A/C only works if the car is moving

Tiny
JAY124444444
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 75,000 MILES
Hi, we just got a Freon charge. The air works fine as long as the car is in continuous motion. If we idle the car the air begins to get warm and the car will then act like it wants to stall but only if we have the A/C on. What would cause this? Hopefully not a bad air compressor. Would a high or low pressure switch fix this problem?
Monday, June 25th, 2018 AT 1:28 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good afternoon.

No to the pressure switches.

Can you hear the cooling fans come on with the AC running?
If you have warm air at idle, you may have either a air flow issue through the radiator and condenser from dirt or debris or the fan not working.

Have you or someone checked the AC pressures? Low Freon will also cause this issue.

Roy

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

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Monday, June 25th, 2018 AT 1:59 PM
Tiny
JAY124444444
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Freon was just charged two days ago. I think it might be the fan low speed relay switch because the is not running while the car is parked but does run while the car is moving.
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Monday, June 25th, 2018 AT 2:23 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
If it is not running at idle with the air on, then it is something in the fan circuit.

Roy
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Monday, June 25th, 2018 AT 2:24 PM
Tiny
JAY124444444
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Do you know which sensor is the low fan speed sensor? I can see two fan relay switches but I do not know which one is which.
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Monday, June 25th, 2018 AT 2:45 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
There are no relays that you can replace. The two relays are part of the totally integrated power module which is your fuse block. The only way to replace the relays is to replace the fuse block.

Roy

Editor's Note: This vehicle is not equipped with Cooling Fan Relays. The fan is controlled by the PCM via electronics integral to the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM). For more information, please refer to:
See: Radiator Cooling Fan > Electrical
See: Power and Ground Distribution > Electrical > Power Distribution
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Monday, June 25th, 2018 AT 2:52 PM
Tiny
JAY124444444
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Oh okay. Well one of the relays that I can see next to the fan is the A/C clutch relay switch. I am not sure what the other one is. The guy at the auto parts store not that they are mechanics by any means said that replace that switch could fix it. What do you think?
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Monday, June 25th, 2018 AT 6:51 PM
Tiny
VIRTUALKING
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The fans have two modes, a slow and fast one. The fast mode is when both fans are running and you can actually hear them running from outside of the car. Anytime the A/C is on, the fans should be running. Hope this helps.
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Monday, June 25th, 2018 AT 10:33 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
You are right. They are parts salesman and they want you to buy something.

No, the controls are inside the fuse box, not external.

Roy
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Tuesday, June 26th, 2018 AT 3:19 AM

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