My 97 bonnie with 145,000 miles is having ac issues. It feels like the heat is on all the time. The ac pump is working and the system is fully charged, but it still blows warm air all the time, making it'impossible to drive in this hot weather. Has this happened before, is it a common problem and is the fix pretty easy?

Is the AC compressor engaging and actually pumping to do the cooling. Feel the line from the pump to the condenser on the front of the car; it should be hot. The line from the condenser to the evaporator inside the car should be cold and so should the accumulator that's on the firewall where the freon comes out of the evaporator. If the line to the inside is cold but the larger line out and the accumulator are not cold may mean you are undercharged with freon.

If the evaporator is cold, your electric actuator that is on top of the heater box under the passenger side dash may be stripped or cracked and not moving. Take off the passenger side hush panel and the glovebox if it helps your sightline. Watch the actuator when you move the temperature control.



The plastic gear in side can crack. Then it slips on the axle that sticks up through the body and moves the lever to the vane inside the heater box. I was able to repair mine by using a glue on the axle where the gear friction fits onto it.

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I was thinking the same check the actuator which you can see if you open your glove box all the way, move the latch holding the glove box in place and it will open all the way up spilling whatever you have in the glove box on the floor. Look in there and change the dial from hot to cool and if it travels all the your OK with that but then you need to watch the compressor and check if the A/C clutch engages if it does you make have a leak in the lines or the accumulator is leaking and that is under your dash which is a bitch because you have to take out the dash to get to that piece and it may have a leak or a plugged and if it is plugged it more than likely blew a gasket on the air compressor and is leaker our the. When you charge it does it stay charge or slowly leak out,