After exhaustive searching through all relevant A/C threads, I have still not solved my A/C (or lack thereof) problem...

About a month ago, the AC in my 06 abruptly quit (now only blowing hot air). I had just (about a week or two prior) had my comp flashed for a brake light issue I was having (no left side trailer brake lights). The flash fixed my brake light issue for about a week, but since that time, my brake light issue has returned and now my A/C has quit. Needless to say... it's hot here in Texas, and even hotter inside a truck with no A/C! I can't verify if the A/C quit at the same time that the brake light issue returned, but it was around the same time... I crawled all around under the truck tracing wires and found no obvious wire shorts or damage. I also searched and searched for an A/C compressor relay (which seemed to be a viable option for the source of the problem) but as I soon learned, there is no such thing as an A/C relay on my 06... I also checked the voltage at the compressor and at the high pressure switch (truck running, A/C on High) and this is what I found:

3 volts at AC compressor, 4.8 volts across top two pins to high pressure switch and 2 volts across top right and bottom right pins to high pressure switch...

Does any of this mean anything to anyone??? I've got a little less than a week to get this problem fixed before a 600 mile round trip down South and it sure would be significantly cooler with air conditioning...

Thanks in advance.

 

There's some issues with wires being rubbed raw near the ac compressors. Have you closely inspected every single inch?

 

Thanks 1-2-3. I have checked as closely as I can and everything appears good.

 

I would think it'd need a full 12 volts at the clutch,,, or at least in the past that's what most were that I worked on,,,

are you sure all your ground connections are clean and tight, especially body to motor grounds.

 

Thanks pull-do. I am not certain that all my grounds are good... Any idea how many body to motor grounds there are and where they are located? Seems like I always miss that one "secret one" on a project like that!

 

No I don't know about how many,,, sorry,,I don't have the current FSM even for my truck I have now,,, still got em for the one in my sig. that got totaled out,,,, in fact I need to sell them.

Tell you what though, somebody on here posted up a site the other day that supposedly had all the wiring schematics for all our trucks,, and I can't remember the name of the site either... hold the phone, I just found it, see if this helps you out.

http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/year.pdf

 

Thanks pull-do. I appreciate the help. I will take a look and see if I can come up with anything.

Anybody have any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

Maybe compressor coil?

 

Sounds like the TIPM is fried, new they are like $650 some have been finding used ones in the $75-100 range.. do a search on the TIPM

 

Colorado River Ram is the guy to figure this out! Helped me on my 06 issue and worked and spotted this same issue on mine.

It is the TIPM...dealer wanted $703, I got it for $460 new from ChryslerPartscenter.com. Ask for Dave or Brad. They know about this issue and really do have the best parts prices, but check around. Only caveat on a use one is that the dealer mechanic told me it might not have the latest upgrades...shrug!

On mine, the TIPM fixed the issue for one week. Now the compressor is out. Dealer wants $900+. Dave got me the compressor for $260 plus $60 core, new unit. Napa itself is at $467 or so new with my military discount!

So, when the compressor comes in tomorrow, the truck goes back in, compressor installed, $229 for installation and evacuation of system...moe $$$.

Not having fun here, but thanks Colorado!!

 

Thanks for the help guys.

Colo, I had planed on having the comp (I assume TIPM) flashed tomorrow to see if that fixed the problem... Should I save the 200$ they charge to do the flash and spend it on a new/ used TIPM? Any idea where to get a used TIPM?

Vert, thanks for the link! Were you having the same problems as I am? Sounds like you have been through the ringer on this deal too!!

Thanks again for all the help.

 

Ok, since my last post There have been a couple new variables enter the equation... well one at least. I had my truck and trailer at our local trailer repair place having quarterly maintenance work done on the trailer and I asked them to do a quick run through of the trailer lights to make sure there were no shorts on any of the wiring. They pulled the 7 way apart and there were some straggling wires inside the cover touching and creating a short across a couple of the pins... They wrangled the stragglers in and it fixed my trailer light problem immediately. It obviously had no effect on my A/C situation but now has me a little more confused as to the next step to take... Could that short in my 7 way, have "tripped" my TIPM and caused my A/C to quit (with the solution being a TIPM flash)? I had planned on taking the truck to the dealership to have the TIPM flashed tomorrow before my trip on Monday but don't want to waste 200$ if my TIPM is fried anyway... Is there a way to test the TIPM to confirm if it is defective or not?

Thanks again for all the help.

 

NEWagain,

Yes that could be the culprit, the flash "Should" fix it..

Disclaimer: I said "should"

$200 sounds high for a flash do a search and see if you can find a TSB on the TIPM flash as it is supposed to increase the amps it handles..

Immediately after getting the lights working install one of these:

http://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Tow-Ready/119190.html

They come with a wiring kit too if you don't have the supplies in your shop..

Check your local salvage yards for a used unit..

I prefer the trailer cable with a molded connector on them myself..

 

Mechanic hooked my truck to their black magic diagnostic machine and told me that the TIPM was not working right. Lots of weird electrical issues that I see now were fixed by the new TIPM.
So, pays your moneys and find out if the TIPM is working or not. Diagnostic machine should be able to tell you

Seriously, I've never had a vehicle which needed to go to the dealer to this extent. I've never spent money on these diagnostic issues before, never mind the expensive fixes. I'm not sure if another Dodge will be in my future. The Cummins is great, but the rest of the package...well, not happy!

 

Thanks again. I found a TSB for the TIPM and took it to the dealer (with the truck). They are going to hook it up and run the diagnosis on it to see what they come up with... They said that they would try to charge me 100$ this time instead of the 200$ they charged me last time... TRY... crazy. Not much else I can do though I guess... I'll see what they turn up and give an update.