2003 Dodge Caravan Intermittent HVAC Problem - Stops Blowin

PDEMPLE

MEMBER
2003 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
70,000 MILES

1. Although the fan is turned on, air does not come through the vents. It seems to work at first and then stops as you after you have driven a ways. Once it stops coming through the vents it does not start working again until the car has been turned off and sitting quite a while. You can hear the fan but no air/almost no air from any vent.

2. There is a hissing sound coming from under the dash. It is located under the glove box.

3. When the fan is working and air coming through the vents, if you slide the temperature controls to the coldest settings on the left, it blows very cold air and seems that the air conditioning is on even though the air conditioning button is not on.

Took it to the Dodge dealer and they 1) Replaced the blower motor they said had a short in it; 2) Replaced a broken door in the HVAC unit under the glove box. Cost $500 but did not fix problem.

While this problem was occurring, I looked under the dash on the drivers side and had someone rotate the knob from floor to defrost to out the front of dash. I could see the mode door actuator moving so that does not seem to be the problem?

Problem occurs whether you are using the heater or air conditioner.

Something electrical overheating? Air seems to be blocked at the fan.

Again, Works fine when the car is sitting overnight or for a long time and then stops after you drive some distance.

Thanks in advance for your help.

8 Replies

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
5,121 POSTS

You said you heard a hissing noise, that could be a small vacuum to one of the mixing doors, that may be unhooke/cracked, also it could be that there is a disconnected piece of plumming(hose) in that area of the noise

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Thursday, June 5th, 2008 AT 10:23 PM

PDEMPLE

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3 POSTS

There is a TSB re: this I found on Alldata.
NUMBER: 24-002-03 - A/C - Evaporator Hissing Sound

"This bulletin involves installing an evaporator inlet flow straightener and a rubber evaporator insert between the evaporator tubes if necessary."

I am not sure how this would affect the flow of air to the vents even though the fan is running.

Also, on the 2003 caravan, my understanding is that the doors are electronically activated and their are no vacuum hoses? Is this correct?

What are the other possibilities given the other symptoms I submitted in my first posting?

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Saturday, June 7th, 2008 AT 2:37 PM

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
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There is a tsb for a leak and that could be causing the hissing sound.

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Saturday, June 7th, 2008 AT 3:52 PM

LEGITIMATE007

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It may have to be put on the chrysler scan tool /drb III and have the body control module scanned for faults. Something has to be recorded about this condition

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Saturday, June 7th, 2008 AT 3:57 PM

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
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There is an extended warranty on the compressor for 7 years or 70,000 miles. So if you are rounding the milage off when you posted this message you are in good shape. Take it to the dealer and make them fix it. Reference number 24-004-04 date of issue june 1,2004, and it supercedes 24-005-03 date of issue :june 20, 2003

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Saturday, June 7th, 2008 AT 4:03 PM

PDEMPLE

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3 POSTS

Thank you. I looked at the TSB re: the compressor. Unfortunately I am over 70,000 by 600 miles or so. Also the compressor seems to be working fine as there is ample cold air when the a/c button is depressed and the air is moving.

I will take it back to Dodge and have them run the drb III to see what comes up.

I am wondering if this is a simple fan blower resistor problem since it occurs when the system has been running for awhile - resistor faulty when heats up?

They replaced the blower motor due to a short, perhaps the resistor was damaged also and they never replaced it. I am going to try to replace the resistor and see if that takes care of it. I will let you know.

Another thought would be the ac/heater control module?

If you have any thoughts, I would be very interested in your thoughts.

Thanks.

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Sunday, June 8th, 2008 AT 9:16 AM

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
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There are several culprits, and yes the heater control mod. Could be one of them unfortunately, we have to go through all the checking, because its alot cheaper than just throwing parts at it. You sound like you know what your doing (very knowledgeable). I am leaning more towards the fan blower resistor. What does it look like when you peek under the dash when the problem occurs?(Because you said that you had someone switch the controls when the problem occurs, see if you can see if the doors are open or closed, and remember, you cannot always believe what the dealer will tell you

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Sunday, June 8th, 2008 AT 5:38 PM

PDEMPLE

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Problem turned out to be the clutch on the compressor was stuck and wouldn't disengage so the compressor was running all the time regardless of whether the ac switch was on or off. The system would freeze up and block the air flow.

Thanks for your help with this.

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Friday, July 25th, 2008 AT 11:50 AM