AC issue

Discussion on Air Conditioning/Heat & electronic controls for the same, radiators/fans/engine cooling and related items.
jhonster
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2017 6:04 pm

Re: AC issue

Post by jhonster »

Silversled wrote:
jhonster wrote: Question. How did you pull the line out? Did you take the radiator out and go from the front. Or try to sneak it by the side coming out along the rack and pinion and suspension? Thanks.
Removing the old line was the biggest pain in the a$$. However I did sneak it between the radiator hoses with the radiator in place. The upper radiator brackets were removed to gain access to the a/c condenser connection to the hose. Mine is a 2014 with the electric steering rack so I'm not sure if the hydraulic rack will have more or less clearance.
It IS a major pain in the ass to replace the A/C manifold on these cars. The hose starts to leak because the driver side motor mount moves too much or is separated. The constant torquing of the engine back & forth causes the hose to eventually leak. Bad design having rubber motor mounts. I just got the motor mount replaced under the fac powertrain warranty for free, but they wouldn't do the hose. I tried to sneak it out on the right side past the R. strut. It wont come out that way. So I'm going to try to take it out the top. Probably will need to remove the radiator.
xcidmigs
Posts: 783
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: SE PA

Re: AC issue

Post by xcidmigs »

Good luck with all that, i just had the rad out for a cam swap and had to monkey around with the ac lines and power steering cooler which i didn't even realize was there.. the front end packaging on these is a mess, i can't imagine what they do on cars hit in the front besides totaling them...
jhonster
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2017 6:04 pm

Re: AC issue

Post by jhonster »

Silversled wrote:
jhonster wrote: Question. How did you pull the line out? Did you take the radiator out and go from the front. Or try to sneak it by the side coming out along the rack and pinion and suspension? Thanks.
Removing the old line was the biggest pain in the a$$. However I did sneak it between the radiator hoses with the radiator in place. The upper radiator brackets were removed to gain access to the a/c condenser connection to the hose. Mine is a 2014 with the electric steering rack so I'm not sure if the hydraulic rack will have more or less clearance.
Just got done fixing one on a 2013 Caprice PPV. With the hyd rack and pinion, I had to undo the compressor from the eng block & move forward (left it in the car) it to make room so the compressor side connection of the A/C manifold could be removed from that cubby area & out through the top. A complete hassle of a job. Originally, I was going to try to take it out through the side and removed right side forward suspension radius arm...which actually made it easier to get to the compressor mounting. But, the line is too long to come out the side. It butts up against the strut. So, I did as you did. And fished it out through the top. I had to disconnect the trans cooler hoses in order to get the line past them, so I had to do about a 2 qts addition of fluid to the trans afterwards.

I was pissed at the dealership (Rydell in Northridge, Ca.) where the car was getting 4 recalls fixed. One of them being the drivers side motor mount which caused the A/C line to originally fail. When I asked them to fix the A/C line under the fac powertrain warranty (100K on govt vehicles), they basically told me to go pound sand. Even though there's another dealership in Los Angeles that we deal with that DOES replace the A/C line free of charge under the power train warranty. I think this is wrong on GM's part and needs to be addressed. There needs to be a recall issued over this because it's letting controlled gasses get into the atmosphere. And GM has been made aware of the failure.
Bwillia97
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 11:54 am

Re: AC issue

Post by Bwillia97 »

Jt.kline19 wrote:AC recharged fixed the issue so far. Appears I was low on freon. I evacuated the system an put new freon an oil in. AC blows like wind chill.
So, getting the system evacuated and recharged fixed the warmer air on the passenger side as well? I'm having an issue where the driver's side is cool, but the passenger side is warm with a slight bit of cool air. I'm wondering if a recharge will help me with that issue. Thanks!
Capeasy
Posts: 173
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:16 pm
Location: Downey, CA.

Re: AC issue

Post by Capeasy »

let me know if that fixed the issue, I'm having the same problem I think its a damper door hanging up or so.
Walt (AKA:Capeasy) So. Cal.
2013 Caprice 9C1,Huron white, Blackbear tune, DOD Delete, Texas Speed stage 2 cam with all the goodies, Circle D 258 mm converter, 3200 stall. Spectra CAI, 3.45 Diff, deep trans pan. BlackWidow Venom exhaust,Granatelli oval cutouts, Doug Thorley tri-Y headers, Pedders coilovers,Tower brace, Widend OE. rear wheels to 10" wide with 295 Nitto's
cerbomark
Posts: 316
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2018 5:37 pm
Location: upstate NY

Re: AC issue

Post by cerbomark »

I had the drivers side AC cool but not cold and the passengers side warm. A re charge made both sides cold. It was low and although no leaks found we did put dye in the system in case it doesn't t last. Thought you d like to know before you all start messing with actuators , blend doors etc etc.
2016 C1
CrashTestDummy
Posts: 2300
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: AC issue

Post by CrashTestDummy »

cerbomark wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2020 7:23 am I had the drivers side AC cool but not cold and the passengers side warm. A re charge made both sides cold. It was low and although no leaks found we did put dye in the system in case it doesn't t last. Thought you d like to know before you all start messing with actuators , blend doors etc etc.
Check the high side charging port. They screw into a boss on the tube, and are prone to failure. It was leaking on our '12. I could see the leak with a UV light and the proper glasses, as the fitting didn't look that bad just by looking at it.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
cerbomark
Posts: 316
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2018 5:37 pm
Location: upstate NY

Re: AC issue

Post by cerbomark »

do I just get a uv flashlight? Black light.
The tech said he checked system after refill.
2016 C1
cerbomark
Posts: 316
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2018 5:37 pm
Location: upstate NY

Re: AC issue

Post by cerbomark »

CrashTestDummy wrote: Wed Jul 29, 2020 2:31 pm
cerbomark wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2020 7:23 am I had the drivers side AC cool but not cold and the passengers side warm. A re charge made both sides cold. It was low and although no leaks found we did put dye in the system in case it doesn't t last. Thought you d like to know before you all start messing with actuators , blend doors etc etc.
Check the high side charging port. They screw into a boss on the tube, and are prone to failure. It was leaking on our '12. I could see the leak with a UV light and the proper glasses, as the fitting didn't look that bad just by looking at it.
got the light and glasses. Checking the high side port I can see the glow on the inside area, I am assuming that s where it is from re filling. Will it be all over the outside if it s leaking? I see no leaks. so where did the freon go?
2016 C1
bstoner
Posts: 233
Joined: Wed May 05, 2021 2:12 pm

Re: AC issue

Post by bstoner »

Wanted to 2nd this. Common issue on the GM high side ports without the Schrader valve. You can clean the inside of the port then see the dye after some time. I was also getting bubbling inside the port.
2014 Caprice PPV, 6.0L, BTR Stage 2 Cam, 3.45, 3" exhaust, Rotofab intake, Chris Henry tuned, future LSA....
Post Reply