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Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:58 pm
by 02kybonnie
K guys... I have a 02 bonnie se... Ive read where a lot of people have isssues with one side warmer or colder than the other or not blowing out of the vents. I just had my ac charged and vacuum pulled. Compressor works, line into the firewall is cold... Like it should be. The ac will not blow out of any vent... Dash, defrost, floor... Anywhere. Sometimes i think when i first start the car after i shut it off with the ac on that its colder than normal for a few seconds then goes back to ambient temp. I can switch from cool to hot and i can bake biscuits out of any vent... But i can not get ac air out of any vent. Any ideas??
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:30 am
by DRC
Is it possible both actuators are shot? You say you get heat so it's not the blower motor...do you get any airflow with a/c on?
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:34 am
by 02kybonnie
Ya i turn ac on and itll blow at whatever i set it to... Just ambient air, not a/c air. Ive been playing with it and when i first start the car itll blow slightly colder than ambient. Is there a way to manually move the actuators? Through the glove box when i take it off? I just want to know some things to try first. Is it at all possible its the hvac controls? When i hit the ac button the compressor kicks and is fully functional in every aspect. I dont have the dual climate...
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:39 am
by DRC
That is odd. Did this happen all of a sudden? Or did you just buy this car?
As for manually moving the actuators...I am far from an expert but I don't think that is possible. You can try the passenger one though...easy to get at. a 7mm or 8mm nutdriver will have the glove box out in no time.
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:43 am
by 02kybonnie
Just got the car... I first thought it was vacuum, but everything is functional. Line is freezing cold all the way up to the firewall... But thats it. A lotta people get it comming out the defrost or floor but i aint even getting that. The ac air isnt making it into the duct work anywhere i dont believe... I dont know much about ac systems so i seek guidance lol
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:51 am
by DRC
Yea you and me both...wish I paid attention in power mech class! One other thing I can suggest though...possibly low refrigerant level? I bought my Bonnie 2 months ago, and had a similar issue...line to firewall was cold, yet cool but not cold air from the vents. Had it checked at a shop, and my compressor seals were leaking, the tech said there was still some refrigerant left (enough to make the line cold I guess) but not enough to blow cold air. New seals, a recharge and $400 later, I had cold air!
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:56 am
by 02kybonnie
I would think that but i had it charged 4 days ago and held good pressure, wouldnt blow cold even while i was still hooked up to the machine. Its an actuator somewhere i just dont know what one it would be? I dont even know which one does what. It couldnt be a blend door not shutting all the way off heat would it? Do these cars have two seperate doors or just one?
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:07 am
by DRC
Oh yea...you did mention the recharge in your first post. There are two actuators (one driver and on passenger) so two blend doors as well. If I were you, I would yank the glove box out and see if the actautor can be manually moved to open the blend door (I don't think so, but it's possible). If it can be, and you end up with cold air on passenger side then your actuator is likely shot, and then probably same for drivers side as well.
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:09 am
by 02kybonnie
Is there anything else it could possibly be? Id like to start with the little things first...
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:14 am
by DRC
As far as a/c systems go, this is probably as little as it gets. Once the glove box is out, the actuator is up on the left hand side. Pretty easy to get at.
Someone with more knowledge of a/c systems can possibly give better ideas...but this is what I would try for starters.
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 3:14 am
by 02kybonnie
So i guess i can rule out vacuum malfunction?
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:00 am
by Archon
2000+ does not use vacuum to control any of the actuators. It sounds as if your airmix actuator is bad. The manual system uses just one, and it's in the same location as the passenger air mix actuator on the automatic system. You may have to remove the lower dash panel to see it. Move the temperature button, and see if the actuator moves.
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Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:12 am
by DRC
Yes Archon I did forget that the lower dash panel comes off as well.
So he only has one actuator that controls both side vents?
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:32 am
by Archon
Yes.
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:48 pm
by 02kybonnie
If this was bad wouldnt it not switch from heat to cool? Possibly not fully closing?
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:36 am
by redzmonte
If it holds vac on the system it's not a leak. Mine with the full 2lbs of 134 would blow cold on pass side and warm out the drivers side. I had it filled an extra 1/2 lb of 134 and it is good to go. This is even after new compressor (mine failed), rxpansion valve and a full system flush. I would try the extra 1/2lb in the system and go from there. If you look for my ac post other guys had success with adding a little extra as well
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 12:17 pm
by 02kybonnie
I have 2.2 lbs in mine...
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 11:34 am
by The_Dude
If I read the original post correctly, it seems to me that he is getting flow out of the vents, just not cold air, and if that is the case his actuators are working fine.
If so, I had the same problem after I replaced a failed compressor: fully charged system, line cold from the accumulator to the firewall, but ambient air out of vents. Ambient air in south Louisiana is 95, so, yeah, that sucked. Turned out to be a dirty orifice tube. Once that was replaced and the system was recharged I had cold air.
Not saying this is the culprit in this case, but it took two experienced mechanics a week to figure this out on my car.
Good luck!
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 11:54 am
by 02kybonnie
I think the actuators are fine because it will switch from outside temp to hot. What/where is the orifice tube?
Re: Ac issue, already searched...
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 11:57 am
by Archon
Because he is getting air flow does not rule out the air mix actuator. The purpose is to change the temperature in the car from hot to cold. If it is staying in the hot position, the a/c can be arctic cold, but it would never make it into the car.