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Munciedr
Dodge Dakota
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6/28/2013
17:33:43
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 Subject: Air conditioning problem
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Message:
I have a 2000 Dakota with the 3.9 and am having the following problem with my a/c. A few months ago my a/c went out and blew the fuse that the horn and remote locks are on. I replaced the fuse and found that the ac system was very low on refridge I added a can of refridge and a leak detector and the system started working fine. I never could find any of the red dye from the leak dectector. Now over the past couple of days I have been getting a clicking noise (like a relay cycling on and off quickly) when I turn on the ac and the motor is at low revs. It happens shortly after I turn on the ac and the system sounds like it is laboring a bit and then the clicking noise and then the ac seems to work OK. This morning I popped the hood and then turned on the ac and during the clicking noise I noticed something blowing out back near the firewall on the driver's side. When I went around to look there was a greenish oil film on some of the components there. I am not a novice to wrenching, but I am a novice to ac systems and would appreciate any direction that could be offered. Anything I could look for or is it likely my compressor going bad? The crazy thing to me is I still have never found any of the red dye from the leak detector and I cannot find a specific leak. I hope to get someone to help me and start the car and turn on the ac while I watch under the hood because it only happens right when I turn the system on and then it does not occur again until I turn everything off and then back on again. Anyway, any knowledge of what to look at would be appreciated.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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6/29/2013
07:52:56
| RE: Air conditioning problem
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Message:
Sounds like your leak is in the evaporator coil.
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Joe.C
Dodge Dakota
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6/29/2013
15:34:12
| RE: Air conditioning problem
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Message:
Daddio, I haven't herd from you in years, what have you been up to?
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Joe.C
Dodge Dakota
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6/29/2013
15:41:22
| RE: Air conditioning problem
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Message:
That would be a tough one to diagnose but I assume you check to make sure nothing has clogged up?
My Ranger had a problem where the compressor wouldn't even work. So I thought it leaked out, I drove the truck to the shop and let one of the guys take a look at it. As it turns out it some gunk up in one of the hoses.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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6/30/2013
09:15:15
| RE: Air conditioning problem
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Message:
Doing well Joe. Thanks for asking. Still have the Dak and just
did a second front alignment @ 168k. It's still going strong.
Don't see too many of the old regulars out here anymore.
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Munciedr
Dodge Dakota
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7/02/2013
14:26:36
| RE: Air conditioning problem
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Message:
Thanks for your reply guys. With my limited knowledge about A/C systems and some reading I have done online I am guessing/hoping that is it something clogged up that is causing the issue. Since my first post I have found that it seems to be present when the system is hot and has been running. First time I turn it on the A/C works fine and no problems. If it runs for a bit and then I turn off the car (short trip sort of thing) and then start back up shortly and then run the A/C I get the clicking at what sounds like a relay. No more venting, but may now be because things are low. I also have noticed that the compressor comes on and runs fine, but that it does not cycle on and off and it just stays on constantly. I have not run it very long under these conditions, but the performance degrades as it runs longer and things get hot. I am thinking the idea that something is plugged up so things are not circulating and that causes the issue as pressures rise with heat/use makes sense. Does that sound right to anyone? Anything I can do or anything I need to say when taking it to a shop so I don't just get the typical "you need a new compressor" line. I have sadly found that most places do not want to do the diagnostic work and find it easier to just replace things. Thanks for the help so far and any further help or input would be appreciated.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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7/02/2013
19:19:43
| RE: Air conditioning problem
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Message:
Have you put some gauges on the system? That should tell
you if there is blockage in the system.
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Munciedr
Dodge Dakota
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7/03/2013
11:27:16
| RE: Air conditioning problem
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Message:
I only have one of those cheapo gauges that comes with the refill systems you can buy that fits on the low side but I do not have anything that will fit the high side. The low side reads a little high when I hook it up, but not too bad. If I try to add refridge it goes up to over 100 at first, but then will come back down if I play around with/tap on the fitting where I can connect to the low side. That made me wonder if that issue is more the Schrader valve (similar to a tire valve stem)as I also noticed some seepage/bubbling of refridge oil around that valve. I suppose that could also be the valve not able to hold in too high of a pressure as it was designed for the low side pressures that are not supposed to go up too high, but I am just guessing and I do not know how high those will hold and still be OK. Anyway, can you say more about what I can check with gauges? Maybe I can try to borrow some. Finally, I know there is a lot of missing info based on my limited tools and knowledge about AC systems. I am mostly wanting to know what I can diagnose and possibly do on my own and maybe what I should ask for at a shop to avoid being told I just need to replace the whole system (if, in fact, I do not need to do that). Thanks for all of your help so far and any further ideas/input would be appreciated.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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7/03/2013
13:46:12
| RE: Air conditioning problem
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Message:
Usually if there is an obstruction on the low side it will freeze up. Same as it will do sometimes when low on freon. You really need some readings from the high side to see whats actually happening. Sometimes when your low side pressure runs high that's a sign of worn valves in the compressor. R134A ysytems are a lot more touchy than the old R-12.
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Yukon
Dodge Dakota
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7/03/2014
18:57:45
| RE: Air conditioning problem
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Message:
I have a 2004 Dakota r/t when the ac runs I get a
lot of water on the passenger side floor board. I am
licensed to work on ac but have no knowledge of
cars. Any thoughts on my problem?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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7/03/2014
19:17:58
| RE: Air conditioning problem
IP: Logged
Message:
The evaporator box drain is clogged. It's on the passenger
side firewall.
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