Have a problem with my A/C in 03 LS [Archive] - Chevy Malibu Forum: Chevrolet Malibu Forums

: Have a problem with my A/C in 03 LS


green03malibu
05-20-2009, 06:10 PM
Alright guys, I have a pretty bad issue that pisses me off. I live in Maryland and well, when its spring/summer, it gets hot! Here's my problem, the A/C works, but no cold air comes out. It blows air no problem and when you switch the modes like vent to defrost and etc, it works completely fine. There's just not any cold air that comes out. I tried recharging it and it blew a little cool air, but i think it might be out for good. I also checked all fuses and relays and there fine, the compressor turns on no problem, and etc. I hope someone could help me out, thanks.

:mad::confused:

cavalier2000
05-21-2009, 07:32 AM
who filled it? you might have a leak somewhere. they have stuff you can put in there that witha black light will show you where it is leaking.

green03malibu
05-22-2009, 12:26 AM
i filled myself and i have a feeling its a leak

cavalier2000
05-22-2009, 07:38 AM
yea track down the leak. you will also need to buy a new dryer

green03malibu
05-23-2009, 01:29 AM
dryer? :confused:

Darren
05-23-2009, 01:19 PM
Well if you have a leak your best bet is to buy some of that sealant stuff for car air conditioners , and then fill it after it seals I heard stories where it works and where it doesn't depends on the size of the leak , and also if you put the right amount of refrigerant in your lines? It has to be exact there critically charged. Also the dryer is what keeps the lines/compressor clean , it acts as a filter and filters out moisture and other contaminants that can wear the system out , usually if you have a leak you have to repair the leak , hook up to a vaccum pump to pull down to a certain level of microns ( lower the better ) and then you charge with nitrogen to make sure its not leaking and also the nitrogen purges out some contaminants , and then you empty it and put vaccum pump on again , and then recharge.

hopefully you don't have a leak , if you do hopefully its small they get expensive to fix and there hard to get at in cars , I never worked on one in a car but am in my apprenticeship and its the same process just different scale/setup in a car... Goodluck though

green03malibu
05-24-2009, 04:56 PM
alright guys, thanks alot

cavalier2000
05-26-2009, 08:09 AM
i wouldn't use sealer personally. find the leak and fix it rather than a bandaid.

Darren
05-26-2009, 01:56 PM
Well yeah find the leak and solder it is the best thing to do , but some can be hard to find and some of the dye methods do more harm then good , you can buy an electronic sniffer other than that you still gotta vaccum it etc when you fix the whole other wise the moisture and non-condensables and anything else that got in will wreck the compressor , fn expensive to fix on cars lol

cavalier2000
05-26-2009, 02:02 PM
you don't solder it either lol

find out what is leaking and replace it. there are only so many parts lol ;)

my guess is one of the three...main line, dryer or compressor. those are the most common

Darren
05-26-2009, 09:27 PM
Haha don't mind the soldering the leak part im thinking of adding more tubing or some shit , long day lol

OnDaGround
05-27-2009, 01:23 PM
i wouldn't use sealer personally. find the leak and fix it rather than a bandaid.

That is the most knowledgeable thing you have said during this whole thread.

Go to advanced auto and ask them for A/c dye. Get you paws on a UV light so you can see the dye coming out. There is no soldering, welding, mechanic in a can. Second, you do not have to replace the dryer just because there is a leak. If it's a seal you evacuate the existing freon, replace the seal, and recharge the freon.

How exactly did you recharge it? Were you reading the amount of Kgs that you were putting in and the pressure? Or did you go "backyard" mechanic on it?

green03malibu
05-27-2009, 01:28 PM
thanks for the tip on the autozone, but bought the ac recharge for dummies and i did it that way, the way it said.

OnDaGround
05-27-2009, 01:58 PM
What steps did you take exactly?

cavalier2000
05-27-2009, 02:19 PM
you can get freon and a gauge at any parts store. I have a leak tester kit (yellow glass, black light and the stuff for it) makes life easier...oh and you are supposed to replace the drier anytime the system is "opened"

Darkcircle169
05-27-2009, 02:37 PM
just find the leak and use some duck tape. hell if duck tape dont fix it nothing will...

Duck it or fu(k it

cavalier2000
05-27-2009, 02:39 PM
if duck tape worked on fuel lines then i would be in heaven lol

Darren
05-27-2009, 03:08 PM
"There is no soldering, welding, mechanic in a can. Second, you do not have to replace the dryer just because there is a leak"

Like Cavalier said anytime the system is opened you must replace to dryer , you don't have to really but you risk running the system with contaminants , which eventually will wear things down or could cause non - condensibles to get into the compressor and it will eventually fry the compressor.

cavalier2000
05-27-2009, 03:09 PM
werd, dryer...$20...compressor...$400 cheap insurance

green03malibu
05-28-2009, 01:06 AM
here's what i did.


1. found the low pressure valve cap and took it off and hooked up the hose for the recharger.
2. turned the car on and set the a/c on and turned the fans up all the way.
3. from there, i sat in the driver seat, keeping it at a steady 1500 rpms for three minutes and i had someone watch the gauge.
4. after that i charged it a little bit and yes i could hear the freon coming out.

it did make it a little cooler, like i said earlier, the a/c compressor turns on when i hit the switch, it pushes air through the vents and all the vent modes work. i only use the a/c when im on the highway because i have my windows up and when im on city or country streets, ill usually just have my window down. i never run the a/c with the windows down. last summer, you would get out of the car shivering because of the a/c, now it atleast cools it a little in the cabin.