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Topic: AC won't work on a very hot day

in Forum: C6 General Discussion


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AC won't work on a very hot day (1/6)
 7/29/14 5:20pm
jrhall55
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Brawley, CA - USA

Vette(s):
2000 C5 convertible, and a 2005 C6 Coupe


Joined: 10/4/2012
Posts: 23

I do not understand this,, therefore I don't drive the car as much as I like in the summer time.. When and if I drive the car, and stop for any reason, gas, Wal-Mart, Jack in the Box. The AC which usually works like a champ. It will not come back on, it just blows hot air.. I live in Imperial Valley in So. Cal. it's hot outside.. Did it to me two different days last week.. Both times the outside temp. is 117 and the car is 230 Waiting in drive thru at Wal greens, haf to turn AC off to keep the car cool. When I get going again and play with the switches, it turns itself back on and works ice cold. I keep thinking it's me... or is there a high pressure Sw. on the AC compressor? It seems if I cycle between the auto button and reg AC it will start to work. Any other time of year, works perfect. I have had this problem for the last 3 years.. BUT did not have a problem last summer driving from California to Virginia to the Corvette convention. Maybe we didn't have the temperatures that we have here at home. This is on the 2005, the 2000 works great.

|UPDATED|7/29/2014 2:20:46 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: AC won't work on a very hot day (2/6)
 7/31/14 7:37pm
jrhall55
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Brawley, CA - USA

Vette(s):
2000 C5 convertible, and a 2005 C6 Coupe


Joined: 10/4/2012
Posts: 23

I thought for sure someone might have had this problem.. I guess not, so it's my problem to deal with on my own. I did have a guy at mechanic shop tell you to clean or blow out the AC condenser in front of the radiator.. I never thought of that.. I will try, I must say, I am disappointed in this web site.. I had had good luck in figuring out a few of the weird things on the car.. OH WELL..

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Re: AC won't work on a very hot day (3/6)
 8/1/14 2:05pm
sdlong329
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Vette(s):
2001 Intimidator Corvette Coupe, Torch Red, 6 speed, 17K miles


Joined: 5/16/2003
Posts: 185

Please do not be disappointed in a bulletin board merely because nobody has experienced the same problem as you. Remember, this is not a fee-based repair shop ... rather ... most are Corvette owners and fans like you.  Ultimately, it is still your vehicle ... so I would not expect anyone else to be required to diagnose or repair your vehicle.  That aside, many of the users on this bulletin board have opted to follow the C6VR Facebook page.

With regard to your post, you suggest your AC is not working on a very hot day, then you refute that by saying the AC works until you shut off the car, then back on again.  I know I am confused, and expect others are confused by what you are saying as well. The first thing I ask myself is whether the owner of a late model vehicle has checked the car for codes, either by OBD, or through the DIC (my C5 has the ability to display a plethora of codes).  I then ask if the owner has asked their local dealer for input.  In most instances, even the most basic Chevrolet dealer has experience with GM AC units, and/or has access to assistance from their Zone Rep's.  

I had a black-on-black non-Chevy which was swelteringly hot when the vehicle was turned on ... the AC was blowing hot air.  When I called the dealer, they told me it takes time for the car to cool down (obviously).  It was not until I brought the car into the dealer for them to experience the situation first hand.  Once I arrived, they realized it had nothing to do with allowing time for the car to cool down.  Unfortunately, that was 3-4 years ago, and I do not remember the resolution.  Suffice to say, it was covered under warranty, and was not something I would have been able to diagnose or fix on my own.

Moving forward, there are many BASIC starting points.  Checking the condenser is a good idea.  Not knowing how many miles are on your car, I would want to know when you last purged the radiator.  Have you checked the fuses for corrosion?  Have you checked the A/C switches (including fan switch) for corrosion?  Is the external outside air temperature sensor working properly, and/or, is there a loose or corroded connection?  Though I am not a mechanic, I am focused on the fact that the AC works, until your car is turned off, then back on.  It reminds me of vapor lock in cars from the 1950's and earlier.  In your instance, I am not sure whether a clog would intervene only when the car has been turned off, then back on.  If anything, I would expect a clog to shut down AC intermittently, or when the temperatures put the system under extreme load.  In addition, I would expect a faulty fuse or switch to work intermittently, as compared to your situation, which seems as though can be duplicated by following a prescribed pattern.

In lieu of checking a multitude of possibilities, it'd think the best place to start would be by pulling / checking codes.   Check your owners manual for information on how to check the DIC for codes.  Many GM dealers and independent shops offer to pull codes or check OBD at no charge.  Alternatively, you may want to search this forum for DIC CODES.  Thereafter, consider searching "C6 DIC CODES" via Google or Bing for links to thread in various forums, including DigitalCorvettes, CorvetteForum, CorvetteActionCenter, and CorvetteCentral (etc).

Steven

|UPDATED|8/1/2014 11:05:11 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Steven
2001 Intimidator Coupe, 19K miles
Re: AC won't work on a very hot day (4/6)
 8/1/14 2:51pm
Adam Wartell
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Eagleville, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1979 "Corvette Red" Coupe


Joined: 5/16/2003
Posts: 3281

jrhall55 said: I thought for sure someone might have had this problem.. I guess not, so it's my problem to deal with on my own. I did have a guy at mechanic shop tell you to clean or blow out the AC condenser in front of the radiator.. I never thought of that.. I will try, I must say, I am disappointed in this web site.. I had had good luck in figuring out a few of the weird things on the car.. OH WELL..



Sadly, this forum has not been very active. I think it is chicken-before-the-egg kind of thing.  People aren't posting because there are no posts to respond to.  Well, if many people start posting questions, fixes, stories, comments, etc - then others are bound to reply.  The issue is there hasn't been enough people interested in being the ones to get the ball rolling.  I'm not sure how to make that happen.
Re: AC won't work on a very hot day (5/6)
 8/4/14 6:06pm
Black Shark
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Joined: 2/9/2010
Posts: 79

-check make sure both fans are running when a/c is ON

-make sure you have ample coolant in radiator

-make sure there is no obstructions in condenser/radiator coils.


those are free checks, the rest you will need gauges and a shop/tech




good luck

Re: AC won't work on a very hot day (6/6)
 8/6/14 10:44am
sharpseadog
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Joined: 7/11/2013
Posts: 11

That happened to me the other day. I have a 2012. It blew hot air for about 5 minutes, then kicked in and ran fine. I wonder if its something like a vapor lock and it takes a bit for the compressor to work past it. I do know that the compressors in these cars are very low parasitic and that may be a factor too.

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