A/C stopped working
11-23-2004, 01:55 PM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7
A/C stopped working
I just got back on 11/18/04 after being away for 3 weeks and for the first time in 4 yrs, I found out that the heating wasn't working. It has not been cold in NC yet, so I am surprised that 3-weeks of idle time impacted my car.
The fan comes on fine, but it doesn't get to heat up.
Could you please suggest what I should look at to narrow down the problem and fix it ? I hope it is not a serious problem.
THanks.
Raj
The fan comes on fine, but it doesn't get to heat up.
Could you please suggest what I should look at to narrow down the problem and fix it ? I hope it is not a serious problem.
THanks.
Raj
11-23-2004, 04:44 PM
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 76
wait... you have an automattic climate control system... and when you run it in auto or manual mode... you don't get any heat? (The heat is created from your engine so this sounds funny.) On a side note, try running on econ and turning the fan up... this turns the condenser off and just gets the air from outside + - the heat from the engine....
~Wolf
~Wolf
11-23-2004, 07:01 PM
#7
for auto climate this should help narrow down any bad sensors/switches/actuators, if any codes appear during step 2 or 3, post it and i will let you know what it is
1. Turn the ignition OFF.
2. Start the engine.
3. Immediately after starting the engine press and hold the OFF switch (for the auto A/C system) for at least 5 seconds.The A/C Auto Amp. should now be in Self Diagnosis mode. Self Diagnosis steps 1 - 5 can now be performed. Self Diagnosis step 1 will be displayed first. Shifting from one step to another is accomplished by pressing the temperature increase or decrease switch.
Do all LEDs and segments illuminate?
4 if yes Turn the TEMP dial clockwise. advance to STEP 2: Wait (about 25 seconds) for two digit Code to appear. This is the Electronic Sensor Input Check which includes circuits. Does code No 20 appear on the display ( 25 sec after 2 appears)? any # after 2 that is not 0 indicates a a bad sensor.
5.Turn the TEMP dial clockwise, advance to STEP 3. Wait (about 50 seconds) for two digit Code to appear.This is the Mode Door and Intake Door Position Switch input checks including circuits.Does code No. 30 appear on the display? any # after 3 that is not 0 indicates a malfunction.
6.Turn the TEMP dial clockwise, advance to STEP 4.Engine running.This is Heater and A/C system check. Code 41 will be displayed. Use the DEF switch to advance the code number from 41 to 46. After 46, the display will return to code 41 and can be advanced to 46 again.
Confirm operation of system components according to the following charts.Checks must be made visually, by listening to any noise, or by touching air outlets with your hand, etc. forimproper operation.
-41= vent, full cold, compressor on
-42=B/L, full cold, compressor on
-43=B/L, full hot, compressor off
-44=foot full hot, comp off
-45=D/f, full hot, comp off
-46=def, full hot,comp on
7.Turn the TEMP dial clockwise, advance to STEP 5. This is Intake sensor, In Vehicle sensor and Ambient Sensor functioncheck. Code 51 will be displayed. NOTE: Each sensor reading should be approximately the actual temperature.
-Press DEF once, temperature detected by the Ambient Sensor is displayed.
-Press DEF second time, temperature detected by the In Vehicle Sensor is displayed.
-Press DEF third time, temperature detected by the Intake Sensor is displayed.
-Press (DEF) switch the fourth time. Display returns to original presentation 51.
8. Turn ignition switch OFF or (AUTO) switch ON.
9. END
1. Turn the ignition OFF.
2. Start the engine.
3. Immediately after starting the engine press and hold the OFF switch (for the auto A/C system) for at least 5 seconds.The A/C Auto Amp. should now be in Self Diagnosis mode. Self Diagnosis steps 1 - 5 can now be performed. Self Diagnosis step 1 will be displayed first. Shifting from one step to another is accomplished by pressing the temperature increase or decrease switch.
Do all LEDs and segments illuminate?
4 if yes Turn the TEMP dial clockwise. advance to STEP 2: Wait (about 25 seconds) for two digit Code to appear. This is the Electronic Sensor Input Check which includes circuits. Does code No 20 appear on the display ( 25 sec after 2 appears)? any # after 2 that is not 0 indicates a a bad sensor.
5.Turn the TEMP dial clockwise, advance to STEP 3. Wait (about 50 seconds) for two digit Code to appear.This is the Mode Door and Intake Door Position Switch input checks including circuits.Does code No. 30 appear on the display? any # after 3 that is not 0 indicates a malfunction.
6.Turn the TEMP dial clockwise, advance to STEP 4.Engine running.This is Heater and A/C system check. Code 41 will be displayed. Use the DEF switch to advance the code number from 41 to 46. After 46, the display will return to code 41 and can be advanced to 46 again.
Confirm operation of system components according to the following charts.Checks must be made visually, by listening to any noise, or by touching air outlets with your hand, etc. forimproper operation.
