Hi,

i have a 2003 Sebring sedan with a strange ac problem. sometimes when the ac is not working (blowing air only) I change the control to defrost which turns the ac compressor on. i can then quickly switch the ac control all the way CCW to the recirculate position and it keeps running. if i move the switch one position CW the compressor turns off again. basically it seems to ignore the switch settings for the AC intermittently. do you think it could be the switch panel or the BCM. the AC works great when the compressor is engaged.

thanks

 

Mileage and engine please. When is the last time the AC has bben serviced? A bad resistor will not cause the AC Compressor to cycle as you describe. Any noises? Blend door problems are not commom with the Sebring. Stop using abbreviations...........

I just went thru this, I know what it is, put a crow bar in your wallet and take it to a pro for troubleshooting. Do you have the skills to repair the "air"?

 

it is a 2.4l with 65k miles. I'm more familiar with older cars, i.e. 2.2 turbos, so this car is somewhat new to me. i've rebuilt those AC systems and also first gen minivans and a 2001 minivan system. as far a "skills" go, sometimes! i usually know when to quit.

CCW is counter clockwise, CW is clockwise.

basically the system works great in defrost mode, and most of the time in the recirculate or max air mode. I got the car a few months ago and i do not have much history on it. I was just checking to see if anybody has had a similar problem before i take it to a repair shop. i do not have a full schematic for the system especially when it has to do with the body control module and control switches. thanks for the quick response.

 

Stick with me here.. The works great in the defrost mode troubles me! So, you are saying in defrost mode you hear the the compressor kicking in? No matter what the fan speed? Clairfy, what most of the time in recirculate or inside air mode means. What event occurs that stops the air in re-circ mode? The lapse of time? Does cold air come out? What about heat mode?

 

defrost setting runs compressor
then switching directly to recirculate setting the compressor runs and cold air blows out vents
then switching to non-recirculate setting the compressor stops running and air is like vent only

 

heres a tsb might help ,might need recalibrating not sure where m-1 fuse would be
MODELS:
1998 - 2004 (LH) LHS/300M/Concorde/Intrepid2001 - **2005** (JR) Sebring Convertible/Sebring Sedan/Stratus Sedan
NOTE :Perform Customer Satisfaction Notification no. 857, reprogram Powertrain Control Module (PCM), for 2000 model year LH-vehicles built prior to August 30, 1999 (MDH 0830XX).

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
Erratic operation of the A/C and heater systems including:
^Lack of cold air
^Lack of hot air
^Unrequested mode change - Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) only)
^No control of mode or temperature control
^Tapping noise from blend door

The above Symptoms may be accompanied by the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs):
^Blend door feedback
^Blend door stall
^A/C control mode door input shorted to battery
^Mode door stall
^In car temp sensor failure ATC messages not received

DIAGNOSIS:
^Do not attempt to remove A/C control until after this entire Diagnosis and Repair Procedure has been performed.
^Verify customer reported symptom(s) if possible.
^Check for the presence of DTCs with the scan tool (DRBIII(R)) and record on the repair order. If a DRBIII(R) is not available reference the appropriate Service Manual - Heating and Air Conditioning "Self Diagnostics" procedure and record any present DTCs on the repair order. If Symptoms and/or DTCs other than those listed above are present, repair as necessary. If a Symptom(s) and/or DTC(s) listed above is present, perform the Repair Procedure.

REPAIR PROCEDURE:
1.With the vehicle at room temperature 10°- 27°C. (50°to 80°F.), remove the M-1 circuit fuse for ten minutes to erase DTCs.
2.Install the M-1 fuse and start the vehicle, this will initiate the HVAC system calibration. Allow approximately five minutes for the calibration to complete.
3.Operate the vehicle and HVAC system to verify that Symptoms and/or DTCs are gone. If tapping noise or Blend Stall/Feedback DTCs re-occur, additional diagnosis will be required

 

wow, thank for the TSB. my dad had this done a few years ago on his 300m. now to find the M 1 fuse!

 

I found out where the fuse is. It is in the main fuse block inside the car driver side. It is the 30amp number 1 fuse. I did the re-calibration and it currently functions perfectly. thanks again.

 

I'm having the same problem in both of my Stratus's just in the last 2 weeks. I will try this and see if that fixes my issue also.

 

i think mine reverted back to only working on recirculate position. at least it is blowing cold! good luck and let us know if it works for you.