Looking for possible solutions: the car is a '81
1st off.. the a/c condenser, drier/accumulator, lines, and now even the compressor (just changed it) are new. Last year and this year (up until I put a new dash in it) the air was ice cold.
I just replaced the dash in the car and didn't really disturb anything else that I know of. I did notice that my blower fan only works on full blast and the rest of the speed positions only run at the slowest speed. The low pressure side line off of the compressor doesn't even hardly sweat/condensate anymore. Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm at a loss right now. Thanks in advance. Darryl

Do you have a freon leak? My mechanic specializes in A/C stuff and that's what he said would probably be the problem...local A/C shop should be able to add a dye to see if/where the leak is. They probably could fix the problem too!

good Luck!

Scot

as for the blower speed, my 77 did the same thing and i found out that a relay under the hood was bad. replaced the relay and the blower works fine at each speed. just a thought!!

|QUOTE|madjaxs said: as for the blower speed, my 77 did the same thing and i found out that a relay under the hood was bad. replaced the relay and the blower works fine at each speed. just a thought!! |/QUOTE|
I argree with the above Darry. yours should be on the drivers side firewall next to the MAP sensor.

Thanks for the help guy's! I will go and get a new relay today and fix the fan problem. And as far as the freon leaking out, I now have to much in the system.
I might have the freon problem figured out. A guy at my Air base in Niagara Falls used to work on environmental systems enlightened me in a couple of mistakes I did when fixing the system: 1st - always replace the dryer/receiver (even though it's only a year old. Bummer!)
2nd- always place the system under a vacuum (I guess that boils off any moisture.)
So I'm guessing the main problem is moisture in the system. (I'm hoping.)

Thanks again for the advice and help. Darryl S.

|QUOTE|Sarge81 said: Thanks for the help guy's! I will go and get a new relay today and fix the fan problem. And as far as the freon leaking out, I now have to much in the system.
I might have the freon problem figured out. A guy at my Air base in Niagara Falls used to work on environmental systems enlightened me in a couple of mistakes I did when fixing the system: 1st - always replace the dryer/receiver (even though it's only a year old. Bummer!)
2nd- always place the system under a vacuum (I guess that boils off any moisture.)
So I'm guessing the main problem is moisture in the system. (I'm hoping.)

Thanks again for the advice and help. Darryl S. |/QUOTE|

Sometimes the air cond won't cool with too much freon. That could also be your problem. Put the guages on, and get the right pressure, and it might work right.

With another 96 degree today, the A/C issue was top of my mind. The guy I bought my car from warned me that although the A/C blows nice & cold (which it does), it puts the engine temp "over the edge" on 90 degree+ days. My temp gage normally runs about 220 during average extended driving. He was right -- I was closer to 250 (approaching the red) today before I let things "cool off" by shutting off the A/C and roasting myself with the heat on full blast! Is this just a hot-weather "fact-of-life"? Unique to all C3's or just all big blocks? Is there any other way to improve the cooling system. Lastly - on the 454 hoods - are the "nostrils" supposed to be open to allow heat out or are they simply for show and plugged closed? (I thought maybe the last person who painted the car plugged them & never removed them? )
Thanks for the comments! ~ Joe

blk79- That point of to much freon was brought up in the conversation with a fellow soldier at the base also. I think you and the other guy's have a very good point. So I guess I'll have to get out the old pry bar and open my wallet and buy the gauges soon.

fun71- I believe that all the "big block" hood "nostril's" were blocked off. All the '68-'72 BB/LT1 hoods I've seen were blocked off. My old lady's uncle has a '69 427, and his is blocked.
As far as cooling goes..I don't know what your car has. So I can only offer a couple of tips.
Electric fans will definitely help. My '81 has the factory electric fan. I have it set so I control when it goes on & off. I helps maintain the temp. pretty good. It stays around 210-220 instead of 230 + degrees. If you have a fan clutch for your main fan, with the engine off & cold, try to spin it by hand. If it turns more than 1 rev. around...replace it.
Is the fan shroud in good shape? Broken or cut up ones aren't good for proper air flow. And the fan blades should sit about 1/2 a blade width into the shroud opening for proper air flow. Lastly. A expensive aluminum radiator would help. Other than that, I'm clueless.

Gotta run now and finish my house window replacement project. It's 82 degrees here and I wanna go for a cruz' in the vette before the weekends over.
See Ya!
Darryl

Unless i missed it, it was not mentioned. How hot ( or normal ) the car runs without the air on. Does it run below 200 without the air on? My big block hangs right below ( left ) of the center of the gauge during normal driving even on 95 degree days. Is it possible that over the past year you radiator core may have slightly deteriorated and needs to be rodded out? Maybe your water pump is starting to go? Is your thermostat working correctly. Start with the the simple stuff...does the car run cool without the air on? If not, look at the radiator, water pump or thermostat.

Well, after almost a year (Yikes!) I finally have taken the time to go through the A/C system. I thought that I might have pinched a vacuum line when I put the new dash in or somthing to that effect.
The culprit was the plastic vacuum line that connects to heater control valve. The way it went around the heater hose, I couldn't see the hole that wore into it. So after a little revamping and putting my dash back together I now can enjoy my A/C once again.
Thanks for everyones help.

Sarge