I think I may have a problem with the fan clutch. For about the last month I've noticed my AC doesn't blow cold while sitting still or at slow speeds. When sitting in traffic, she will start to get warm, not into the red, but up there. Also, the fan will turn as normal, but only on the first start up of the day for about 15 seconds. Anyone ever have this problem? Any idea's on what to check? It doesn't seem like there is a lot that could go wrong.

 

Key on/off four times ending in the on position. ( not cranking ) Any codes should show in the odo screen. Should be a P0483 IIRC. Fan clutch speed is monitored by the ECM . Any variation should set a code, but I don't think it will turn the check engine lamp on. ( Mine never did) Also check the coolant level and make sure the fins are clean on the intercooler, condensor, and radiator. Lot of fins to move air through and any restrictions will hurt all the systems.

 

Coolant checked out good, inner and outer fins clean so we'll say i'm good there. I'm getting a P0633 SKIM Key Not Programmed in PCM code, which is wierd as I have never gotten that one before and it's the only one coming up. Seems like I have read before of people getting that code with the BDDL, but it has been a long time since having that. Only fueling mods at present is an EZ set on 40hp. I guess I should have knocked on wood awhile back when I bragged that I have had about 100,000 trouble free miles (yes, in a row believe it or not ) Granted it's not a catastrophic problem, but I am hot year around and need my AC. I am moments away from putting in a window unit in my back glass like Larry the Cable Guy. Anything else I should give a once over?

 

Sounds like a fan clutch, they are about 250 bucks and only available at the dealer or online Dodge parts places.

 

B Law-when you first start the truck put the A/C on max and then listen to the engine compartment-do you hear something that sounds like a clutch engaging/disengaging with no set pattern? I have been having the same issue lately, have already recharged the A/C (helped a little) and had a fan not at rpm code a few months back. Still trying to track down the noise, but it sounds like the same issue to me.

 

i had the P0483 code in my truck right after I bought it, about 6 months ago. then it just went away, I didnt clear anything out, it just disappeared.

 

BgBlkTrk, when I first start the truck, the AC will blow cold for about 10 minutes till the condenser gets hot. After that the compressor clutch will repeatedly disengage and engage every 10 seconds or so. When you are driving down the road it will blow cold and all is well. It's a little warm down in LA at the moment, so I sure miss being able to sit and idle with cold air.

 

Still would bet money on the fan clutch. Get a friend that smokes and have him hold a lit cigarette in front of the radiator when the truck is up to temp to see if the fan is drawing any air. You could use anything that smokes I guess, this was always my redneck fan clutch test ( I used to smoke! ) If it doesn't draw noticeably, replace it. Fairly easy to replace. You can rent the fan clutch tools at most parts stores.

 

Could be fan clutch...... Another "redneck check" is to put it in the driveway on a hot day and and put a $20 box fan right in front of the radiator and see if the problem goes away.
Can also be done with a water hose, but if you're REALLY shade treeing, you end up standing in a mud hole by the time you get done.

 

Is there any sensors that tell the clutch to actuate? How does it know when to do what it does? Can you somewhow manually get it to engage? Possibly by supplying 12 volts? I'm not 100 percent on sure how they work... I agree it will more than likely be the clutch, but I just want to be 100 percent sure since it seems like it would be a PITA to change. I took the fan off for winter a couple years ago and that was hard enough.

 

i believe the relay is number 64.you can see there if you have 12 volts,do a search on here some guy wired in a switch to the relay and he would engage his fan when ever he wanted and its a good way to test it,if your not getting the 483 code though i bet you dont have a fan problem,mite need a ac recharge.

 

I did the box fan trick after I got home and sure enough the AC blows cold, so the fan is definitely not turning. Here's the other thing, I read through the service manual and there's not a whole lot to check. It said that it was normal for the fan to run briefly on cold starts due the the oil in the fan settling. Also after the oil disperses the fan will spin freely which according to the manual, this is what a good fan is supposed to do. I can't find any power supplies to it, only a 5v and that is for the sensor. I may have to bite the bullet and take it in...

 

I've had the exact same problem with my '03 for 2 years. Dealership charged me $90 and told me it is working perfectly.

Fast forward 2 years and I had an overheat while climbing a very steep hill at low speed. Computer threw a 0480 (fan clutch). I replaced the fan clutch and no more overheat...and the AC works fine at idle now.

It's an easy, quick job, by the way.

You'll need a 36mm wrench, and something to hold the fan pulley still while you unscrew the mounting nut. I had a 36mm fan clutch wrench and the doohickey to hold the pulley for another vehicile, and it worked fine. I did have to put a piece of pipe on the wench to get the leverage I needed to unscrew it, but other than that, it's easy. Pull the two mounting pins and remove the lower fan shroud. Unscrew the fan clutch mounting nut. Disconnect the electrical connector, and pull the whole fan/clutch assembly out through the bottom.

Unbolt the fan from the clutch. Bolt the fan to the new clutch. And from there, installation is pretty much the reverse of removal. Including the time it took me to go to the dealership to buy the fan clutch, this job took less than an hour, and my mechanical skills are not the greatest.

The bad news is I was out $380 for the fan clutch from the dealership. Ouch.