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Rangerj
User

Apr 4, 2010, 4:41 PM

Post #1 of 9 (2157 views)
AC Problem Sign In

!999 Chevrolet Malibu 3.0 Auto. The AC light (green) will only stay on for a few minutes then turns off,then it quits cooling, any ideas? Also where is the port (blue cap) to charge AC located? I can only find the red one. Thanks


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 4, 2010, 4:51 PM

Post #2 of 9 (2155 views)
Re: AC Problem Sign In

Might just be a black cap, aqua or who knows. Follow larger or low side line, it should be on line or on an accumulator - some well hidden and some along under radiator to make it interesting.

Check just static pressure like you would a tire and the ambient temp first. If pressure is lower in PSI than the temp in Fahrenheit it is very low if above 70 degrees pressure should be higher than pressure. Start there and don't be adding anything till you know what's up,

T



Rangerj
User

Apr 4, 2010, 4:55 PM

Post #3 of 9 (2151 views)
Re: AC Problem Sign In

Tom, Thanks for your super fast response, I couldn't find any other cap anywhere,nothing other than the red one.I will look some more. Also Do you have any idea about the a/c switch turning off by itself?Thanks.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 4, 2010, 5:14 PM

Post #4 of 9 (2147 views)
Re: AC Problem Sign In

They had a lot of problems with the control heads on those models causing it to go into auto shutdown as yours is..



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 4, 2010, 6:20 PM

Post #5 of 9 (2143 views)
Re: AC Problem Sign In

HT may have more specific details on where the low cap is and there is one. I just don't know the car intimately and if you found the red cap which would be high side then there probably is a color to low side cap.

As said - hiding places are as bad as having to remove air filter housings or down under on some and it's even hard to follow the lines as they go into places you can't see very well or at all.

Looked back and you said it did cool some and would quit. It wouldn't cool at all if static pressure is that low as I first suggested so this probably is incorrect info getting sent or received from some sensor.

It could be low and just shutting down and then after a while engine heat would fool it that refrigerant is enough to engage but we/I don't know that yet so again - don't be adding refrigerant as that may not be the issue and too much is a BAD thing!

Keep looking for the port as you will need to know where it is sooner or later. Hiding places already mentioned and one more is way down back behind engine and firewall. Dang cars just don't have uniformity with that stuff,

T



Rangerj
User

Apr 4, 2010, 7:57 PM

Post #6 of 9 (2136 views)
Re: AC Problem Sign In

Thanks again fellows for your help, I will follow the advice given.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 5, 2010, 2:24 AM

Post #7 of 9 (2132 views)
Re: AC Problem Sign In

I don't have any pictures of this one but if I remember right, it's down behind the engine, against the firewall on the passenger side, under the alternator.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 5, 2010, 4:53 AM

Post #8 of 9 (2127 views)
Re: AC Problem Sign In

Yep - that's a hard one to find let alone get a position to attach the hose if so. Find a VERY dexterous 2 year oldCrazy

If I recall that one (if so) a right angle ended quick connect on hose is near mandatory,

T



Rangerj
User

Apr 10, 2010, 8:38 AM

Post #9 of 9 (2098 views)
Re: AC Problem Sign In

Turned out to be a bad switch in the dash. Problem solved. thanks






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