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So installing an $8 hose clamp on a $65k truck as a fix when the manufacturer won't remedy or acknowledge an issue, is like saying "although the driver's door won't stay closed at 60 mph+, a strip of duct tape will take care of your concern. " Enjoy your truck and let FCA slide.
Way different than a door not staying closed. Let's say you like your truck to be louder, so you put on, or take off a muffler. This is not a safety thing. Many thousands of people are absolutely fine with the way the AC cools. Feeling cool is subjective and very personal. This can be a big deal if you make it such, or you can fix it the way you like it, and move with your life and leave this this one behind.
If it makes you feel better just tell yourself that the hack is just a temporary fix until FCA addresses the issue. I seriously doubt they ever will though.
You are correct, the clamps are only meant to hold back the fluid for a short time, while a mechanic works on whatever they needed to remove.
You're absolutely right. Getting access to the HVAC box requires tearing the dash apart. To my knowledge, only one dealer has attempted the procedure, and they trashed board member Albert193500's new truck. Plus, he said his AC was still messed up, when he got his truck back. He never did post a follow up, as to whether he got any resolution to his problems. His story is in the link below.
hdrams.com
Feel free to try and get FCA to fix it for you. They want even acknowledge that there is a problem. Maybe you can convince them where many others have failed.
My '19 Limited was blowing between 68-72 degrees last summer during the 90 degree days. Opened a Ram case, and the dealer opened a Star case. Both agreed there was something wron, and the compressor, temp. sensor, and refrigerant were all replaced. Guess what happened on the 20 minute ride home after the dealer said it was fixed? Correct. Warm temps from the vents, but since the summer temps were done at that point, the cases were closed until I can replicate the problem. Guess where it's going come June/July? Correct back in for the same issue.
What will be ridiculous is if FCA drags their feet on a fix until many owners install the hack and then say they won't cover eventual recall repairs because the system was altered.
Let us know if they fix it for you. Blowing 68-72 degrees doesn’t sound like the issue a lot us have been dealing with. Most of us were getting cooler air out the vents than you were getting, with the coolest air coming out the front, passenger side vent.
Maybe. I thought about this but I don't think it would. I didn't clamp mine completely shut. Still a little bit of flow for proper HVAC function and to keep coolant circulating through the core, so the clamp process was just a one-and-done. I think if you clamped it over and over eventually you might stress the hose too much. But just sitting there? I think it'd be fine. Worst case scenario the hose cracks or blows where the clamp is - you cut the bad bit of hose out and install a valve or just replace the hose. People have had valves fail too.
Or the Ferd cooled seat fiasco...
