Air Conditioning Woes--Warm Driver/Cold Passenger

[blackandsilver]

Help---has anyone ever had this problem? I bought the car and it was blowing warm on driver side and cold on passenger. I took it to a shop and they replaced a motor that is supposed to shut and open a gate that allows air to flow that they said was faulty. After the new one put in NO fix. By the time I drove the car home it was blowing warm air on both sides. I took it to the dealer and they said it needed a new compressor. I took it to a friend who is also a mechanic and he said he leaked checked it and found a small leak and recharged system. It is still only semi cool on driver side and very cool on passenger side. The dealership that sold me the car is willing to pay for the repair---any suggestions!

[blackandsilver]

The dealer I took it to have it fixed is not the same dealership I bought the car from---just for clarification....

[BNICOV]

It could be a couple of things. Could be one of the mix doors is stuck or not functioning, or the programmer might be malfunctioning. If they are picking up the tab, take it in to them quick before they change their minds.

[BuccaneersFan]

I don't understand, if the dealership you bought it from is willing to pay for the repair then what is the problem? Who cares, bring it in and get it fixed and have cold A/C again. ;D

[betonthis1]

i have that same problem. its a cool air not cold air on drivers side but ice cold on passanger side. i think the cool air from the drivers side is just because theres cool air in the cabin already. so i didnt know there was a motor that controlled air to the driver side. hmmm, i need to fix it myself.

[macadamiaman]

Exactly, just keep going back to them.

Also remember to demand BRAND NEW parts, often when they pay for things they give you crap used parts that will last half the time. Demand it and be a little pushy and dealers will do anything you want. And if they're paying, you've got nothing to lose.

[BuccaneersFan]

betonthis1 said:

i have that same problem. its a cool air not cold air on drivers side but ice cold on passenger side. i think the cool air from the drivers side is just because theres cool air in the cabin already. so i didn't know there was a motor that controlled air to the driver side. hmmm, i need to fix it myself.

blackandsilver has a 2nd gen so it could be a different
set up then the classic has. Usually in the classic if the air is colder on the passenger side then the drivers side, it means that the freon is low. Have you checked it recently? If the freon is low then you most likely have a leak. If its a slow leak then just add freon every once in a while.

I too have a 96 and I have a leak. Supposedly the compressor is "shot," thats what a mechanic told me about 2 years ago and that is what is causing the leak. The good news is that I just have to add a $5 dollar can of freon every 2-3 months and my "shot" compressor keeps pumping out ice cold A/C on both sides. ;D Just check the freon or have it checked to see if it's low.

[blackandsilver]

Thanks for the replies---regarding the dealership question--I bought the car on e-bay and picked it up in North Carolina AS IS. I live in Indiana and this dealership is going over and above the call of duty by offering to fix the problem--at least that is how I feel! Now that that is cleared up---I have recently had the system checked and recharged and the mechanic says it is stable on both the high and low side with no leak showing up after using dye penetrant and a black light. I like what bnicov had to say----but what programmer are you speaking of? They already have replaced the small actuator on the driver side that opens and closes the gate. Still would appreciate any suggestions?

[Aurora40]

There's like some mixing door that controls having two different temps come out. Could be it's not calibrated right or something.

Try this, turn the main temp all the way down to 60F. Does that fix it? Is the passenger side climate knob set to cold or in the middle? I mean, if you set the temp around 75F, and the passenger knob to cold, you will notice mildly cool air on the drivers side, and cold air on the passenger...

[betonthis1]

buccaneersfan said:

betonthis1 said:

i have that same problem. its a cool air not cold air on drivers side but ice cold on passenger side. i think the cool air from the drivers side is just because theres cool air in the cabin already. so i didn't know there was a motor that controlled air to the driver side. hmmm, i need to fix it myself.

blackandsilver has a 2nd gen so it could be a different
set up then the classic has. Usually in the classic if the air is colder on the passenger side then the drivers side, it means that the freon is low. Have you checked it recently? If the freon is low then you most likely have a leak. If its a slow leak then just add freon every once in a while.

I too have a 96 and I have a leak. Supposedly the compressor is "shot," thats what a mechanic told me about 2 years ago and that is what is causing the leak. The good news is that I just have to add a $5 dollar can of freon every 2-3 months and my "shot" compressor keeps pumping out ice cold A/C on both sides. ;D Just check the freon or have it checked to see if it's low.

i bought one of those DIY freon refill and according to the gage its full and in the yellow at times. so i cant get anymore in there unless i have a cheap refill kit and the gage is wrong. what are you using to recharge your freon? and i might try and replace the compressor myself if that might fix the problem.

[BuccaneersFan]

betonthis1 said:

i bought one of those DIY freon refill and according to the gage its full and in the yellow at times. so i cant get anymore in there unless i have a cheap refill kit and the gage is wrong. what are you using to recharge your freon? and i might try and replace the compressor myself if that might fix the problem.

When you checked the freon did you have the car turned on with the air on the coldest setting and the fan on the highest setting? Its very important that you do that when checking the freon level.

To recharge my freon I just use a cheap kit I bought at a local auto parts store. It's just a tube with a little valve on one end that fits on to the car side and then on the other end it has a twist valve that you screw onto a can of freon.

[betonthis1]

buccaneersfan said:

betonthis1 said:

i bought one of those DIY freon refill and according to the gage its full and in the yellow at times. so i cant get anymore in there unless i have a cheap refill kit and the gage is wrong. what are you using to recharge your freon? and i might try and replace the compressor myself if that might fix the problem.

When you checked the freon did you have the car turned on with the air on the coldest setting and the fan on the highest setting? Its very important that you do that when checking the freon level.

To recharge my freon I just use a cheap kit I bought at a local auto parts store. It's just a tube with a little valve on one end that fits on to the car side and then on the other end it has a twist valve that you screw onto a can of freon.

yeah it was on and on 60 degrees the coldest i could get and i waited the 5 minutes for it to be on. i got the cheap kit too, from walmart and it was a blue tube that connected to the low pressure valve that screwed right on top of the can.

[BNICOV]

The A/C Programmer is a module that controls the Climate Control System. It is located somewhere behind the dash. It went on my Bonneville and cost about 700bucks Cdn, along with my suspension woes and electrical problems along with really high mileage, the Bonnie went bye-bye and I now have my '03. If they will fix it, don't procrastinate, get it done before they change their mind.

[blackandsilver]

Well guys here is what was the culprit----NOT a costly compressor like the STEALERSHIP diagnosed. It turned out to be a high pressure hose and that cured the warm air and then the interior problem with the warm on the driver side was the fact the new actuator that was replaced on the drivers side was not calibrated correctly to open and close. So instead of a 1200 dollar compressor it came to 288--it pays to know a great mechanic..Hope this helps anyone out there with the same problem..

[MBowen574]

blackandsilver said:

Well guys here is what was the culprit----NOT a costly compressor like the STEALERSHIP diagnosed. It turned out to be a high pressure hose and that cured the warm air and then the interior problem with the warm on the driver side was the fact the new actuator that was replaced on the drivers side was not calibrated correctly to open and close. So instead of a 1200 dollar compressor it came to 288--it pays to know a great mechanic..Hope this helps anyone out there with the same problem..

Wonderful news! Glad you got everything taken care of, and at such a lower price! Dealerships (and their service departments), in my experience, are about 50% correct. This could be due to (a) their constant attempts to cheat the consumer out of money or (b) simply the mechanics' limited knowledge of a single car, as they must know services about a large number of cars.