AC from defrost in all modes

[Albert193500]

Hi Albert193500,
I apologize that you were not reached out to. In the future, the best way to get a hold of us is through private message, as we monitor those closely! If you would like to have a case opened on the Customer Care side, please private message us with your VIN and we would be happy to get this process started for you.



Hi RedRocketZ28,
As mentioned to your fellow forum member, if you would like this documented and looked into further, please do not hesitate to reach to send us a private message.
Alex
Ram Social Care Specialist

Message sent and all information given

 

[yellowboy]

I took my truck in yesterday for this issue - paperwork says working OK --" it is normal for A/C to blow on windshield AT ALL TIMES ..........". Wasted trip and time at dealer guess I'll file with NTSB.

 

[poma31]

File the complaints!


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[Florida Truck]

Same issue here, a/c blows out of the defrost vent and fogs window , dealer said “ we can’t duplicate the issue” . This is a wide spread problem and Ram needs to formulate a fix and a recall. I favor a complaint to NHTSA

 

[ldoh]

FCA's marching orders appear to be consistent - no acknowledgement or repair of any new body a/c systems.

 

[poma31]

FCA's marching orders appear to be consistent - no acknowledgement or repair of any new body a/c systems.

You are more than likely absolutely correct, so let’s force them to provide a solution by filing complaints with NHTSA! If enough of us get our complaints out there we have a chance of forcing a recall. Btw, @RamCares is nothing but an intel collecting arm of FCA. They don’t do a dang thing except either pushing damage control or collecting metrics on complaints and so on to monitor us peasants that drive their vehicles.

File your complaint, takes 5 minutes and the longest part of it is typing out the body of the complaint. I’d be happy to copy and paste my complaint, verbatim, to make your complaint filing easier. Anyone that wants just let me know.


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[Albert193500]

@poma31 you are absolutely right. We need to flood the NHTSA with the severity of this issue in regards to distorting the view of drivers. This is a bigger safety concern than some of the other stuff I have seen. I had a deep long conversation with the director of service and got my point across. I will post that in a bit. But we all need to team up the force a repair before someone dies.

 

[Albert193500]

Update from today's visit 9/26/19

I took time off work again to go to the dealer to prove the obvious. As I have stated before I am a technician myself and have been for some time (20 + years ). After explaining that the temps are in the high 50's, they blamed my thermometer lol, saying it's old and low tech (see pics below). So I challenged them and their thermometer and won. I then had the attention of the Director and the technician who worked on my truck. I chose to explain in detail where I believe the issue is and also to shred that BS statement " operating as designed, confirmed by 10 other trucks on the lot". In short, if recalls in general affect hundreds of thousands then at one point they were all on the lot together. I stated that that statement holds true the other way in my favor as well, if they all do it then they are all broken and defective, correct? I further explained that is it was a design element then it should be only on heat, as heat will not cause condensation to build. They changed their statement to me to " operating as manufactured. So I have yet another appointment on Monday to have the air temp issue looked into. I also used their recalibration attempt to explain that after it was done multiple times in a row it was good for a day, providing it is a defect. Hopefully this will point them in a direction to come with a fix.

Also worth noting is the technicians do not have adequate software to find / confirm the problem. On my 2012 Acadia Denali I am able to control the actuators in 10% increments to verify this type of concern. I asked the technician if he was able to do this and he said no, he can only command a test cycle and the software will dictate if it passes or fails. As a technician this is a crappy way of diagnosing issues. The tech said FCA has that power but it's not available to them as of yet.

 

[JB2]

Update from today's visit 9/26/19
" operating as manufactured."

Oh, now that makes it ok. sheesh.! Sorry Albert.

 

[Albert193500]

Oh, now that makes it ok. sheesh.! Sorry Albert.

I know, but it's better then saying it was designed that way and we are all nuts for complaining about it. And it was technically manufactured that way, wrong, but manufactured that way none the less. I just couldn't accept them telling me it is normal.

