Air conditioning Hack

[Differia]

I just noticed the lines running into the exspansion valve are sweating and have condensation dripping a little.
Is this normal?
Also when I turn my fan to the lowest setting I can hear noise running through the lines. Are any of you guys experiencing this and is it normal?

 

[rrbhokies]

I haven't tried this yet but I was just thinking if anyone has tried setting the temperature on the passenger side higher like maybe 70 and the driver's side to low and use auto? Would this perform some kind of "blend" on is own and send more cold air to the driver's side? Just curious if anyone has tried this?

 

[RRSBighorn]

My truck only has about 700 miles and was manufactured 4/2019. After reading about problems with the AC I wanted to check mine. It's been in the low to mid 90's with high humidity the last couple of weeks, and my air seems to be working fine. I'm a very mechanical guy, but AC is not my bag. I wasn't sure what kind of temps you should be getting out of your vents. Interestingly Jhill provided an AC performance testing document on P2 of this thread. So assuming this info is correct, my AC is performing as specified from this document (see attachment). The test I ran today I had a hand held electronic Fluke digital readout with the thermocouple in the drivers vent (didn't check the center passenger side). I drove about 20 miles in various conditions (2 lane highway @ 55mph, and stop and go) with outside temperature about 94 and very humid (70+%). The AC on Max AC and I got temps between 52 and 55F. The thing I noticed is the temperature was going down while moving but would start going up at stop light. This weekend I tested my daughters 2013 Hyundia Sonata while in the 90's and saw similar vent temps. The Sonata had a larger variance, while driving temps got down to about 50F, but at a long stoplight, got upto about 62+. So if some vehicles here that were modified got into the 30's, why does the 2019 Ram Performance test say that your AC should only get down to about 45 if the outside temperature is in the 70's {see attachment). Does anyone have other reference material that shows what your vent temperature should be at different outside temperatures with Max AC on? I might check my wife's 2018 Malibu. She says it doesn't cool as well as her old 2013 Sonata (now my daughters car}.

 

[ColoradoCub]

I think the biggest issue is that with the exception of people that bought this ram as their first truck, so many of the owners dissatisfied with the AC, traded in trucks that had much better performing AC’s than the one in this new Ram has. I’ve owned trucks forever and I’ve owned trucks in much hotter environments than I live in now. The first warm day I drove my truck and I’m not talking 100 degrees, I’m talking high 80’s my wife noticed that the truck was not cooling down even after we were on the highway. It only got worse as the temps went up. It’s all great and dandy that ram put out this memo that says the AC should be X Y Z but it’s ability to cool off the inside is horrible. The wife and I had to go like 45 miles from the house in a 95 deg day and we didn’t even take my NEW truck because the AC sucks, so we took her vehicle. Pretty sad if you ask me. After discovering the AC hack mod it has actually made it enjoyable to drive every day now that it actually cools and the outside temps have risen. Ram can’t tell a guy who’s owned multiple models of their trucks and never had an issue with the AC cooling them off inside that all of a sudden the newest greatest model with a much improved cooling system just comes with crap AC and print out this new AC parameter chart and tell you sorry it’s in spec. If we didn’t have this heater hose mod brought forward by KCray I can’t imagine the complaining that would be going on here!

 

[Spooky8712]

I think the biggest issue is that with the exception of people that bought this ram as their first truck, so many of the owners dissatisfied with the AC, traded in trucks that had much better performing AC’s than the one in this new Ram has. I’ve owned trucks forever and I’ve owned trucks in much hotter environments than I live in now. The first warm day I drove my truck and I’m not talking 100 degrees, I’m talking high 80’s my wife noticed that the truck was not cooling down even after we were on the highway. It only got worse as the temps went up. It’s all great and dandy that ram put out this memo that says the AC should be X Y Z but it’s ability to cool off the inside is horrible. The wife and I had to go like 45 miles from the house in a 95 deg day and we didn’t even take my NEW truck because the AC sucks, so we took her vehicle. Pretty sad if you ask me. After discovering the AC hack mod it has actually made it enjoyable to drive every day now that it actually cools and the outside temps have risen. Ram can’t tell a guy who’s owned multiple models of their trucks and never had an issue with the AC cooling them off inside that all of a sudden the newest greatest model with a much improved cooling system just comes with crap AC and print out this new AC parameter chart and tell you sorry it’s in spec. If we didn’t have this heater hose mod brought forward by KCray I can’t imagine the complaining that would be going on here!

