Air conditioning Hack

[Conundrum]

A lot of the reason A/C is not as cold as older vehicles, is due to the fact they changed the refrigerant from 134A to 1234YZ in 2018 or 2019. All cars did. More EPA bullshirt.

Which reminds me, I still have half of a case of R12.

 

[RamCares]

Thanks. It’s at the dealer and the service advisor seemed to understand my concern. I will be in touch if needed.

Understood. You're very welcome. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our team if needed!

Lex
Ram Cares

 

[6of36]

Which reminds me, I still have half of a case of R12.

You know what that's worth? My dad did A/C service. I have a partial drum, plus a half dozen cans. And for people who don't know, the little 12oz cans are worth over $150 these days.

 

[theblet]

I have all the info you provided.

Yes, I am a candidate for the TSB, my hack changes my coldest vent from 58 (stock) down to 42 (hacked). However, in stock mode, it cools me down to 72 without complaint so I have elected to not complete the TSB. And, if I hit a need, I have the hack.

My reason for posting was to ask about what you said. Namely, What are the "major changes?" and Does TSB 24-001-20 GROUP: 24 - Heating and Air Conditioning include the "major Changes"?

Yes. TSB 24-001-20 is the old version of the HVAC redesign. 24-013-21 supersedes it.

 

[theblet]

How long does it take a dealer to do the TSB ?

They kept my truck for 2 or 3 days IIRC.

 

[BowDown]

How long does it take a dealer to do the TSB ?

took them about a day for mine

 

[6of36]

They kept my truck for 2 or 3 days IIRC.

There is actual time for the job, and how long they keep it. Some dealers have it sit for 2 days, before the tech sees it.

 

[theblet]

There is actual time for the job, and how long they keep it. Some dealers have it sit for 2 days, before the tech sees it.

Yea. Idk how long it sat until they got to it. The dealer gave me a loaner so I wasn’t too concerned

 

[seansmd]

Mine is 2023 limited and it is weak, compared to wifes audi sq5.

Bought the hack havent had it installed yet, mid 50s out of the center vents in auto, max ac with lower fan setting it gets a little lower.

If it was the refrigerant arent all vehicles having the same restriction?

 

[theblet]

Mine is 2023 limited and it is weak, compared to wifes audi sq5.

Bought the hack havent had it installed yet, mid 50s out of the center vents in auto, max ac with lower fan setting it gets a little lower.

If it was the refrigerant arent all vehicles having the same restriction?

Im sure they all do. other manufacturers may have improved their designs to be more efficient with 1234yf.

I remember running 134a in and r12 compressor on an old Chevy back in the day. It actually worked well, but cooled much better when you were driving and the rpm’s were up a bit. Similar to how my ram is.

FCA could have just used the same compressor/hvac system, and just changed the refrigerant. Hard to say.

 

[Devlin]

So I have a 2019 Ram 1500. I always hated how bad the AC was in this truck and gave up back when I first got it to find a solution. I am just now looking into it and I see there is a TSB for it. How do I get my dealership to actually look into this. Do they have to test it first, or is it a known issue that I just give them the TSB and they do it. My closest Ram dealership is an hour and a half away. I live in the middle of know where. Thanks,

 

[theblet]

So I have a 2019 Ram 1500. I always hated how bad the AC was in this truck and gave up back when I first got it to find a solution. I am just now looking into it and I see there is a TSB for it. How do I get my dealership to actually look into this. Do they have to test it first, or is it a known issue that I just give them the TSB and they do it. My closest Ram dealership is an hour and a half away. I live in the middle of know where. Thanks,

What I did was buy a AC vent thermometer from autozone. Let the AC completely cool (i actually drove for 30 min), then put the temp to LO and the blower to low. Measure the temps on the left and right side of the center stack. They were in the upper 60's. I installed the hack, and did the same test and the vent temps were in the 40's iirc.

I then removed the hack from my truck, made an appointment with my dealer, printed the TSB and wrote my "no hack" vent temps on the paper to give to the service manager. I told them that my "mechanic" suggested that I give this to them.

After a couple of days, they called and said my truck was ready, and that they were able to perform the TSB. I didn't have to pay because I was under the original warranty. If not you'll have to pay. I would contact ramcares to request a good will repair, since it's a design flaw on their part.

