A/C not working

Tiny
AARONC77
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
In the car the ac has worked since we bought the car and just one day it would work and then it would cut out for a couple minutes then kick back on did that for a little while then it just started shutting off for days then it will kick on out of the blue. Im suspecting a short somewhere. Im not sure or where to even start looking
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Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 AT 6:51 PM

29 Replies

Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Ok, first are you talking about the A/C Compressor itself or the controls inside the vehicle?

this guide will help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-air-conditioner-not-working-or-is-weak

If talking about Compressor it could possibly be the Relay.

If talking about the fan control (hi, med and low) it could be the Blower Motor Resistor.
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Friday, August 10th, 2018 AT 10:53 AM
Tiny
AARONC77
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Well thats it im not sure what is wrong with it because when the air conditioner is running it blows out good cold air and the controls up front work good as far as low medium and high. It just shuts off while were driving down the road while I have the ac set on high. But while the ac isnt working the heater doesnt work either. U can kinda feel cold air through the air vents as you drive down the road but other than that it kind of just works when it wants to.
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Friday, August 10th, 2018 AT 10:53 AM
Tiny
BRITTANI0514
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 102,000 MILES
My heater isn't working properly. It will only blow out heat when I am accelerating. If I slow down or stop it will blow out cold air. I was wondering what could be wrong?
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
Check your coolant level. If it is where it is supposed to be, you may want to replace your thermostat.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRITTANI0514
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Thank you! I will have my boyfriend check that out!
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AAYCOCK07
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  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 234,000 MILES
I have a 2002 Dodge Stratus 2.4, dohc. The air conditioner only blows hot air out of the defrost even when I have the **** turned to blow out the feet on the face. I used to be able to hit the control head and it would start working and now that doesn't work at all. I was hoping it would just be the control head ( I guess that's what it's called, the thing where the ****s are) so I could just go to the junk yard and get that part. Any suggestions?
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
You shold get a pro to put a set of guages on the system. You may have a leak and have no freon. Then get it checked out to make sure it's the control head. It could be a fuse/relay, etc. You don't want to put money in to things and then it doesn't work. It costs yo more in the long/short run.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SHANESBABY7106
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  • 1 POST
  • DODGE STRATUS
I have a 2001 Dodge Stratus SE. My ac/heat will only work on high. What's the problem?
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JPAM
  • MECHANIC
  • 307 POSTS
If your talking about your fan speed. Then what your problem is the switch is burnt out (switch is built into control.) Pretty common for chyrsler products.
Jess S.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAROLINA_SLIM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I read Jess' answer to the a/c & fan only working on high.I have the same problem with my '02 Dodge Stratus. Is changing this switch within the control something the average shadetree mechanic can do, or should it be left to the professionals?

Steve S.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JPAM
  • MECHANIC
  • 307 POSTS
Id like to think an average backyard mech. Could fix it. If u dont mind learning new things. Myself fixing things have been trail & error, not being scared of asking? And useing repair manuals. Ive found using HAYNES repair manuals work really well. & I just came accross a website www. Alldatadiy. Com
For online manuals. Havent used them myself yet but it might be worth a shoot.
This new part is going to a dealer part. Ive just check the below website and the part isnt there. Wellgood luck.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCW1977
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  • 1 POST
  • DODGE STRATUS
I have a 2001 4cyl. Stratus. The ac and heat only work on the high setting. Also, the CD player has stopped working and the radio hesitates to come on and change stations. Can someone tell me what is wrong and is it complicated to fix.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCKER96
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  • 6 POSTS
I am not a mechanic, but have worked my cars for years and I am still learning, especially with all the new.

I think you should check the A/C and heating control panel for default, since it only works on high settings.

You can probably find one at a low cost parts house.

The CD/radio, hey you can buy low cost CD players all day long, I would just replace, because you probably pay too much to have the stock CD player repaired.

Docker96
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHAZ7311
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  • 1 POST
An easy fix to your a/c & heat working only on HI is your blower motor resistor. It has nothing to do with your controls - I have replaced 3-4 resistors in my 98. Its located on the passenger side along side the blower motor. Theres 2 screws and a wiring harness on it. I ended up having to replace my blower motor also, because it was getting too old, and creating resistance, thus blowing the resistor for a while.

As far as your radio. Ive known a few people with this problem also, and we could never find a fix.

Good luck!
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LUCKY LOUIE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE STRATUS
Air Conditioning problem
2001 Dodge Stratus 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My Air Conditioner in my car has recently stopped working in the low position. However it does work on the medium high to high what causes this problem and is it relatively cheap to fix? Does it also require professional work to be done?
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
No you can fix it yourself. Go to your friendly Dodge Chrysler Jeep dealer and ask for blower resistor pack. They know what you need. They sell them by the dozens every day. Locate the blower motor behind your glove compartment, the resistor pack sits just next to the blower motor. My good friends at stratusphere. Us even had a write-up for it.

Www. Stratusphere. Us/blowerrepair. Html
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
65CUDA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 68,000 MILES
My stratus a/c will run for about 15 to 20 seconds when I first turn on the a/c switch then the compressor turns off for about a minute or two and then runs for 15 to 20 seconds again. It will keep doing this and I can feel a little cool air from the vents at first but not much. I have checked the charge and it is within normal range when the compressor is running but it won't run long enough to get a real accurate reading. When I first start the car in the morning the a/c will run much longer and I can feel the difference in the air from the vents but then it starts the short cycles again. I have been trained in automotive repair but have not worked on any of the newer cars in over 15 years so I am familiar with the operation but not the specifics on this model.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Yeah pressure will read high while the clutch is engaged but. Believe me there is not enough pressure in the system, which means there is a leak somewhere, but if your high pressure switch is bad then it will mimic your scenario. Check the pressure when the ac is on high and the clutch is engaged and then watch the pressure go down when the clutch disengages. If the pressure doesn't go down when it disengages, then its your pressure switch.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STARRDIVA032468
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 115,000 MILES
AC works for about 30 seconds, blows cold air, then blows hot air like from outside (FL), for about 3 minutes. Then cold for another 30 seconds. Have already changed a clogged piece in the ac system, found one of the cooling fans not working, replaced both. Still not helping. HELP !
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Have you had the freon checked? Also, feel like a vent is opening and closing?
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 1:29 PM (Merged)

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