Let me preface this post by saying thanks in advance for any help! I searched a/c problems on the entire forum and didn't seem to find this problem.

Having a/c problems in my '05 Dakota SLT...let me see if I can do the description justice:

slight amount of air (ambient temp) coming from face vents at all times

snowflake button won't light up nowaynohow

mode switch (switch by the snowflake) will not re-direct air to any other vents...stays on the face vents so no floor or defrost air.

a/c clutch doesn't engage

blower motor works fine

temp switch may or may not work on the hot setting...can't really tell since the outside temps are hovering in the 90's (very miserable newbie here)

Okay...what could possibly cause the above collection of symptoms? I checked fuses andrelays and all seemed to be fine. Could low freon levels cause this? Anyone else had this exact problem with their 3rd gen Dakota?

 

Welcome! I have an 05 dakota too. Since you already checked the fuses those seem to be working fine. trucks and cars no longer use freon, I believe AC is generated now by a compressor. Unfortunately it's probably time to take it to the dealer and have them diagnose the problem. It sounds like there might be a cable loose somewhere that might have become undone by vibrations, if so, then it's an easy fix that probably won't happen again by putting a new connection on. I would have you take apart your CD bezel and get behind the AC controls, but that's a butt to do yourself and it might not even be the problem. Let us know how it goes!

 

Thanks! I was thinking along the same line as you with removingthe bezel hoping there was a loose wire or connector behind there. My problem showed itself suddenly with no advance warning whatsoever so I figured it would be a fuse or wire somewhere...I have my fingers crossed.

I downloaded the service manual from this forum today (THANKS! to the poster) and if all else fails (refrigerant check)I will have a go at the dashboard...if nothing is loose then it's off to the dealer ugh!

 

yeah you know something just hit me, if the fan is working fine bu the air vents dont change and the AC doesn't engage, it most likely could be the wire behind the cd bezel. There are 2 wires, and one of them is i believe only for the air vent controls and AC switch. That might have come loose, it happens. I remember when i first had the truck an ex of mine at the time was in the back seat with a bunch of friends, and i guess she was still pissed at our relationship ending some 6 months earlier and she slammed the door shut so hard that it popped the window control out hahaha...

 

Im pretty sure our trucks use refrigerant (freon is actually a name brand like Dodge)..and I'm pretty positive its R-22. They use to use refrigerant that contained CFC (carboflurocarbons) but they damage the atmosphere if released.....That sux too because that was better refrigerant from what I was taught.

 

yeah it was...i remember my grandparent's old 94 caddy, just whip out ur favorite drink, hold it to the vent for a few minutes and u got yourself a nice crisp refreshing drink! (dramatization)

 

Good ole R12

 

The funny thing is my girlfriend was present when my a/c quit so I'm letting her drive it The bezel comes out this coming weekend! Thanks for the replies!

 

I have a question related to my original post (see post #1 in this thread)

The service manual says the bezel is held on by 2 screws and 4 clips and that I need a trim tool to pop the 4 clips. In the picture I have, the trim tool looks like a popsicle stick that is thick in the middle and tapers on each end. I do not own one. Does anyone have suggestions on a reasonable replacement for this tool or can anyone post a pic of the clips? Thanks in advance!

 

Trim tool = waste of money... grab from the bottom, and pull outwards, you can take it out by hand ,I've done it, oh, twenty times now..