Air conditioning performance

[KcRay]

Driver side and passenger side read different. Is the temperature blowing correctly at least on one side though? Will it be different if it was hotter outside like later in the day?

Knowing now we can get temps blowing in the 36-38 range, I would say, "no" neither side is blowing correctly. One side blowing cooler than the other just gives us a false sense that the cooler side is the side working correctly. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

 

[trook]

I have the a/c issue with my Sept 18th build. I purchased the truck in March when I didn't need the ac. Now, with temps in the high 80's, I can tell that its not blowing as cool as it should. A thermometer showed 49 on the driver side and 42 on the passenger side with a 74 outside temp over the weekend.

I'm taking the truck to the dealer in two days to handle the brake pedal recall. I'll have them check the ac when I am there and hope for the best..... I will also have the TSB printed out for them.

There is no way this truck will cool efficiently when these Mississippi temps reach 100 with 90% humidity in the next couple of months. It's struggling to keep up now.

 

[RamCares]

So I’m going to take my truck in so they can check the A/C. I feel it performs but it needs to be a tad colder. Figured I’d have them check. Anything in particular I should say?

Hi Ortiz7983,
If you would like any additional assistance while working with your dealer to have this addressed, please send our team a private message!
Alex
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Jhill]

Driver side and passenger side read different. Is the temperature blowing correctly at least on one side though? Will it be different if it was hotter outside like later in the day?

The drivers side center vent tends to be 8-10 degrees warmer than the passengers center vent. Many members seeing 58-60 degrees for driver and like 46-48 out of passenger center vent. As outside ambient temp rises the vent temps will rise some. If you shut off the heater core coolant supply, both vents will blow like 36-40 degree air approximately. So really, the AC is working. The chilled air is being heated back up because of internal heat diluting the cold air. There is internal blend door issues that is allowing heat to blend with chilled air from evaporator. Ram dealers should offer to add a heater core manual valve to act as a temporary fix for the summer as they determine a permanent proper long term resolution. Five minute fix with $15 in parts. ******* Alex from RamCares.....Please share this with engineers and management at Ram*******

 

[Jhill]

Driver side and passenger side read different. Is the temperature blowing correctly at least on one side though? Will it be different if it was hotter outside like later in the day?

If the rest of us had your temps, we would be happy campers! The drivers side vent is 5 degrees warmer due to heat "leaking" from heater core and warming up the chilled air, probably from a mechanical blending door that isn't sealing when no heat is wanted.. Yours is probably the way the truck's system should work. If it gets dramatically hotter like 100+ degrees, AC temps will rise as there is a limit on how much cooling delta freon can provide.

 

[Jhill]

If you decide to add coolant valve in heater core supply line like KcRay (our HERO....parade for him soon) to bandaid fix your warm AC vent temps, allow some coolant flow so evaporator doesn't freeze up in humid weather as some heat is needed and you may want some on cool mornings. (brrrrrrrr......members with pneumonia will be new thread..lol)

 

[Gladiator77]

OK so I decided to do the test today. I drove home from work and that takes approximately one hour. With the thermometer in the driver side center vent the temp never got below 49 to 50 degrees. When I got home in the driveway, I took a pair of vice grips and clamp down the hose. I then got into my truck and drove for about 15 more minutes and I notice a significant difference going from about 53 degrees, having been idle in the driveway for about 10 minutes, down to about 41 degrees. And the ambient temperature was around 92 degrees. I then came back home took the vice grips off the hose and drove again for about 15 minutes and the thermometer never got below 49 degrees. I then placed the vice grips back on the hose and drove again for about 15 to 20 minutes by now the ambient temperature rose to about 94 degrees and the thermometer got down to 43 degrees. I notice about a 51 degrees temperature difference between the vent and the ambient temperature outside when the hose is clamped. I notice about a 40 degrees difference between the vent and the ambient temperature outside when the hose is not clamped. So, on average there is about an 11 degree difference with the hose being clamped off. I am going to leave the vice grips clamped on the hose for work tomorrow and drive that hour home and gauge it with the outside temps and see if it maintains the difference... It does seem to take it a good 10 minutes or so to cool down to 41 or so. But it is sure hot in Florida!

 

[chemist2000]

OK so I decided to do the test today. I drove home from work and that takes approximately one hour. With the thermometer in the driver side center vent the temp never got below 49 to 50 degrees. When I got home in the driveway, I took a pair of vice grips and clamp down the hose. I then got into my truck and drove for about 15 more minutes and I notice a significant difference going from about 53 degrees, having been idle in the driveway for about 10 minutes, down to about 41 degrees. And the ambient temperature was around 92 degrees. I then came back home took the vice grips off the hose and drove again for about 15 minutes and the thermometer never got below 49 degrees. I then placed the vice grips back on the hose and drove again for about 15 to 20 minutes by now the ambient temperature rose to about 94 degrees and the thermometer got down to 43 degrees. I notice about a 51 degrees temperature difference between the vent and the ambient temperature outside when the hose is clamped. I notice about a 40 degrees difference between the vent and the ambient temperature outside when the hose is not clamped. So, on average there is about an 11 degree difference with the hose being clamped off. I am going to leave the vice grips clamped on the hose for work tomorrow and drive that hour home and gauge it with the outside temps and see if it maintains the difference... It does seem to take it a good 10 minutes or so to cool down to 41 or so. But it is sure hot in Florida!