I'm with you man. I don't need a paper to tell me my ac works to spec. Fact is, I am not as comfortable in my new limited as my previous black on black F150! Fan blew harder and temp from vents were much cooler in that truck. The wife and I have a road trip this weekend and you can bet we're driving her Lexus...I can't wait for my clamps from Harbor Freight to arrive.

By the way, to mitigate this issue, I've had ceramic tint installed all the way around...even on the windshield! I also have a sun shade when parking. If it's 100 degrees outside though, then there's not much you can do to prevent it from getting to a similar temp on the inside...

 

[BeauxXL1200]

I think the biggest issue is that with the exception of people that bought this ram as their first truck, so many of the owners dissatisfied with the AC, traded in trucks that had much better performing AC’s than the one in this new Ram has. I’ve owned trucks forever and I’ve owned trucks in much hotter environments than I live in now. The first warm day I drove my truck and I’m not talking 100 degrees, I’m talking high 80’s my wife noticed that the truck was not cooling down even after we were on the highway. It only got worse as the temps went up. It’s all great and dandy that ram put out this memo that says the AC should be X Y Z but it’s ability to cool off the inside is horrible. The wife and I had to go like 45 miles from the house in a 95 deg day and we didn’t even take my NEW truck because the AC sucks, so we took her vehicle. Pretty sad if you ask me. After discovering the AC hack mod it has actually made it enjoyable to drive every day now that it actually cools and the outside temps have risen. Ram can’t tell a guy who’s owned multiple models of their trucks and never had an issue with the AC cooling them off inside that all of a sudden the newest greatest model with a much improved cooling system just comes with crap AC and print out this new AC parameter chart and tell you sorry it’s in spec. If we didn’t have this heater hose mod brought forward by KCray I can’t imagine the complaining that would be going on here!

You Sir are spot on.

 

[Spooky8712]

Just installed my clamp...AC is ice cold. I tightened it down to only allow a small amount of flow so I still can get a heat adjustment if needed. $7.99 clamp prevented me from trading in a brand new truck lol!

 

[ColoradoCub]

We just tested my AC with the valve in place and my buddies 1 month old limited AC that he says doesn’t blow cold , side by side. It’s 100 deg outside and his blew low 60’s and mine blew high 40’s at idle. Both trucks ran for the same amount of time. He’s sold! It’s sad this is what we have to resort to but at least it’s easy and the results are perfect!

 

[rrbhokies]

Installed the Harbor Freight clamp today. It was 102 outside today. I did before and after test run of about 20 minutes with the A/C on Max, Speed 7. Definitely an improvement. Maybe not quite as drastic as I would have thought, but much better on the driver's side for sure. I also included a shot of the clamp on the hose. I've since tightened it down a little bit more, but worried about how much is too much. Also want to confirm that I have it in the right place. Also, this clamp gets very hot. Sure this HB clamp won't melt the plastic knob?

Overall, I think I'll keep it like this for a while. I still have to take it in to have the tires, wheels and suspension inspected as I'm still having most of the issues people are talking about. Not sure what can be done, but give it try. Once it's out of the shop, may look to install the valve hack.

 

[Tom488]

Also want to confirm that I have it in the right place. Also, this clamp gets very hot. Sure this HB clamp won't melt the plastic knob?

That's the right spot, on the correct hose. That's the supply to the heater core. I wouldn't worry about the temp. It can only get to a max. of around 220°F or so. Nylon doesn't melt until it gets over 500°F. And even then, the knob is only a handle around a regular steel hex nut - the clamp won't fall off even if you burned the entire knob away.

