A/C doesn't work well at idle, but AWESOME when driving
- Thread starter wade
- Start date
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JKmotorsports
Rollin the boosted grocery-getter
You need more airflow through your condenser while idling. Do you have an engine-driven fan or electrics?
ScottyBoy
Full Access Member
I have the same problem. This is the main reason why I'm considering upgrading to Electric fans.
adzam
Full Access Member
I have the same problem on my '03 Denali. I was told the clutch fan (fan clutch?) had to be replaced.
JKmotorsports
Rollin the boosted grocery-getter
If the clutch on your fan is worn, then it wont fully engage and allow the fan to spin full speed.
JoeOmerta
Member
I got my clutch at napa for $45, i think retail is like $100 tho
sounds like a good time to upgrade to electrics
I dont feel like doing all the wiring, etc
brassknucklemafia
Full Access Member
just solved that exact problem. turned out my rad had a small crack in it, so it was not cooling proper, so i replaced the rad and now everything is great again, ice cold ac at idle too. but i dont have clutch fans i have efans from factory
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Like mentioned above it sounds like the fan clutch is bad...
When your under the hood next let the engine warm up and shut it off and spin the fan by hand to see how tight/loose it is... With the engine off at normal temp it should be pretty tight..
When your under the hood next let the engine warm up and shut it off and spin the fan by hand to see how tight/loose it is... With the engine off at normal temp it should be pretty tight..
01TX_Tahoe
Semper Fi
i have the same damn problem at idle and from time to time my low coolant light comes on. only thing is i can't find a leak anywhere and i just had my compressor changed out last year. ugh!! damn these hot *** tx days!!!
zilla68
TYF Newbie
check your water pump for leaking coolant, ours was ate up on the inside, actually the pump was still good, but the mounting surface was ate up bad, it would trickle just enough to let it run low over time, but never had a drop on the ground in the driveway. get underneath and shine a light up thru the bottom and see if you can find anything.
afpj
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I can turn my fan fairly easily, takes a little force, and there is resistance. It doesn't spin freely or anything like that. Should it be tighter than decribed, as in a lot of force needed to turn it? Just curious...
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afpj
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Checked the fan this AM, and it feels about the same resistance. Granted, the hoses are still warm because it only "cools down" to about 94 degrees here, but when "cold" is the fan supposed to spin freely, like the front wheels (if not engaged in 4WD)? Trying to learn about this beast, but it's a long way until winter when it gets "cool".
You did this at operating temp rite??
Id bet its about shot...Do you ever hear the fan engage?? Like when you stop at a light with the AC on then pull off can you hear the fan working??
As hot as its been the past few weeks if its working 1005 you would hear it more with the AC on...
afpj
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Yes, I hear the fan engage ever since summer started. It's an unusual whine that sounds almost like a bigrig turbo. Now that summer's here, that fan noise is pretty much always there on acceleration, even when first starting up. It goes away every winter by the way, so I'm pretty sure it's the fan clutch engaging....unfortunately, I think it's engaged all the time now until winter hits, but have been noticing more warm air at idle lately. It improved somewhat by blowing the dust & bugs out of the condenser. I never really tested to see how "tight" the fan clutch was until reading this post, so didn't know if it was suppose to be so tight that the fan can't turn by hand. Believe it or not, none of my neighbors (in this 50 house development) has a tahoe/yukon to compare with.
