97 Ram 1500 air-conditioning question
From : abe
Q: trucks got 98000 miles on it and for the 4 years ive owned it the ac has been strong. this year ive noticed the ac isnt as strong but gets much better when the vehicle is moving. i popped the hood when i got home today and observed that the ac line that includes the large black canister is all very cold with much condensation on it all the way to the coils up front. after i turned the truck off i hear i hissing sound like some gaseous stuff is leaking or moving around in the system. so two questions 1. is there a poor mans way to tell if my ac charge is low based on the symptoms ive described 2. what kind of coolant do i have in this system and if its low would i be wise to change the entire charge with something newer i ask because i know things have changed over the last several years but i havent kept up. ** due to spam i no longer receive email responses to ** group postings so dont bother. .
Replies:
From : findingking
should be r134 and is probably low. the hissing noise is just the system equalizing pressure. you can get a charge kit and freon at your local parts store. both less than $20. on fri 21 may 2004 220640 gmt abe mark-@please.nospam.gags-r-us.org wrote trucks got 98000 miles on it and for the 4 years ive owned it the ac has been strong. this year ive noticed the ac isnt as strong but gets much better when the vehicle is moving. i popped the hood when i got home today and observed that the ac line that includes the large black canister is all very cold with much condensation on it all the way to the coils up front. after i turned the truck off i hear i hissing sound like some gaseous stuff is leaking or moving around in the system. so two questions 1. is there a poor mans way to tell if my ac charge is low based on the symptoms ive described 2. what kind of coolant do i have in this system and if its low would i be wise to change the entire charge with something newer i ask because i know things have changed over the last several years but i havent kept up. ** due to spam i no longer receive email responses to ** group postings so dont bother. .
From : gary carter
sorry couldnt recommend some one who has to ask these questions to try to do this themselves. if you have a neighbor or friend that does this on their own vehicles without blowing things up or losing appendages in the process you might ask them. otherwise take it to a repair center which is not a bad idea in the first place they might even be able to find the reason it is low. the air conditioning system is a closed system meaning if everything is right it should never need servicing. almost sounds more like a vacuum hose or canister is bad or disconnected. if it was very low on freon your dryer canister and low pressure line would not be cold. in fact if it is real low the a/c will not even kick in. gary carter should be r134 and is probably low. the hissing noise is just the system equalizing pressure. you can get a charge kit and freon at your local parts store. both less than $20. on fri 21 may 2004 220640 gmt abe mark-@please.nospam.gags-r-us.org wrote trucks got 98000 miles on it and for the 4 years ive owned it the ac has been strong. this year ive noticed the ac isnt as strong but gets much better when the vehicle is moving. i popped the hood when i got home today and observed that the ac line that includes the large black canister is all very cold with much condensation on it all the way to the coils up front. after i turned the truck off i hear i hissing sound like some gaseous stuff is leaking or moving around in the system. so two questions 1. is there a poor mans way to tell if my ac charge is low based on the symptoms ive described 2. what kind of coolant do i have in this system and if its low would i be wise to change the entire charge with something newer i ask because i know things have changed over the last several years but i havent kept up. ** due to spam i no longer receive email responses to ** group postings so dont bother. .
From : Annonymous
mark-@please.nospam.gags-r-us.org writes 1. is there a poor mans way to tell if my ac charge is low based on the symptoms ive described with the a/c on and set for max cooling and the truck idling make note whether the a/c compressor clutch is repeateadly cycling on and off every few seconds. if it is then you are low on coolant. 2. what kind of coolant do i have in this system r134a and if its low would i be wise to change the entire charge with something newer no i ask because i know things have changed over the last several years but i havent kept up. r134a is still current. stop in to your local auto parts store or walmart. a recharge kit and a can of r134a is reasonably cheap and you dont need a license for r134a. just get the hose kit not the one with the guage. you dont need the guage besides 1 uncalibrated guage on the suction side wont tell you anything. add freon with the truck and a/c running and set on max cooling. it will probably take the entire can 12 ounces - but dont add a second can. keep the can upright while adding coolant. if 1 can doesnt fix it then its time to take it to a pro. ive had to add anywhere from 3/4 to 1 can of coolant to my 97 ram about once a year for the last 3 years. obviously over the years the system has developed a very slow leak somewhere. but as long as adding a can of coolant once a year is all it takes to get me by i really dont feel like spending the several hundred dollars it would take to have someone find the leak and fix it. repaired systems never seem to last as long as original equipment hence my attitude toward buying the repairs. .