Any car mechanics here?

[jwitten82]

Naybe yall can help me out. The ac in my car only turns on during morning, but during the afternoon the whole dash shuts off and it wont turn on. What could be the problem?

 

[Tabascocat]

Get it recharged, low on refrigerate

Not a mechanic though......

 

[Longboysfan]

Yes. Pretty easy to do it yourself.

Youtube and auto parts store.

 

[Nova]

Not a mechanic but in residential/commercial HVAC.

If you say that your dash is shutting down it sounds more like an electrical problem than refrigerant (or Freon as some people will generically/incorrectly call it).

 

[cml750]

Naybe yall can help me out. The ac in my car only turns on during morning, but during the afternoon the whole dash shuts off and it wont turn on. What could be the problem?

So the whole dash shuts off? Does that mean no buttons on the dash work? If so you have an electrical short somewhere. If it is not the whole dash issue and just the A/C not cooling when it is hot, it could be a charging issue but you also need to check the vacuum system. A vacuum leak could cause the blend doors to not go into the proper positions. I am a pretty good shade tree mechanic and have done a lot of A/C work but I need a little more info here.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Sounds like a poor/loose ground

 

[jwitten82]

So the whole dash shuts off? Does that mean no buttons on the dash work? If so you have an electrical short somewhere. If it is not the whole dash issue and just the A/C not cooling when it is hot, it could be a charging issue but you also need to check the vacuum system. A vacuum leak could cause the blend doors to not go into the proper positions. I am a pretty good shade tree mechanic and have done a lot of A/C work but I need a little more info here.

Yea, the whole dash doesnt work, but it only happens in the afternoons. It works every morning

 

[cml750]

Yea, the whole dash doesnt work, but it only happens in the afternoons. It works every morning

You have an electrical short somewhere. It could be a ground wire but it is definitely a bad connection somewhere. What type of car is it? There are generally message boards out there for every type of vehicle these days. If it is a common issue, the solution will be talked about on the message board for your vehicle.

 

[Dallas_Cowboys50]

Im no mechanic, but ive this problem before, its definitely a short somewhere.....

 

[JoeKing]

electrical fire in your wiring is not fun... I'd get this check out asap.

 

[jwitten82]

You have an electrical short somewhere. It could be a ground wire but it is definitely a bad connection somewhere. What type of car is it? There are generally message boards out there for every type of vehicle these days. If it is a common issue, the solution will be talked about on the message board for your vehicle.

1982 cadillac eldorado

 

[cml750]

1982 cadillac eldorado

Well that is an older car. I did a quick internet search and did not see any specific issues for this problem show up. I would start with the ground wires making sure you have no broken wires. if that is not the issue, look for anything going to your dash that has a plug. Unplug it and replug it in several times to clean the contacts and possibly using some electrical contact cleaner. I wish I could be more help but it is hard when I am not there.

 

[Tabascocat]

1982 cadillac eldorado

It is probably asking to be put to pasture

Sounds like a recharge won't fix it, has to be electrical. The heat of the day is affecting something......

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Ok found these 2 threads which you might read through...........

http://forums.nicoclub.com/ac-works...e-day-time-when-its-hot-it-stops-t350567.html

http://community.cartalk.com/t/ac-clutch-stops-engaging-in-hot-weather/79723

This next to last post confirms that someone fixed a similar problem this way,

"Repair update: Ok, so I replaced the thermostat (I think it was the original one with 190K miles), did a radiator flush (didn't know you have to bleed air from the engine after a radiator flush btw), replaced the cap. It worked better but still did not fix the problem:compressor still turned off during the hottest part of the day. Took it to a friends house and he put the gauges on during this super hot part of the day. He said that the pressures were way too high and suspected that the system was overcharged. Took some gas out (luckily, the 1993.5 version of this car is the first year that they started using R134), still didn't fix the issue.

So, check this out...he sprays the front of the condensor\radiator with a hose (not too much pressure as to not bend the fins) and walaa! Pressures go down on the gauges. So...I did a more thorough job and between the condensor and radiator there were cloges of dirt! I sprayed everything down (gently) and the system works great now. I have to have it on full blast during the day but the AC compressor is cycling on and off now and cold air is always blowing. What a simple fix! I'm grateful"

If you do try the last thing be careful not to spray the fins on the front of your consensor to hard as you might bend them. There is a fluid you can buy and spray in the condenser fins to clean them but a stream of water will clean it as well.

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

has to be electrical. The heat of the day is affecting something......

This. And tracing an electric problem can be a nightmare, best left to true professionals.

 

[joseephuss]

I used to own a 2004 Saturn Ion. The cooling fan started going out. It was an electric fan and not set up on any of the belts. I changed it out and it still didn't solve the problem. Had the AC system re-charged and suddenly the problems with the electric cooling fan went away.

 

[Hardline]

Have a professional mechanic hook up a computer to your car and run a diagnostics test.

 

[iceberg]

This. And tracing an electric problem can be a nightmare, best left to true professionals.

amen to that. i chased down some electrical issues in a 80s jeep and gave up.

does sound like when it's hot something is getting far enough apart to stop things from working.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

I used to own a 2004 Saturn Ion. The cooling fan started going out. It was an electric fan and not set up on any of the belts. I changed it out and it still didn't solve the problem. Had the AC system re-charged and suddenly the problems with the electric cooling fan went away.

Thats the low pressure switch turning off the A/C system so it doesnt burn up the compressor.

Different situation.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Have a professional mechanic hook up a computer to your car and run a diagnostics test.

To a 1982? LOL.

That is so old if it has anything it'll be to use a paper clip and count the blinks on the dash, if that.