 

[rrbhokies]

That's the right spot, on the correct hose. That's the supply to the heater core. I wouldn't worry about the temp. It can only get to a max. of around 220°F or so. Nylon doesn't melt until it gets over 500°F. And even then, the knob is only a handle around a regular steel hex nut - the clamp won't fall off even if you burned the entire knob away.

AAAAHHHHH.............. The things we do to stay cool............... You know, it's kind of fun to hack a $65k truck!!

 

[KcRay]

Installed the Harbor Freight clamp today. It was 102 outside today. I did before and after test run of about 20 minutes with the A/C on Max, Speed 7. Definitely an improvement. Maybe not quite as drastic as I would have thought, but much better on the driver's side for sure. I also included a shot of the clamp on the hose. I've since tightened it down a little bit more, but worried about how much is too much. Also want to confirm that I have it in the right place. Also, this clamp gets very hot. Sure this HB clamp won't melt the plastic knob?

Overall, I think I'll keep it like this for a while. I still have to take it in to have the tires, wheels and suspension inspected as I'm still having most of the issues people are talking about. Not sure what can be done, but give it try. Once it's out of the shop, may look to install the valve hack.

View attachment 31342

While your at your dealer, ask them to check the your ac charge as well, you may be a bit low, you should be getting cooler vent temps than that after after the hack. What about as you are driving down the road, do the temps improve?

 

[rrbhokies]

While your at your dealer, ask them to check the your ac charge as well, you may be a bit low, you should be getting cooler vent temps than that after after the hack. What about as you are driving down the road, do the temps improve?

That was while driving down the road about 10-15 minutes into the trip. Granted, temps were extreme yesterday. Felt like 112 with humidity. I'll keep checking the temps and report back.

 

[ColoradoCub]

That was while driving down the road about 10-15 minutes into the trip. Granted, temps were extreme yesterday. Felt like 112 with humidity. I'll keep checking the temps and report back.

The biggest difference I found pre and post valve/clamp is at idle. I’m not kidding guys, in 100 deg temps at idle drivers side was 59-60 deg , now its high 40’s.My buddies limited never got below 62 at idle on the drivers side.The amount of idle time and gas burned that 62 deg AC takes to cool a black truck with black leather that’s been parked outside with interior temps of 140 deg could be almost used by environmentalist as an attack angle on FCA.

 

[TXRAM23]

Just curious, does clamping that hose cause any extra stress on the water pump since it's designed to push water through and it's not able to. With this hack is there a chance of causing the pump to fail?

 

[securityguy]

Just curious, does clamping that hose cause any extra stress on the water pump since it's designed to push water through and it's not able to. With this hack is there a chance of causing the pump to fail?

I, personally, would not clamp a hose but that's just me.

 

[Rob5589]

I, personally, would not clamp a hose but that's just me.

I would not feel comfortable clamping off the hose either. Blocking the flow, or slowing it significantly, seems as though could cause issues down the road with the water pump not being able to circulate freely as designed. I have not looked at it but, could you use a short hose to loop the outlet and inlet together? Of course you'd have no heat but not really an issue this time of year.

 

[rrbhokies]

I, personally, would not clamp a hose but that's just me.

You might think differently if you had all the issues with the A/C that others have had.

 

[securityguy]

You might think differently if you had all the issues with the A/C that others have had.

I would not as I would be more concerned about the greater impact of clamping a hose as @Rob5589 stated above.

 

[Brisoup1]

I'm with you man. I don't need a paper to tell me my ac works to spec. Fact is, I am not as comfortable in my new limited as my previous black on black F150! Fan blew harder and temp from vents were much cooler in that truck. The wife and I have a road trip this weekend and you can bet we're driving her Lexus...I can't wait for my clamps from Harbor Freight to arrive.

By the way, to mitigate this issue, I've had ceramic tint installed all the way around...even on the windshield! I also have a sun shade when parking. If it's 100 degrees outside though, then there's not much you can do to prevent it from getting to a similar temp on the inside...

If I was you, I'd by the hose clamps from Lowes or Home Depot. Harbor Freight sells low quality Chinese junk.