chaos24valve

I have a 2001 ram 2500 and recently my AC has been crap...at least when I am at an idle, I noticed it the other day when I started the truck and had it sitting for a little while ( about 10 minutes) and the AC was blowing hot air, I live in AZ< and hot air is a problem, but the minute I start driving it cools down, I have no idea what the problem is... do I just need to have the AC recharged or is it something I should freak about?

darrenG

i would probably freak out only if the A/C compressor was sending you death threats in the mail.

when you're at idle check the compressor to see if it's disengaging and then engaging again. You can hear it click on, or you can lay on the ground & see it, or you can hook a pressure gauge up to the high-side (it's by the turbo) and if the pressure jumps from high to low it's switching on and off.

then I'd go from there.

chaos24valve

It does, I have heard it do it before, when I was standing outside or around it, I could hear it click, does that mean its going out? x.x or just needs to be repaired?

Also, when I rev the engine, like take it up to about 1000 rpms when I am sitting somewhere for about 20 seconds it gets cold again...something I have noticed, it is just when I am not idling or at idle speed.

darrenG

It takes 20 seconds or so cus the compressor has engaged and is starting to work. The click is just the A/C switching on, I think.

If you can, get a gauge on the high side (any A/C refill kits come w/ the gauge) and with the A/C on and engine running, check the pressure. If it's too low, add a can. If it's over about 35psi, drain some. Not sure if that's the right psi, the gauge will most likely be colored, too high is red, probably. If the pressure is out of spec the compressor will click on and off, repeatedly. and it won't cool anything down.

SoTexRattler

CHAOS, Is the fan pulling enough air thru the condenser like it should? That'll cause the same symptom if your fan clutch is totally on strike and you are in park.

K.

kd460

Sounds like your freon level is low. It can cool while cruising, but not keep up while at idle (less air moving at the condenser).

I'll bet that if you put a gauge on it, your level will read low. Toss in a can of freon, and see what happens. Probably bring it back up to what you are used to. .

Next concern will be why the level dropped. Kevin

Hemi Cat

When the compressor kicks on and off, it usually means low refrigerent. When it only cools while driving, you have an air flow issue. Fan clutch or plugged or blocked condensor, fins bent over or full of bugs and mud etc. Useing a guage to check pressures is good but..... a/c pressures vary greatly with temperature. If you are not familiar with it you could put the wrong amount in. The best way is to recover it and actually measure the amount you put back in. definitely check it for leaks and fix any that you find. The dye with a black light works really good for impossible to find leaks. Hope this helps, good luck