Very curious if anything freezes up during that hour drive. Sounds promising though.

 

[James Cole]

So if the evaporator or core freezes if you shut off the valve completely... why is it a problem? It should have antifreeze on it so no way to freeze that, you guys mean the evaporator itself can get very cold?

 

[KcRay]

OK so I decided to do the test today. I drove home from work and that takes approximately one hour. With the thermometer in the driver side center vent the temp never got below 49 to 50 degrees. When I got home in the driveway, I took a pair of vice grips and clamp down the hose. I then got into my truck and drove for about 15 more minutes and I notice a significant difference going from about 53 degrees, having been idle in the driveway for about 10 minutes, down to about 41 degrees. And the ambient temperature was around 92 degrees. I then came back home took the vice grips off the hose and drove again for about 15 minutes and the thermometer never got below 49 degrees. I then placed the vice grips back on the hose and drove again for about 15 to 20 minutes by now the ambient temperature rose to about 94 degrees and the thermometer got down to 43 degrees. I notice about a 51 degrees temperature difference between the vent and the ambient temperature outside when the hose is clamped. I notice about a 40 degrees difference between the vent and the ambient temperature outside when the hose is not clamped. So, on average there is about an 11 degree difference with the hose being clamped off. I am going to leave the vice grips clamped on the hose for work tomorrow and drive that hour home and gauge it with the outside temps and see if it maintains the difference... It does seem to take it a good 10 minutes or so to cool down to 41 or so. But it is sure hot in Florida!

All that left over heat in the core takes a while to dissipate, and most likely you are not clamping so tight as too harm your hose, so some hot coolant is still leaking by

 

[KcRay]

So if the evaporator or core freezes if you shut off the valve completely... why is it a problem? It should have antifreeze on it so no way to freeze that, you guys mean the evaporator itself can get very cold?

All the years trucking we shut our water valves off in the summer to make our AC colder, no mechanics ever told us to leave it open a crack!

 

[Ortiz7983]

So I decided to test it again at this time. When it’s really hot. Different reading than this morning when it was still cool outside. This is with the cool seats off and on Auto and to the lowest cold setting. Not as cold as it should be correct?

 

[Ortiz7983]

Hi Ortiz7983,
If you would like any additional assistance while working with your dealer to have this addressed, please send our team a private message!
Alex
Ram Social Care Specialist

How exactly would you guys help out on this with the dealer? Curious.

 

[Jhill]

So if the evaporator or core freezes if you shut off the valve completely... why is it a problem? It should have antifreeze on it so no way to freeze that, you guys mean the evaporator itself can get very cold?

I am no expert, but the condensation dripping from the evaporator on a humid day (puddle of water under truck that comes out of drain tube) could freeze and build up a bunch of ice and eventually plug up air movement. Remember older freezers and dorm fridges that form a block of ice on coils? Not sure if ice could cause damage but possible. Might distort the heating/cooling assembly and drain????? Non humid parts of country probably have less issue . Maybe an automotive HVAC experienced person can add accurate information.

 

[Gladiator77]

How exactly would you guys help out on this with the dealer? Curious.

I'm no expert however I don't think the dealer will do anything until FCA Group sends out a recall. AND I don't think that will ever happen as their spec sheet is within compliance. The compliance sheet that they created making allowance for such flawed mechanics. Wouldn't make smart business since to pay out so much for repairs that only a small number of people are noticing. For them to take notice it would have to involve millions of people. Just my opinion...

 

[Gladiator77]

I am just curious, does everyone in this forum with this issue have a 12 inch display or the 8.4?

 

[Jhill]

I'm no expert however I don't think the dealer will do anything until FCA Group sends out a recall. AND I don't think that will ever happen as their spec sheet is within compliance. The compliance sheet that they created making allowance for such flawed mechanics. Wouldn't make smart business since to pay out so much for repairs that only a small number of people are noticing. For them to take notice it would have to involve millions of people. Just my opinion...

The competition will start having ads about how their air conditioning is 20% colder like they brag about towing, torque, magic got to have tailgate,etc in ads.

 

[chalin]

How exactly would you guys help out on this with the dealer? Curious.

I'm interested in this reply also.

 

[woolfski]

I called my local RAM dealer today concerning the A/C TSB. The build date of the truck I am looking at is Aug 2018, within the time frame of the TSB. I asked them to run the VIN and let me know if it was flagged for the A/C TSB. They told me there was not TSBs for that VIN, but it did have a safety recall for the brake pedal. When I test drove the truck I noticed that the A/C was not cooling like t should and the outside temps here in FL were high 80s. So I wonder exactly what this TSB accomplishes to address this A/C issue and will they service it, even if it is not listed. makes you go hmmmmmm..

 

[Gladiator77]

Yeah they told me the same thing that the TSB for the AC did not apply to my vehicle. I purchased my vehicle from the dealership in September of 2018.