AC only blows cold when moving

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DaUsedMCR

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my AC suddenly started to blow warmer air when i come to a stop, and then, when i get moving again, itll get colder... do i just need a recharge?
 

afpj

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Likely fan clutch. Does your engine have a whirring noise when it's hot outside? Is the fan hard to turn when it's hot out and engine fully warmed up (engine off of course to check this). If no to both, then you probably need new fan clutch or convert to fans.
 

bkboatnsleds

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I have the same issue - I think my problem is the actuator that controls the Recirc damper. Do you also notice you can never get air to stop coming through the vents even when the fan is OFF? Also when your A/C is on, and the air is coming out of the dash and you push the ReCirc button, can you hear the door close, and the ac blow stronger?

Mine does not change, I think whats happening is its pulling in the hot air from outside b/c that door never closes. If you open your glovebox.. empty it all out, and hold the tabs you can get it to flop ALL the way open, behind there you can see the door.. when you push the recirc button it should open / close. I see mine does not...

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think thats my problem
 

Schwab

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I'd say check your fan clutch or for a bunch of junk blocking airflow through your condenser. Both easy checks.
For the condenser, all you have to do is pull the bumper filler (the black thing held on by 7 push pins at the top of your radiator) and look at the front and rear of the condenser. If it's all blocked up, run a garden hose over it. Don't take it to the car wash though, because you may make it worse by bending the fins.
 

TWITCH101

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My Yukon does the same thing....only blows cold when moving....and on a long road trip it stops blowing cold and only blows mildly cool air after about 2 hours of driving. I've already checked my refrigerant level and everything is good.....going to check the coil next to see if its clogged.
 

TWITCH101

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So I checked my fan last night after driving for about ten minutes....and the fan was easy to turn...does this mean my clutch is bad?
 

afpj

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Hmmm, 10 minutes may not be enough. I don't know what the actual parameters are for activating the fan clutch, but mine doesn't noticeably engage unless I've driven it on the freeway for about 15 minutes, and it's over 100 degrees out. Then when I stop, and go on local roads, I can hear that peculiar whirling noise of the fan/engine when stepping on the gas. Then if I shut it down and try to turn the fan, there is noticeable resistance to turning. I don't really hear the fan clutch engage when it's only around 90 or so. Sorry can't be much more help than that.
 

TWITCH101

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So I'm trying to remove my fan clutch and I need a tool to keep the water pump from free spinning.....any ideas?
 

ezdaar

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Leave belt on.
put a big ass wrench on it, put long ass pipe on wrench. Grab 3 pound hammer, hold tenstion on wrench. slam pipe with hammer..

It will come loose NP... Probly first hit.
Just dont bash anything else.
 

TWITCH101

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ended up going to a local parts shop after I tried several of the big names around town and the local guy had me covered....he let me borrow the puller kit without paying a dime....I know where I'm taking my business next time....moral to the story is that it was a ************ to get done....took me and a buddy pulling and hitting with a hammer to get the old fan clutch out but once it broke loose that was all she wrote. My A/C does feel a little cooler but the real test will be when I get out of class tomorrow after the kon has been cooking in the sun for a few hours. I'll post up later how well it affected my A/C performance.
 

TWITCH101

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No body lift...and to answer the question it did fix my problem...my ad blows cold on idle now...and my kon seems to run a little smoother too. Also, a good way to test your fan clutch is while the truck is running try to stop the fan blades with a rolled up newspaper or just a roll of paper...kinda like when you were a kid stopping a ceiling fan with your hands...if it stops or slows to a near stop then its probably bad....if it mangles the newspaper beyond recognition then you probably don't need a new fan clutch. FYI mine was so bad I could not only stop it, but spin it backwards with the engine running....lol
 

The Commissar!

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Mine was doing the same thing...tried cleaning etc...no noticeable improvement. Ordered a fan clutch from O'rileys and all is better now. Mine would not break free so I had to use a strap wrench to hold the pump still...one good smack and the remainder was easy. Now it is much better...still blows a touch warm when first starting but maybe that is normal when it is 95F + outside.
 

bkboatnsleds

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Cool!! ( no pun intended) I would have assumed the truck would have overheated if the clutch was bad.. guess that's not the case...
 

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