'98 Ram A/C Problems
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3
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'98 Ram A/C Problems
A/C blows warm air. I had the evaporator (and drier) replaced 2 yrs. ago and the system has worked fine since then. It started working intermittenly the last month and now only blows warm air. I tried a recharge of the system, but am getting really high pressure on the low pressure side. Gauge is reading 120 psi, then drops to about 40 psi when the compressor kicks on. It quickly builds back up to 120 psi.
The refrigerant lineon the discharge of the orifice tube thatgoes thru the firewall to the evaporator is ice cold, but apparently something is happening in with the evaporator. Couldthe evaporator be plugged, or possibly the drier is not working properly? Looking for ideas to save me from a trip back to the stealership. It cost me $800 last time I had the evap. replaced. Thanks for the help.
The refrigerant lineon the discharge of the orifice tube thatgoes thru the firewall to the evaporator is ice cold, but apparently something is happening in with the evaporator. Couldthe evaporator be plugged, or possibly the drier is not working properly? Looking for ideas to save me from a trip back to the stealership. It cost me $800 last time I had the evap. replaced. Thanks for the help.
Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 601
Likes: 3
From: Clearwater, FL
RE: '98 Ram A/C Problems
A couple of things. 1st, its nearly impossible to tell whats going on in an a/c system without BOTH high and low side readings. Post these if you can.
2 although Dodge evaps. or notoriously crappy, don't be too quick to condemn it, yet.
3 The line that is getting cold, is that the one from the condenser, along the right fender, and into the evap.? If so, is it frosting up? If yes your refrigerant is still low. If it's just cold, then the refrigerant could be low or overcharged. Just can't tell without both gauge readings. What does the line coming out of the evaporator to the accumulator feel like? cold? Warm? The same? High pressure on the low side when the compressor is not engaged is normal. The system is equalizing. What does the pressure do when you jump the pressure switch on the accumulator?
4 Actually, if a dealer charged $800ish to replace the evaporator, you got off cheap! Here in FloriDUH, a/c shops charge $900ish. Can't immagine what the dealer charges.
Bottom line, if you can't get the gauge readings for BOTH sides of the system, take it to a shop for a check. Some do it free, some places charge $35 or so. They'll pressure check it, and look for leaks. You can do both of these if you can beg, borrow, or...a gauge set. But, it sounds like you're still low on refrigerant, which means you have a leak somewhere. Get me the readings and we can go from there.
WC
2 although Dodge evaps. or notoriously crappy, don't be too quick to condemn it, yet.
3 The line that is getting cold, is that the one from the condenser, along the right fender, and into the evap.? If so, is it frosting up? If yes your refrigerant is still low. If it's just cold, then the refrigerant could be low or overcharged. Just can't tell without both gauge readings. What does the line coming out of the evaporator to the accumulator feel like? cold? Warm? The same? High pressure on the low side when the compressor is not engaged is normal. The system is equalizing. What does the pressure do when you jump the pressure switch on the accumulator?
4 Actually, if a dealer charged $800ish to replace the evaporator, you got off cheap! Here in FloriDUH, a/c shops charge $900ish. Can't immagine what the dealer charges.
Bottom line, if you can't get the gauge readings for BOTH sides of the system, take it to a shop for a check. Some do it free, some places charge $35 or so. They'll pressure check it, and look for leaks. You can do both of these if you can beg, borrow, or...a gauge set. But, it sounds like you're still low on refrigerant, which means you have a leak somewhere. Get me the readings and we can go from there.
WC