AC intermittant-2003 1500

rickw · 06-10-2008, 03:26 PM

I need some advice on troubleshooting the ac on a 2003 1500 with a 5.3L engine. The ac comes on for a few minutes and blows cold, then it blows ambient air for several minutes, then it starts blowing cold again for a few minutes. I thought maybe low refrigerant so I bought a R134 kit with a pressure gauge; and according to the instructions on the can checked the pressure with the ac on. The pressure read about 50psi so the instructions indicate the pressure is too high? What should I check?

og25 · 06-11-2008, 08:16 PM

Hey rickw, when you have the pressure gauge hooked up to the ac you want to make sure the compressor clutch is engaged when you read it. If the clutch is not engaged the reading will be high. Good luck!

rickw · 06-12-2008, 08:18 AM

Thanks, I'll give that a try. The funny thing is that for the last couple of days it has blown cold except for 45sec yesterday.

rickw · 06-12-2008, 11:43 AM

Checked the pressure while it was blowing cold and it was about 35psi. Drove it and ac was cold for 10-15 min, then ambient for 5 mins, then cold for 9 mins, then ambient for 4 mins, then cold again. What would cause this?

leolkfrm · 06-12-2008, 02:24 PM

sounds like the temp damper acting up, or a problem at the high pressure switch

rickw · 06-12-2008, 02:44 PM

Thanks, where is the temp damper and high pressure switch? Is there a way to check them or do you just replace them and see if the problem goes away?

leolkfrm · 06-12-2008, 09:43 PM

temp damper is in the dash and move withe temp control knob, pressure switch is on the dryer

rickw · 06-13-2008, 09:08 AM

Thanks, I'll see if I can find them.

og25 · 06-13-2008, 09:41 AM

Hey rickw, Before you start replacing parts and possibly waste your money, try checking all your ac electrical connections. You can do that while you are looking for the presssure switch and temp damper. Sometimes it's that simple.

rickw · 06-13-2008, 11:35 AM

thanks for the info, I'm not much of a car mechanic but like to tinker.

leolkfrm, is the temp damper part of the temp controll unit? I have removed the temp control unit but don't see any replaceable parts in the unit when I opened it, other than the circuit boards.

og25, since I pulled the temp controll, just plugging it back in would check the connection on that end right?

06-10-2008, 03:26 PM	#1
rickw Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: alabama Posts: 8	AC intermittant-2003 1500 I need some advice on troubleshooting the ac on a 2003 1500 with a 5.3L engine. The ac comes on for a few minutes and blows cold, then it blows ambient air for several minutes, then it starts blowing cold again for a few minutes. I thought maybe low refrigerant so I bought a R134 kit with a pressure gauge; and according to the instructions on the can checked the pressure with the ac on. The pressure read about 50psi so the instructions indicate the pressure is too high? What should I check?

06-13-2008, 11:35 AM	#10
rickw Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: alabama Posts: 8	thanks for the info, I'm not much of a car mechanic but like to tinker. leolkfrm, is the temp damper part of the temp controll unit? I have removed the temp control unit but don't see any replaceable parts in the unit when I opened it, other than the circuit boards. og25, since I pulled the temp controll, just plugging it back in would check the connection on that end right? Last edited by rickw; 06-13-2008 at 01:06 PM.

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06-11-2008, 08:16 PM	#2
og25 Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 23	Hey rickw, when you have the pressure gauge hooked up to the ac you want to make sure the compressor clutch is engaged when you read it. If the clutch is not engaged the reading will be high. Good luck!

06-12-2008, 08:18 AM	#3
rickw Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: alabama Posts: 8	Thanks, I'll give that a try. The funny thing is that for the last couple of days it has blown cold except for 45sec yesterday.

06-12-2008, 11:43 AM	#4
rickw Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: alabama Posts: 8	Checked the pressure while it was blowing cold and it was about 35psi. Drove it and ac was cold for 10-15 min, then ambient for 5 mins, then cold for 9 mins, then ambient for 4 mins, then cold again. What would cause this?

06-12-2008, 02:24 PM	#5
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 1,456	sounds like the temp damper acting up, or a problem at the high pressure switch

06-12-2008, 02:44 PM	#6
rickw Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: alabama Posts: 8	Thanks, where is the temp damper and high pressure switch? Is there a way to check them or do you just replace them and see if the problem goes away?

06-12-2008, 09:43 PM	#7
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 1,456	temp damper is in the dash and move withe temp control knob, pressure switch is on the dryer

06-13-2008, 09:08 AM	#8
rickw Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: alabama Posts: 8	Thanks, I'll see if I can find them.

06-13-2008, 09:41 AM	#9
og25 Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 23	Hey rickw, Before you start replacing parts and possibly waste your money, try checking all your ac electrical connections. You can do that while you are looking for the presssure switch and temp damper. Sometimes it's that simple.