"Weak" Air Conditioning A Problem if Not Corrected?

The vehicle is a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country. The air conditioning
blows cool but not cold (sorry I did not measure the temperature at
the vents). It's noticeable when the outside temperature is in the mid
80's or above - you have to be traveling at 60 mph or faster for the
air conditioning to keep the interior comfortable. If you are doing
stop and go driving, the AC just never puts out sufficient cold air.
That's why I described it as "weak" air conditioning.

Am I damaging the vehicle's air conditioning system by running it in
this condition? I live in the Midwest, so the AC is not going to be
used much after September. Can I safely delay the AC servicing for
next spring, or should this be resolved now?

On Tue, 9 Aug 2011 09:55:31 -0700 (PDT), KC >
wrote:

>The vehicle is a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country. The air conditioning
>blows cool but not cold (sorry I did not measure the temperature at
>the vents). It's noticeable when the outside temperature is in the mid
>80's or above - you have to be traveling at 60 mph or faster for the
>air conditioning to keep the interior comfortable. If you are doing
>stop and go driving, the AC just never puts out sufficient cold air.
>That's why I described it as "weak" air conditioning.
>
>Am I damaging the vehicle's air conditioning system by running it in
>this condition? I live in the Midwest, so the AC is not going to be
>used much after September. Can I safely delay the AC servicing for
>next spring, or should this be resolved now?

Most likely it won't hurt to wait.
I've done that a number of times with no ill effects.
You might find your defrost mode doesn't work as well when winter
comes around.
If the low pressure switch is working as it should, the compressor
won't kick on when you leak out enough 134a.
I'm only familiar with GM systems, so don't count on my "opinion."
You should check Chryco groups/forums where you might find different
info.

--Vic

.. Can I safely delay the AC servicing for
> next spring, or should this be resolved now?

There are sensors that will shut the compressor off before damage
occurs.
HTH,
Ben

KC wrote:

> you have to be traveling at 60 mph or faster for the
> air conditioning to keep the interior comfortable. If you are doing
> stop and go driving, the AC just never puts out sufficient cold air.
> That's why I described it as "weak" air conditioning.

This sounds like the electric auxiliary radiator/condenser fan may have
failed (if your car has one).

If driving 60 MPH 'cures' the symptom, its because not enough cooling air is
getting through the condenser (the a/c 'radiator' behind the grill). It
might be worthwhile checking fuses, relays and finally the fan motor.

The fix could be a lot cheaper than full a/c service.

--
Paul Hovnanian
------------------------------------------------------------------
Stop Continental Drift! Re-unite Pangea!

KC > wrote:
> The vehicle is a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country. The air conditioning
> blows cool but not cold (sorry I did not measure the temperature at
> the vents). It's noticeable when the outside temperature is in the mid
> 80's or above - you have to be traveling at 60 mph or faster for the
> air conditioning to keep the interior comfortable. If you are doing
> stop and go driving, the AC just never puts out sufficient cold air.
> That's why I described it as "weak" air conditioning.
>
> Am I damaging the vehicle's air conditioning system by running it in
> this condition? I live in the Midwest, so the AC is not going to be
> used much after September. Can I safely delay the AC servicing for
> next spring, or should this be resolved now?

The other comments seem correct, but if there is a small leak in a seal or
compressor, adding some stop leak will probably help. I found the sealers
work best if left in for a long time, preferably over winter.

Greg

gregz > wrote:
>
>The other comments seem correct, but if there is a small leak in a seal or
>compressor, adding some stop leak will probably help. I found the sealers
>work best if left in for a long time, preferably over winter.

This is true. But then, when you have to open the system to work on it to
deal with the problem when it gets later, it will be full of stop leak glop.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> gregz > wrote:
>>
>>The other comments seem correct, but if there is a small leak in a seal or
>>compressor, adding some stop leak will probably help. I found the sealers
>>work best if left in for a long time, preferably over winter.
>
> This is true. But then, when you have to open the system to work on it to
> deal with the problem when it gets later, it will be full of stop leak
> glop.
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

The professional mechanics here in Dogpatch quite often use the stop leak
products.
Their experience with this does not seem to be negative, considering that
older cars
are often in such a shape, and may be owned by people of less than affluent
means,
and gives the owner a few months or even years of cooling.

With a lot of these older systems, if you have to change the compressor or
other
internal parts, you will probably have to flush the crap out of the system
anyway.

Recently replaced one of the GM multivalve compressors on a 4 cylinder GMC
pickup. That sucker basically exploded, leaving all kinds of trash through
the
unfiltered part of the system...particles from the size of dust to the size
of small
peanuts. It made an expensive repair even more expensive... Thanks to GM
for building crap that keeps us all on our toes, and not overly wealthy.