AC fail/light flashing

[h2100]

Hello All,

My 2010 'hoe is not blowing cold air and the AC Snowlake flashes three times when it is activated. I tried a trick I read where you try to reset something by pressing the recirculate air button and the snowflake at the same time for 10 seconds. It did not fix the issue.

A bit more googling pointed me towards the Ambient Air Temp Sensor. Seems to make sense as the AC should not work in the very cold and the light flashes the same way.

FYI, my outside temp reading seems to be working and accurate.

So, I ordered two sensors as I saw a video that say the previous model had two. They are not costly, $10 each.

Finally the question, how many do I have? Are they behind the passenger headlight and/or just in front of the radiator?

Any other ideas on why the AC may not be working?

 

[BG1988]

Hello All,

My 2010 'hoe is not blowing cold air and the AC Snowlake flashes three times when it is activated. I tried a trick I read where you try to reset something by pressing the recirculate air button and the snowflake at the same time for 10 seconds. It did not fix the issue.

A bit more googling pointed me towards the Ambient Air Temp Sensor. Seems to make sense as the AC should not work in the very cold and the light flashes the same way.

FYI, my outside temp reading seems to be working and accurate.

So, I ordered two sensors as I saw a video that say the previous model had two. They are not costly, $10 each.

Finally the question, how many do I have? Are they behind the passenger headlight and/or just in front of the radiator?

Any other ideas on why the AC may not be working?

how many times does it flash sometimes that will be the error code


I also suggest you clean the a/c condenser (with a toothbrush gently) Assuming it has never been cleaned that is 11 years of bug build up even after a few months there is a tremendous amount of bugs on mine... (DON"T spray water on it unless it's distilled water ) Also make sure both fans turn on if the second fan does not turn on the A/C will not clutch

another thing to check is if some one disconnected the A/C power cable (the part the powers the clutch magnet. ) check the belt for the A/C could be broken?


Remember there is moving parts in this area when the engine is running

shops do this all the time to drum up business. I had pepboys disconnect my MAP sensor before this almost caused me to stall out on the train tracks (just a few feet before)
and a train was coming btw

 

[wjburken]

@UmmScott might have some ideas.

Is this a new condition? Any work done on vehicle around the time this all started?

 

[91RS]

how many times does it flash sometimes that will be the error code


I also suggest you clean the a/c condenser (with a toothbrush gently) Assuming it has never been cleaned that is 11 years of bug build up even after a few months there is a tremendous amount of bugs on mine... (DON"T spray water on it unless it's distilled water ) Also make sure both fans turn on if the second fan does not turn on the A/C will not clutch

another thing to check is if some one disconnected the A/C power cable (the part the powers the clutch magnet. ) check the belt for the A/C could be broken?


Remember there is moving parts in this area when the engine is running

shops do this all the time to drum up business. I had pepboys disconnect my MAP sensor before this almost caused me to stall out on the train tracks (just a few feet before)
and a train was coming btw

Umm no. Absolutely none of this.

The light blinking 3 times means that ac request is being inhibited by the ECM. This could be for a number of reasons including something not related to the AC at all or it could have a leak (which would make the pressures out of spec). Throwing parts at it is just wasting money.

 

[h2100]

@UmmScott might have some ideas.

Is this a new condition? Any work done on vehicle around the time this all started?

The catalytic converters went bad before this light came on. Those have been replaced

 

[wjburken]

One thing you could try for free, albeit it’s a long shot, is disconnect the battery and either turn your head lights on and off or hit the brake pedal a few times. This is a kind of “reboot” on the electrical system and gets rid of and residual voltage. It sometimes helps with odd stuff, but is not a sure fire thing by any means.

How had your A/C been working before this? Have you visually inspected the A/C belt to drives your compressor to make sure it’s still there?

 

[h2100]

Suggestions

Umm no. Absolutely none of this.

The light blinking 3 times means that ac request is being inhibited by the ECM. This could be for a number of reasons including something not related to the AC at all or it could have a leak (which would make the pressures out of spec). Throwing parts at it is just wasting money.

?

 

[UmmScott]

91 rs is correct.

Ac light blinking means that in the current situations, the ECM is not allowing the AC to come on.

Could be a number of reasons.
First make sure you dont have any DTCs set. If you have critical ones like engine misfire or a failed sensor, the ecm can disable the AC until said condition is corrected.

Another thing.
If your system is the newer style, it has a pressure transducer on the high side. The ecm can tell the exact high side pressure. This is used to prevent operation when theres no charge, to bring on rad fans as needed, and a high pressure cut off if pressures get too high.

If system charge is low, then the ecm wont allow the clutch to pull in

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[BG1988]

Umm no. Absolutely none of this.

The light blinking 3 times means that ac request is being inhibited by the ECM. This could be for a number of reasons including something not related to the AC at all or it could have a leak (which would make the pressures out of spec). Throwing parts at it is just wasting money.

no he needs to see if the second fan is running the A/C will not turn on with it not working fans can go out at anytime..

that is why he needs to check the belt and connections to the A/C clutch..(as well as the second fan) also cleaning the a/c condenser on the front of the car will allow you to inspect for pebble/rock damage...


with the Engine Off you see if the fan can be moved with a stick..(preferred with the battery disconnected)

i never said he should buy anything TEST the working conditions. first


Belt
fan
cable connections

these don't cost anything to check
as you can see them your self

 

[PG01]

Umm no. Absolutely none of this.

The light blinking 3 times means that ac request is being inhibited by the ECM. This could be for a number of reasons including something not related to the AC at all or it could have a leak (which would make the pressures out of spec). Throwing parts at it is just wasting money.

lmfao.... welcome to ‘brents world’

 

[BG1988]

lmfao.... welcome to ‘brents world’

To test, turn the AC on. Press and hold the AC & recirculate button button at the same time for 5 to 8 seconds.

The A/C light is designed to flash and disallow A/C operation if any of the following conditions are present:

so you meet one of the requirements below

Ambient air temperature (AAT) is too cold (35 degrees or colder)
Vehicle system voltage is less than 9.5 volts
Refrigerant pressure is too low
Refrigerant pressure is too high
Engine coolant temperature (ECT) is too high
Engine is not in RUN
HVAC Control Head is in the OFF position

 

[h2100]

To test, turn the AC on. Press and hold the AC & recirculate button button at the same time for 5 to 8 seconds.

The A/C light is designed to flash and disallow A/C operation if any of the following conditions are present:

so you meet one of the requirements below

Ambient air temperature (AAT) is too cold (35 degrees or colder)
Vehicle system voltage is less than 9.5 volts
Refrigerant pressure is too low
Refrigerant pressure is too high
Engine coolant temperature (ECT) is too high
Engine is not in RUN
HVAC Control Head is in the OFF position

I seem to have it fixed now. The relay was not making a good connection on not turning on the compressor. It was in need of a recharge also.

 

[68Chevysspu]

I seem to have it fixed now. The relay was not making a good connection on not turning on the compressor. It was in need of a recharge also.

Where is this relay?

 

[h2100]

It was in the engine area, the underhood fuse box.

 

[68Chevysspu]

Where is this relay?

It was in the engine area, the underhood fuse box.

thank you. I’m having the same problem all of a sudden. Hopefully this’ll fix it.

 

[h2100]

I did also replace the ambient air temp sensor. Problem persisted but many resources thought that might fix it too.