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A/C is not blowing cold...

flipstyledsm22

Full Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2021
Messages
19
Location
Seabrook, Texas
2013 LS 4WD 5.3L (Approx 215k)

The previous owner told me that the A/C will stop blowing cold occasionally and to "fix" it, all I needed to do was turn the temp dials upwards to heat and then back down to cool.

I tried it a few times, but it didn't really work for me.

Lately, I noticed the A/C would blow colder when I'm accelerating... I'm also noticing a slight shudder in the idle. Not sure if the shudder while idling has anything to do with the A/C.

Any advise before taking it to someone that might try to harvest my organs to fix my truck?
 
Might be low on refridgerant or soem new sensor is broke.
They slap gages on first and check pressures to see if low.

Remember if low well then where did it go as is a closed system which means leak they need to find.

IF fine on levels check for AC error codes
 
The AC getting colder on acceleration is an indicator of low pressure due to low refrigerant, just like YGMN said.

If you are mechanically inclined and will research, read instructions and go slow, get a manifold set. You need the high and low side pressures, not just low side like you'll find on the side of a r-134a refill bottle. I note the reading instructions and going slow because you could make it worse instead of better, and you have to be careful about how it's hooked up and which valves are opened at which time etc... There are great youtube videos out there, and it comes with instructions, but it's not as simple as it seems at first.


P.S. darn you for having to worry about A/C in January! Sincerely guy from the midwest where it's the warmest day this week and currently14F....
 
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2013 LS 4WD 5.3L (Approx 215k)

The previous owner told me that the A/C will stop blowing cold occasionally and to "fix" it, all I needed to do was turn the temp dials upwards to heat and then back down to cool.

I tried it a few times, but it didn't really work for me.

Lately, I noticed the A/C would blow colder when I'm accelerating... I'm also noticing a slight shudder in the idle. Not sure if the shudder while idling has anything to do with the A/C.

Any advise before taking it to someone that might try to harvest my organs to fix my truck?
move to Wisconsin! -45 Fahrenheit on Tuesday no need for AC!
 
Just checked the pressure and it's great. I am noticing that when the A/C kicks ON, the idle is dramatically affected and the motor starts idling funky. As soon as the A/C kicks off though, it idles perfectly... I'm guessing the compressor is locking up somehow?
 
Lol! Yeah, Houston weather sucks because we have rapid temperature changes during the "winter". It could be a wet-cold mid 30's in the AM and when you leave work at the end of the day, it's damn close to mid 80's. A/C is a MUST down here.
 
What was the static pressure and what were the suction and high side pressures when idling? Also, what was ambient/outside temp? And was the truck at operating temp?
 
What was the static pressure and what were the suction and high side pressures when idling? Also, what was ambient/outside temp? And was the truck at operating temp?
It was maybe 50 degrees outside. Static was on the money at 40 and on the high side it was closer to 218. The truck was at operating temp too.
 
The previous owner told me the AC worked, haven't checked it out yet.. Even though it was a "tropical" -9F this morning when I started her up.

when summer comes I'll know...
 
It was maybe 50 degrees outside. Static was on the money at 40 and on the high side it was closer to 218. The truck was at operating temp too.
Had to think about this some more..
High side pressure seem high to me. Would be ok for a nice warm day but not 50F I wouldnt think. I would expect something like 150psi or something like that. And sorry, by static i meant with AC off. Not that it would tell you too much but I'm just curious if it's way off than what i normally see. Could help confirm an overfill condition. Check your radiator and condensor, and make sure they arent full of bugs, leaves and trash. May need to also check between the radiator and condensor.

But just an additional comment, if the PO told you to move the dial to heat then back to cold, that could be more of a blendoor issue, the flap that switches from the evaporator to the heater core behind the dash. Just a thought.
 
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