 

[Albert193500]

Update 10/2/19

My truck has been there since Monday. After 2 days with FCA techline they decided that they are going to replace the entire HVAC box assembly. I am ok with this as I am hopeful that this will fix both issues, the defrost and air temp.
I was very explicit on the squeaks and rattles. I explained that there are none now and I do not want any when I get the truck back. I advised them to drive it before they touch one bolt.
Now I wait, they said 5 days for the parts and who knows on labor.

 

[JB2]

Update 10/2/19
After 2 days with FCA techline they decided that they are going to replace the entire HVAC box assembly.

Good luck!

 

[Florida Truck]

Good luck, please keep the group updated

 

[yellowboy]

I assume they have to rip your dash apart ?

 

[Billy James]

I assume they have to rip your dash apart ?

The entire dash will need to be taken out (which is really not that complicated). Coolant will need to be drained to disconnect the heater core and the air conditioning will need evacuated to remove the condenser/heat exchanger. I did this on an older RAM before; the design hasn't really changed much if at all. I was in the dealership a couple weeks ago and a guy was getting a quote for a blend door and actuator replacement for a 2014 or 2015 RAM; the dealer estimate was $1200. I would imagine that an entire HVAC box replacement would be nearly double the price. Anyone planning to have theirs repaired should get it done while the truck is under warranty. I'll wait and see how things work out for others right now since my A/C isn't that bad. Maybe if I have the truck still in 6 to 10 years I'll tear it apart and do it myself.

 

[Albert193500]

I assume they have to rip your dash apart ?

Yes, from what I have read and the schematics show the HVAC box is attached to the firewall as a separate unit.

After talking with the director yesterday there is a different part number for the box. Maybe a redesign or modification. Also FCA is working on a new calibration for the HVAC system. From what I have heard it maybe coming soon. Fingers crossed...

One note to you guys, I have a 3500, so I am not sure if the boxes are the same for both models.

 

[JB2]

I was in the dealership a couple weeks ago and a guy was getting a quote for a blend door and actuator replacement for a 2014 or 2015 RAM; the dealer estimate was $1200. I would imagine that an entire HVAC box replacement would be nearly double the price.

Does FCA include the blend door as a component of the HVAC box assembly?

 

[Billy James]

Does FCA include the blend door as a component of the HVAC box assembly?

Good point there. The doors are a part of the HVAC box assembly. However, if you remove the HVAC box from the truck; then you can take it apart to replace the doors and actuators individually. I was assuming that this was the dealerships intention rather than to replace the entire HVAC box because they had mentioned replacing the blend door and actuator and not the HVAC assembly. However, if the HVAC assembly is being replaced it should include all of the doors and actuators as an assembly.

 

[Albert193500]

Update 10/8/19

We as of yesterday the new HVAC box came in and they planned on working on it today. From what I was told by my Advisor they removed my dash and the HVAC system and noticed there was a tab broken off from the new box. They can not install it and reassembled the truck. Not sure I believe that they took the truck apart and put it back together but that's what she said. Now for the bad news, they can't seem to find another assembly and have escalated the parts request. As of this evening they do not have an ETA on parts.

This leads me to my next issue. I am in a 1500, I purchased a 3500. I have plans with my 3500 that this 1500 can't do. Besides that, this truck makes a clattering sound when starting every few times a day, the condensation buildup is 10 times worse in this than mine, and the wipers suck, I have to leave them on my entire morning commute. Now as far as towing goes, I tow a 5th wheel. I cant just swap the hitch very easily and it needs to be 5th wheel prepped. This issue is growing fast. @RamCares is there anything you can do to assist me? I have been there at least 5 times and now I am running into a time crunch. I appreciate that FCA is providing a loaner. Thank you.

 

[mhb1638]

Never heard of this....however, in my experience (and this is my 2nd '19 Ram and both do it) when i turn on defrost, the driver side blows ice cold air, and the right side blows heat. So the right side defrosts and the driver side does not. I proved this to the dealer too but showing them this on their own truck, nothing came except a push up the chain, more or less. Now, if i turn the heat to max hot, I'll get the defrost right, but it shouldn't be like this.