 

[Devlin]

What I did was buy a AC vent thermometer from autozone. Let the AC completely cool (i actually drove for 30 min), then put the temp to LO and the blower to low. Measure the temps on the left and right side of the center stack. They were in the upper 60's. I installed the hack, and did the same test and the vent temps were in the 40's iirc.

I then removed the hack from my truck, made an appointment with my dealer, printed the TSB and wrote my "no hack" vent temps on the paper to give to the service manager. I told them that my "mechanic" suggested that I give this to them.

After a couple of days, they called and said my truck was ready, and that they were able to perform the TSB. I didn't have to pay because I was under the original warranty. If not you'll have to pay. I would contact ramcares to request a good will repair, since it's a design flaw on their part.

Thanks for the info. I'll give that a shot. I am at 40k miles, so probably not covered. May just do the hack and leave it they wont help me.

 

[theblet]

Thanks for the info. I'll give that a shot. I am at 40k miles, so probably not covered. May just do the hack and leave it they wont help me.

That’s what some people do. Keep us in the loop!

 

[benb1976]

I was never in need of the TSB but even at 45ish degree vent temps it still sucks driving in the recent Texas heat with this truck. I never got around to adding the ball valve I bought because of not really needing the TSB, but this weekend was the last straw, I installed the HF hose clamp to see how low I could go and actually got my driver vent temp down to 40 quickly after starting her up in broad sunlight. Now it feels like a 2022 vehicle at least it's much cooler and that 5 degrees is noticeable. 45ish was the limit for me without this hack and with a black truck and a sunny parking spot even that wasn't low enough. I'll be periodically moving the clamp around to avoid damage but after this test Im sold on the hack, might install ball valve when it cools off a bit down here.


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[theblet]

I was never in need of the TSB but even at 45ish degree vent temps it still sucks driving in the recent Texas heat with this truck. I never got around to adding the ball valve I bought because of not really needing the TSB, but this weekend was the last straw, I installed the HF hose clamp to see how low I could go and actually got my driver vent temp down to 40 quickly after starting her up in broad sunlight. Now it feels like a 2022 vehicle at least it's much cooler and that 5 degrees is noticeable. 45ish was the limit for me without this hack and with a black truck and a sunny parking spot even that wasn't low enough. I'll be periodically moving the clamp around to avoid damage but after this test Im sold on the hack, might install ball valve when it cools off a bit down here.


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Maybe something is wrong with your blend door. Mt vent temps dont change with or without the hack since i had the TSB done.

 

[benb1976]

Maybe something is wrong with your blend door. Mt vent temps dont change with or without the hack since i had the TSB done.

What year is your Ram and what are the before TSB and after TSB temps for you and what part of the US are you in? I don't see your signature with specs...


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[theblet]

What year is your Ram and what are the before TSB and after TSB temps for you and what part of the US are you in? I don't see your signature with specs...


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What specs in my signature?

I’m in south Louisiana. Can’t remember the temps off hand. I wanna say it was 60+ before and now it’s upper 40s lower 50s depending on the heat and humidity.

 

[benb1976]

What specs in my signature?

I’m in south Louisiana. Can’t remember the temps off hand. I wanna say it was 60+ before and now it’s upper 40s lower 50s depending on the heat and humidity.

Your signature can be seen in all posts, it's in your profile you can add all the specs of your truck so we have context to what you are driving whenever you post!!

Are you manual or auto AC?


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[6of36]

Your signature can be seen in all posts, it's in your profile you can add all the specs of your truck so we have context to what you are driving whenever you post!!

Are you manual or auto AC?


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He has a signature

2019 Ram 1500 Bighorn - Delmonico Red - Customer Preferred Package 25Z - Level 2 Equipment Group - Premium Lighting Group - 4x4 - 5.7 Hemi non-ET - 3.21 axle - 2” Motofab level - Venom Power Terra Hunter x/t 275/60r20 Std Load Range - Flowmaster Flow FX Cat Back Exhaust - Retrax bed cover - vLinker MC+ obd w/ Jscan - AutoBox Wireless Carplay - Wireless Qi Charging Pad