04.5 3500 Ram A/C issues?

[aggie97]

I have been researching this issue and keep finding BS about the blend door for outside air and others with clogged heater cores...all seem NOT related to what is going on here.

With the A/C going full blast, I have a/c on the driver side vents, and warm air from inside the truck, not outside air, coming out the passenger side vents.

I know the outside air blend door works right because I don't get smells from outside air and I can hear it change when you go to recirc and back.

Having not pulled the thing apart, it seems there may be two parts to a door blocking off the heater core air flow? One path/half to each half of the dash?

Has anyone dealt with this and how did you fix it? I am guessing dash out but hey, no big deal as I am a wrenching god....but ugh, still a pain.

Thanks.

[dblack1]

There are up and downsides to blocking off heater core. On my 06 dodge I've replaced ever component in the AC system and all but one line. Mine blows around 10 degrees warmer on passenger side.

[shumpertdavid]

Have someone with a refrigerant recovery machine remove and measure the r-134-a. Usually in situations like yours we find it is low on refrigerant. If it's a diesel it should hold 1.9 lbs total if I remember correctly.

[aggie97]

Have someone with a refrigerant recovery machine remove and measure the r-134-a. Usually in situations like yours we find it is low on refrigerant. If it's a diesel it should hold 1.9 lbs total if I remember correctly.

Interesting. How would low refrigerant affect side to side delivery of cold air? I was going to have it serviced anyway since we just bought it about a month ago and I have been gradually doing some routine maintenance so I know it's been done...but strange that low refrigerant level would be causing it? I have seen stranger things though!

[Baron Von Crowder]

Have someone with a refrigerant recovery machine remove and measure the r-134-a. Usually in situations like yours we find it is low on refrigerant. If it's a diesel it should hold 1.9 lbs total if I remember correctly.

that

Interesting. How would low refrigerant affect side to side delivery of cold air? I was going to have it serviced anyway since we just bought it about a month ago and I have been gradually doing some routine maintenance so I know it's been done...but strange that low refrigerant level would be causing it? I have seen stranger things though!

Dodge had a TSB on it, mine was blowing warm out the passenger side when I got it, and I took it in under warranty. They pumped some 134 in and told me to come back when it starts doing it again. About every 2 years or so I have to top it off.

[69gto]

i think there are 5 blend doors in those and 4 are known to break, the 5th one is connected to another door and does not have much pressure on it and does not break like the others do. I have installed a few of these in other peoples trucks and i like the heater treater repair doors, except i pull the dash out not cut it up like heater treater says to do. i also change the heater core and evap while in there.

[shumpertdavid]

Dodge had a TSB on it, mine was blowing warm out the passenger side when I got it, and I took it in under warranty. They pumped some 134 in and told me to come back when it starts doing it again. About every 2 years or so I have to top it off.

We've seen it on numerous makes and models. I don't really understand why it's that way since all the vents feed off of the same evaporator. I can only assume it has something to do with the way the airflow travels through the ducts, maybe the passenger side is able to pick up more residual heat from the duct work.

If your system does not have dual climate control (meaning independent driver and passenger temp control) then it likely is not a door or door actuator problem. Chevy trucks have issues with the drivers side blend door actuator defaulting to heat while the passenger side will blow ice cold, on their dual system.

[dee]

Dodge's trucks are known for leaking evaporators and are a pain to replace.

[aggie97]

well, amazing. I never would have thought that low freon would make one side work less than the other...but hey! 14 oz of 134a and it blows cold as hell. There is likely a leak somewhere but the 20 minutes it took this morning to find my filler and can of 134 and charge it is a heck of a lot easier than finding the leak this am. I'll monitor it and see how fast it leaks down. If it gets too bad I'll have to locate the leak and fix it but for now, back to not sweating while driving!

Thanks for the info guys! Another check in the DFWM win column!

[astang95]

I believe the issue to be it picks up the residual heat emnating from the heater core thats why the pass side blows hot but drivers side cold

[Captain Crawfish]

Sounds like a dodge.

[Whiteboy]

beat the dash it will start working

[aggie97]

You guys bust on Dodges but how many have actually owned one? This truck is 9 years old and has a 124k miles. The interior is so clean I'd put it up against any new truck with equal trim level. We lucked out and got a well maintained used truck. I'm not going to bust on the truck for a leaking seal or Schrader valve.

[Baron Von Crowder]

You guys bust on Dodges but how many have actually owned one? This truck is 9 years old and has a 124k miles. The interior is so clean I'd put it up against any new truck with equal trim level. We lucked out and got a well maintained used truck. I'm not going to bust on the truck for a leaking seal or Schrader valve.

I'm of the opinion that all the "new" tricks suck, and that some of the junk is better than others. I thought long and hard about trading my 03 d2500 in on something new or newer, but I can't find anything that is a better value.

[shumpertdavid]

I drive a 2000, 2500, cummins, auto. My first diesel, my second ever purchased truck, (first 1 was a 90 d150 with a 5.2). I'd buy Chevy if I was going gas. I do have an 81 Chevy 3/4 ton, 350 with granny 3 speed to use around our properties. Dodge has its downfalls no doubt, but they all do in some aspect or another.