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Lucas
Dodge Dakota
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5/21/2006
13:13:11
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 Subject: A/C question
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Message:
When I'm idling in neutral my a/c starts to blow warm. Is this normal? I checked the levels and they are in the right place. 99 5.2 auto
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shatto
Dodge Dakota
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5/22/2006
01:35:17
| RE: A/C question
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Message:
Just for fun; warm it up, shut off the engine then feel the radiator. If any part is cold, it is plugged.
So what, you ask?
When my radiator was 3/4 plugged there was no hot air to activate the fan clutch. No fan, no air to cool the air conditioner condenser. Warm air inside!
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Big Ed
GenIII
5/22/2006
16:19:14
| RE: A/C question
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Message:
You should have a seperate fan just for the condenser. What Shatto said isn't really true for the A/C system. There should be an electric fan behind your rad. Its activated by a high pressure switch which turns it on when the high side pressure reaches a certain point then shuts off when the head pressure drops. So even if you removed your rad fan (clutch driven) like alot of dak owners do, it would not effect the A/C performance.
Whats interesting is you say it only does it idleing in Neutral. How bout at a stop in Drive or even in Park??? I'm thinking a vacuum issue with your heater.
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shatto
Dodge Dakota
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5/22/2006
16:51:41
| RE: A/C question
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Just goes to show, I know nothing about youz guyz modern engines.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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5/22/2006
17:35:28
| RE: A/C question
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i don't think they put the aux electric fans on until '00. the electric fan comes on with demand for AC and engine temp above 130 or engine temp reaching 210.
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Big Ed
GenIII
5/22/2006
18:06:47
|  RE: A/C question
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You know who would know for sure would be GraphiteDak. If your reading this Graphite, check in!!!
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Big Ed
GenIII
5/22/2006
18:11:24
| RE: A/C question
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Message:
I posted this in the members section, hopefully Graphite will chime in with solid info for ya.
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Lucas
Dodge Dakota
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5/22/2006
19:41:27
| RE: A/C question
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Message:
Its ice cold in drive or park or when i'm moving in drive. i was told by a trans shop to put it in neutral as much as possible because these trannys do not circulate in drive(when stopped)or park. so at every light or when i'm idling somewhere it goes in neutral to save my trans.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
5/22/2006
20:05:56
| RE: A/C question
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Message:
Interesting. Mine DOES have the electric fan, but tow package/HC cooling may have been why.
My bro in laws 2000 Ram 318 does NOT have a fan.
Anyway. I KNOW mine cools in both park or drive. BUT never paid attention when cooling and in Nuetral.
Maybe it's a safety thing? I have never encountered that.
A friend once told me a rental Cavalier shut off the A/C when in PARK. So he set the e-brake and left the car in drive so a dog could be cool with the A/C while he was out of it. THAT overheated the car.
I am one who also bumps the auto tranny into Nuetral when stopped in traffic for more than a typical stoplight.
Mine's an 03 4.7 and I think the A/C stays cool in Nuetral.
Might need to ask the dealer on this one. If it's cool in drive, then it's not overheating. Sitting in drive would make it hotter than being in nuetral.
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shatto
Dodge Dakota
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5/22/2006
20:37:25
| RE: A/C question
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Message:
The electric fan should function independantly of what gear you are in.
Your cooling will always drop off because the engine is turning the compressor slower at idle. If there is no cold at idle you got problems in River City.
Your manual says to shift into neutral if you expect to be stopped for long periods of time, because of circulation.
I think they mean idling for 5 to 20 minutes as I occasionally do, yes I think it's a big-rig, when I'm picking something up. Not a stop light.
Theory time;
If you shift into 'N' at each stop, that torque converter drag is eliminated and various parts last longer. 500,000 miles says it works.
The reason you guys have a seperate fan, etc. is for people like me. ie; it is more efficient than the old condenser in front of the radiator. Easier on both.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
5/23/2006
02:12:03
| RE: A/C question
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Message:
Well, when you sit in gear stuck in traffic, the water pump, etc does turn slower. But even worse is the heat developed in the torque converter. Bad on the tranny. It also gives off more heat in the radiator, where the tranny fluid is cooled, and also more load on the engine sitting there.
But I've never known one to shut off the compressor sitting in nuetral. That don't even make sense.
Maybe it's just low on charge, and the low press switch is shutting it off and on?
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Lucas
Dodge Dakota
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5/24/2006
19:00:02
| RE: A/C question
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Message:
I'm going to go check to see if the compressor is turning while in neutral right now. I'll get back with you guys and let you know what happens.
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Lucas
Dodge Dakota
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5/24/2006
19:22:46
| RE: A/C question
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Compressor comes right on in neutral. i added 1 can of charge about a month ago, maybe it needs 1 more? what i'm thinking is that it gets more air moving than idling so if i put a pusher fan in front of the condenser would that correct it? The condenser was replaced at 78,000 now i'm at 97,000, it looks like a crappy condenser was used for replacment.
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shatto
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2006
01:12:31
| RE: A/C question
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Message:
Lucas.
I was like you; "If a little is good, more must be better."
Until I did the adding "one more can" of Freon to my old Volvo. Sounded like a bunch of bearings let go!
If you have tools, follow directions. If you don't know what you're doing, pay a pro.
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Lucas
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2006
18:27:25
| RE: A/C question
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Message:
levels are right according to the gauge.
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