Fhantazm
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- January 31, 2003
- Messages
- 863
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Bristol, Tn
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 91 Navajo LX 4X4
Ok,
I am VERY sorry this is soo long, but I wanted to give an accurated description of the problem, and the parts replaced.
Day1: Heres the skinny. 2 weeks ago my a/c compressor burnt out. I replaced it with a reman from autozone. Basically the only thing on it that was used is the casing. I had someone that has done lots of a/c installations/repairs do the installation. Also at the same time, an r134 retrofit kit was installed, effectively converting to 134. The air ourput is wonderful. HOWEVER, the day after i got it installed, the upper radiator hose blew. Im assuming that it was just fatigue, as im pretty sure it was the original. I replaced that, and began a 325mile mountaineous trip. On the trip the temp guage hit a little over halfway on the big hills, and dropped back down to lil over 1/4 on flat surfaces. Once I got to my destination, and in the city(stop and go traffic), i noticed the temp guage would raise to over half at stoplights. If sitting at the light long enough, it would drop down slightly, but once i started going again it quickly rose. If i was driving long enough, it would cool back down, but if i hit another light, it would repeat, getting hotter and hotter after each restart, until it was at about 3/4 on the temp guage. Heres a wierd part, the a/c compressor would actually shut off, and not come back on until the truck cooled. Again the needle never went over 3/4. If I cut the a/c off, the truck ran somewhat cool, no matter how many lights I hit.
Day 2: Got in the truck, turned on the a/c, and proceeded to drive through town, and hit the interstate. I knew there shouldnt be a problem since the temp guage shows pretty cool at highway speeds. Through town(again, stop and go) it heated up to about halfway, and once i hit the interstate it dropped to a lil to the left of half. Then tragedy happened, the truck started overheating bad(A lil over 3/4 but never into red), and smoke was coming out of the hood. After poppoing the hood, I saw the trouble. The plastic end tank on the radiator had cracked, and was spewing steam and coolant all over. I got it towed, and installed a new radiator, as well as a new thermostat. All went well, no leaks. Took the truck out, and test drove around town for about 30 mins in stop and go with a/c on, and the truck never got over half. All good I thought.
Day3: Got in truck and drove across town approx 20miles of stop and go. Not so lucky this time. It made it most of the way without overheating, but about the last 5 miles, it got to about 3/4, and again the a/c shut off until I let the truck cool down. I said bad words.
Day4: Checked colant, all ok, and headed back on a 325 mile trip. Decided to try the a/c on the highway only. All was well. As a matter of fact the truck ran cooler than I had ever seen it run. Even on big hills, it never hit half. Got off the interstate and went through town, which is a lit less small, with a lot less lights. All good. No overheating.
Day5: Went to work, which is approx 35miles interstate, no problems. Drove home after work, noticed that after i got behind an 18wheeler going slow, that it got a little over half. After he FINALLY moved, it cooled back down. Whitnessed the same thing a few miles up the road. After passing the rig it cooled back down. Went into town, and it got pretty hot again. I just cut the a/c off before it got to half, as i was almost home. Truck cooled down nicely.
Now I understand that the truck actually has to work harder when the a/c is on, and will run hotter. However what i dont understand is the fact that it almost hit the danger zone, blew a radiator hose, then a radiator. Also I was not aware that the truck is able to cut the compressor off when temps reach too high. Is this normal??? Thank you VERY much for reading all this, and offering any suggestions. I am at a loss.
PS: The cooling fan is turning.
I am VERY sorry this is soo long, but I wanted to give an accurated description of the problem, and the parts replaced.
Day1: Heres the skinny. 2 weeks ago my a/c compressor burnt out. I replaced it with a reman from autozone. Basically the only thing on it that was used is the casing. I had someone that has done lots of a/c installations/repairs do the installation. Also at the same time, an r134 retrofit kit was installed, effectively converting to 134. The air ourput is wonderful. HOWEVER, the day after i got it installed, the upper radiator hose blew. Im assuming that it was just fatigue, as im pretty sure it was the original. I replaced that, and began a 325mile mountaineous trip. On the trip the temp guage hit a little over halfway on the big hills, and dropped back down to lil over 1/4 on flat surfaces. Once I got to my destination, and in the city(stop and go traffic), i noticed the temp guage would raise to over half at stoplights. If sitting at the light long enough, it would drop down slightly, but once i started going again it quickly rose. If i was driving long enough, it would cool back down, but if i hit another light, it would repeat, getting hotter and hotter after each restart, until it was at about 3/4 on the temp guage. Heres a wierd part, the a/c compressor would actually shut off, and not come back on until the truck cooled. Again the needle never went over 3/4. If I cut the a/c off, the truck ran somewhat cool, no matter how many lights I hit.
Day 2: Got in the truck, turned on the a/c, and proceeded to drive through town, and hit the interstate. I knew there shouldnt be a problem since the temp guage shows pretty cool at highway speeds. Through town(again, stop and go) it heated up to about halfway, and once i hit the interstate it dropped to a lil to the left of half. Then tragedy happened, the truck started overheating bad(A lil over 3/4 but never into red), and smoke was coming out of the hood. After poppoing the hood, I saw the trouble. The plastic end tank on the radiator had cracked, and was spewing steam and coolant all over. I got it towed, and installed a new radiator, as well as a new thermostat. All went well, no leaks. Took the truck out, and test drove around town for about 30 mins in stop and go with a/c on, and the truck never got over half. All good I thought.
Day3: Got in truck and drove across town approx 20miles of stop and go. Not so lucky this time. It made it most of the way without overheating, but about the last 5 miles, it got to about 3/4, and again the a/c shut off until I let the truck cool down. I said bad words.
Day4: Checked colant, all ok, and headed back on a 325 mile trip. Decided to try the a/c on the highway only. All was well. As a matter of fact the truck ran cooler than I had ever seen it run. Even on big hills, it never hit half. Got off the interstate and went through town, which is a lit less small, with a lot less lights. All good. No overheating.
Day5: Went to work, which is approx 35miles interstate, no problems. Drove home after work, noticed that after i got behind an 18wheeler going slow, that it got a little over half. After he FINALLY moved, it cooled back down. Whitnessed the same thing a few miles up the road. After passing the rig it cooled back down. Went into town, and it got pretty hot again. I just cut the a/c off before it got to half, as i was almost home. Truck cooled down nicely.
Now I understand that the truck actually has to work harder when the a/c is on, and will run hotter. However what i dont understand is the fact that it almost hit the danger zone, blew a radiator hose, then a radiator. Also I was not aware that the truck is able to cut the compressor off when temps reach too high. Is this normal??? Thank you VERY much for reading all this, and offering any suggestions. I am at a loss.
PS: The cooling fan is turning.
