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A/C return line cold but blowing hot air
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rsaylor
New User
May 24, 2009, 5:01 PM
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A/C return line cold but blowing hot air
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I have a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE 2.4L 6 cylinder engine with 120,000 miles on it. A/C suddenly started blowing hot air the other day. I can hear and see the compressor clutch engage when it's turned on. I assumed I had a small freon leak. Hooked up a pressure gauge and got a reading of 40 lbs (in the blue and indicating full). I moved to the control panel. Pulled that and found that it's electronic so I suspect I must have a motor or control panel issue. Would you agree and if so, how would you proceed? I have no idea where the motor is even located. Do I have to pull the dash? There are two or three fuses connected with the A/C but nothing appears to be blown.
Thanks,
Rick
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 25, 2009, 4:36 AM
Post #2 of 8
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Re: A/C return line cold but blowing hot air
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You need to find the leak and fix it. Those color gauges should be tossed for real ones ( a gauge set) or send this problem out. It only has a wild guess chance if compressor is staying engaged only or it's just a static pressure meaning little. Worse many come with junk and gooo in a final attempt to fix a system and aptly named "death kits" which can make a simple fix a nightmare and big $$$$
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
richard.saylor@insightbb.com
May 25, 2009, 3:53 PM
Post #3 of 8
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Re: A/C return line cold but blowing hot air
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Tom,
I forgot to mention that the return line is ice cold and dripping condensation when the A/C is on. Do you still suspect that I have a freon leak? I was thinking that something is preventing the cold air from getting through the vents.
Thanks,
Rick
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
May 25, 2009, 5:06 PM
Post #4 of 8
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Re: A/C return line cold but blowing hot air
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I have to agree with Tom on those cheap kits. You really need a good manifold gauge set for high & low side reading and a thermometer to measure inlet & outlet temps to properly diag a system.
A quick check you can do if you are thinking it's a blend door problem is to pinch off both heater hoses & then measure your outlet temp. If it falls into range then you are probably looking at a control head, air temp actuator or wiring problem.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 25, 2009, 5:44 PM
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Re: A/C return line cold but blowing hot air
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Good one! Don't know and lost some software to know but this may use an in line heater control valve to stop flow of warm/hot coolant and if so would be found in the inlet hose. Pinching off just that line temporarily if all is restored to normal cooling then diag a bad valve or the info send to it electrically,
T
PS: Heater will beat any A/C system if both are on...........
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on May 25, 2009, 5:45 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 26, 2009, 6:10 AM
Post #6 of 8
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Re: A/C return line cold but blowing hot air
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This car uses an electric blend door motor so it's highly likely that would be the problem.
Pinching off the hoses is still the best way to check it. Get it hot first so you will see the difference.
It still won't get as cold as it should this way because the air is still being contaminated but if you remove the hot water from the equation, you'll see the difference.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
May 29, 2009, 1:40 PM
Post #7 of 8
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Re: A/C return line cold but blowing hot air
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I did like you said and pinched off the heater hose ( I was only able to get one side clamped off). I don't have a temperature gauge but I noticed a dramatic change in the air that was blowing out of the vents. It was actually cold! I'll try replacing the blend door actuator first and if that fails then I see about a new control head.
Thank you all for your help.
Rick
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 29, 2009, 2:16 PM
Post #8 of 8
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Re: A/C return line cold but blowing hot air
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The blend door is the likely problem but it's possible to be the door itself also rather than the actuator. Once you remove the actuator, check for any damage to the shaft and that the door moves freely. The actuator is the most likely though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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