have ICEEE cold air on both sides!

Good luck!

maiahsdad · #9 (**permalink**) 06-27-09, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve1123

Hello. I had the exact same problem, cold passenger side but warm driver side. At first I thought it was an air mix problem because I obviously had cold air. But I didn't have any DTCs indicating a mix door problem. Then I read a few posts saying how this is a common problem when the refrigerant is low. I thought it sounded too simple. But I bought some refrigerant and.... THAT WAS IT!!!

I now have ICEEE cold air on both sides!

Good luck!

Thanks so much for the information. Since I'm a noob at this, I guess I'll take it to CAR-X and have them do a leak test and add refrigerant. Wish I could do it myself, I'm sure it would be cheaper... But I don't have very many tools.

greg-sls · #10 (**permalink**) 06-27-09, 10:30 PM

I'm a bit concerned about this code: B1344 - HeaterDefrost/AC Door Movement Fault. If it's history, clear the code and make sure it doesn't recur.
I know in the 98s and up, all the movement doors are electric. On my 97, the heater /defrost/ AC doors are vacuum activated. That said, it still sounds like you're a bit low on freon. There are simple kits available at automotive stores and for that matter, Walmart. If you try it yourself, do not purchase any freon product with a sealer in it! It will eventually ruin the system. If your leak is minor and a recharging doesn't get rid of your symptoms, there is one more thing you can try. If you know your system hasn't been maintained in many years, you can get a small (2 oz) PAG oil charge can and add that. I have a friend with an old 95 Lumina sedan and we added a can to his A/C, and so far, it's been working great. This would tend to re-moisten seals that could be leaking just a bit. If you have a serious leak, you will have to consider adding freon with a dye to detect the leak.

maiahsdad · #11 (**permalink**) 06-28-09, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg-sls

If you know your system hasn't been maintained in many years, you can get a small (2 oz) PAG oil charge can and add that. I have a friend with an old 95 Lumina sedan and we added a can to his A/C, and so far, it's been working great. This would tend to re-moisten seals that could be leaking just a bit.

Thanks. Would this PAG oil charge be added to an already full freon capacity? Or... would I add this at another place on the car?

greg-sls · #12 (**permalink**) 06-28-09, 03:16 PM

Only add the PAG oil if you are consistently loosing your freon charge thus getting the "low A/C refrigerant" message on the dash. Yes, it is added the same way as a can of r134a freon...thru the fill port on the low side, but if your current freon charge is holding, don't add it. This also assumes no maintenance that you know of or have records of, has been done to the system for many years.

maiahsdad · #13 (**permalink**) 06-28-09, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg-sls

Only add the PAG oil if you are consistently loosing your freon charge thus getting the "low A/C refrigerant" message on the dash.

I've never gotten that message on the dash. Would that indicate that there's something else wrong with the A/C system? I have no dash messages....

greg-sls · #14 (**permalink**) 06-28-09, 05:12 PM

If you never got the "Low A/C refrigerant" message and you still get cold air on the passenger's side, it sounds like all you need is a top off on freon. You could do this yourself by getting a can of freon and a basic fill tube connector from say Walmart or an automotive store. Since your compressor is running, you can add some freon to see if the driver's side eventually cools off too. Or if you prefer to go to Car-X, they will probably try the same thing.

steve1123 · #15 (**permalink**) 06-30-09, 02:25 PM

greg-sls is right. I never had any error messages about low freon. That's why I didn't give it much credit at first... until I came to the forums

I keep reading how this was a common and well documented symptom of low freon on a dual climate control system. Just not low enough to trigger a message or any DTCs.