-41= vent, full cold, compressor on
-42=B/L, full cold, compressor on
-43=B/L, full hot, compressor off
-44=foot full hot, comp off
-45=D/f, full hot, comp off
-46=def, full hot,comp on
7.Turn the TEMP dial clockwise, advance to STEP 5. This is Intake sensor, In Vehicle sensor and Ambient Sensor functioncheck. Code 51 will be displayed. NOTE: Each sensor reading should be approximately the actual temperature.
-Press DEF once, temperature detected by the Ambient Sensor is displayed.
-Press DEF second time, temperature detected by the In Vehicle Sensor is displayed.
-Press DEF third time, temperature detected by the Intake Sensor is displayed.
-Press (DEF) switch the fourth time. Display returns to original presentation 51.
8. Turn ignition switch OFF or (AUTO) switch ON.
9. END
11-23-2004, 07:33 PM
#8
Originally Posted by paralyse
Check your coolant level.
11-24-2004, 02:54 PM
#9
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7
I tried Wolf's suggestion of turning up the heat to the max in the ECONOMY mode, and I did finally get the heated air blowing. *sigh*
I am going to check the coolant level as Adam and ChromeSE5.
But before that, I am going to follow Dr. Roy's approach of narrowing down the problem. Very well written up, Dr. Roy.
Thanks to all of you. I will post my response after I get done troubleshooting.
Raj
I am going to check the coolant level as Adam and ChromeSE5.
But before that, I am going to follow Dr. Roy's approach of narrowing down the problem. Very well written up, Dr. Roy.
Thanks to all of you. I will post my response after I get done troubleshooting.
Raj
11-24-2004, 07:31 PM
#10
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Posts: 7
Ok...so I checked the coolant level, which seemed pretty low to me. So, that's fix#1.
Secondly, I followed the (awesome) detailed procedure suggested by Dr. Roy and found out that everything but step#2 and #7 worked fine.
At step#2, the code was flapping between -24 and 25.
And the step#7 suggested appropriate temperatures (64 and 68 F) for the first two tests, but showed the bizzare temperature (130 F) for the third one, which was about the "intake sensor". I guess that's why the heating wasn't working inside since the sensor was sensing the inside temp to be 130 F anyway and hence, throwing the cold air.
Could the sensor be related with the coolant altogether or there is indeed a sensor problem ?
Thank you so much.
Raj
Secondly, I followed the (awesome) detailed procedure suggested by Dr. Roy and found out that everything but step#2 and #7 worked fine.
At step#2, the code was flapping between -24 and 25.
And the step#7 suggested appropriate temperatures (64 and 68 F) for the first two tests, but showed the bizzare temperature (130 F) for the third one, which was about the "intake sensor". I guess that's why the heating wasn't working inside since the sensor was sensing the inside temp to be 130 F anyway and hence, throwing the cold air.
Could the sensor be related with the coolant altogether or there is indeed a sensor problem ?
Thank you so much.
Raj
11-30-2004, 06:23 AM
#11
sorry for not responding earlier... was out of town,
sounds like you have a problem somewhere w/ the intake sensor. 24 indicates a problem intake sensor the ( - ) symbol in front indicates a short circuit, with a reading of 130 you either have a bad sensor (resistance across the sensor drops as the temp rises) or a short somewher in the circut. FYI the sensor is located next to the evaporator coil in the cooling unit.
25 is the sun load sensor, probably nothing to worry about if you did the test at night or on an overcast day.
sounds like you have a problem somewhere w/ the intake sensor. 24 indicates a problem intake sensor the ( - ) symbol in front indicates a short circuit, with a reading of 130 you either have a bad sensor (resistance across the sensor drops as the temp rises) or a short somewher in the circut. FYI the sensor is located next to the evaporator coil in the cooling unit.
25 is the sun load sensor, probably nothing to worry about if you did the test at night or on an overcast day.
12-06-2004, 09:48 PM
#12
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Posts: 7
Sorry about the delay, Dr. Roy.
Is there any way to find out whether there is a short-circuit and where ?
If so, then is it something I can do it at home ?
Also, if I had to replace to the sensor, then how much would I end up spending ?
Thank you so much. I hope you had a great thanksgiving.
Raj
Is there any way to find out whether there is a short-circuit and where ?
If so, then is it something I can do it at home ?
Also, if I had to replace to the sensor, then how much would I end up spending ?
Thank you so much. I hope you had a great thanksgiving.
Raj
07-10-2005, 04:17 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 167
sorry to bring back an old thread but i used dr. roy's post to check out my auto a/c system and on the 2nd step the numbers would periodically change from 25 to 20 and it never stopped on a number for more than a couple of seconds before it changed again...what type of malfunction does the 25 symbolize?
07-10-2005, 08:01 PM
#14
Originally Posted by Maxima2000SE
sorry to bring back an old thread but i used dr. roy's post to check out my auto a/c system and on the 2nd step the numbers would periodically change from 25 to 20 and it never stopped on a number for more than a couple of seconds before it changed again...what type of malfunction does the 25 symbolize?
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