I was wondering if anyone else has issues with A/C not cooling at idle, particularly when engine has been shut down for some time. The A/C will not start cooling until it starts to move, regardless of idle speed, and the compressor cycles on and off. It does get real cold, just not at idle.

 

Mine seems to work just fine at idle. It's been relatively cool (I'm in TX, so 85-90 is relatively cool) down here. Hopefully I won't have to test it in 100+ weather until next summer.

 

Perhaps the first thing to do is have the charge on the A/C checked. Too low, and the pressure sensors will will cycle the compressor (too high will also do this.)

 

Mine works fine at idle. The only problem I have had with it was a couple of months ago on a trip during some really hot weather and it stopped blowing really cold air. Also the air vents started making a funny sound. Figured that everything froze. So just shut it off for and hour and then everything worked great from then on. No repeat of the problem.

 

Thanks, It has been around 95-100 degrees here. I'll take it in and let you know what the dealer says.

 

I live in SoCal and have had the same problem.

If I start up on a hot day the A/C will not blow cold air until I drive at freeway speeds. Once I start driving around town again, it starts warming up.

I took it to the dealership and of course, it worked fine for them. They told me it was okay.

When I went to pick it up, however, it was still in the bay. They told me the system was overcharged and that they drained it and refilled it to the proper level.

The A/C worked FANTASTIC on the way home.

The next day, back to usual. Luke warm air until I start turning some rev's.

I have a gasser the same year, make and model. The A/C blows very cold air at idle.

I can tell this is going to be an ongoing relationship between me and the service manager. He also tells me that the tape where my body plugs should be is correct and all of them have it...

 

Thanks for the response. My symptoms are similar, but once mine starts blowing cold, it stays cold. It only blows warm during the initial start up. I am sure i will get the same response from the dealer.

 

Mike and Ed....I have the same problem....i had a condensor puke at 300 miles (thank DC!!) and every since then it has done the wont cool at idle thing....I thought it was too under charged so i thru a little in and it was good until the first real big heat out here ...since i dont smoke IN my truck I let it idle for cig time and it just cycles and gets muggy...drive it and its fine...going to the river two weeks ago coming out of indio the evap froze up and I turned it off till I hit the top of the hill and it works fine....so...my edamcated guess will be there is a PRESSURES problem and probably too much gas instead of liquid in the sytem thus freakin the sensors out cauzin the compressor to cycle....any air conditiong gods out there that want to splain to us on to WHY??....very agrevating to have to wait so long to cool the truck off....my FERD (134 freon) is colder then a witches nipple right off the bat!!..
Cameron

 

Mine just started not being so great at idle as well. But, as is usually the case, I am hesitant to take it into the dealer for fear of loosing the truck all day just for them to tell me it's operating normal.

 

Living in Vegas provides several days per year in the 115-120 degree range, and NONE of the Dodges I have owned have had satisfactory A/C performance in that kind of heat. My Fords on the other hand get cold enough to hang meat in regardless of the outside temp. I wish I knew enough about these systems to figure out why.

 

[quote author=Nevada link=board=17;threadid=19890;start=0#msg188007 date=1064289210]
Living in Vegas provides several days per year in the 115-120 degree range, and NONE of the Dodges I have owned have had satisfactory A/C performance in that kind of heat. My Fords on the other hand get cold enough to hang meat in regardless of the outside temp. I wish I knew enough about these systems to figure out why.
[/quote]

What about adding a electric fan in front of the condenser that kicks on with the compressor clutch?

MikeyB

 

[quote author=MikeyB link=board=17;threadid=19890;start=0#msg188065 date=1064318901]What about adding a electric fan in front of the condenser that kicks on with the compressor clutch?[/quote]

Would that improve it? Is it a matter of insufficient airflow through the condenser? That would not have been my first guess with the Ram's massive grille and large fan.

 

I noticed that my fan doesn't run all the time at idle with A/C on. I'm wondering if it's the lack of airflow throught the condenser. On the hottest days I run in recirc mode and the truck will freeze me out, even at idle.

MikeyB