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PT Cruiser Air Conditioning Questions/Problems

226 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 8:54 AM

You are in the Chrysler PT Cruiser Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chrysler PT Cruiser, Heating / Cooling, Wagon

Messages Page 23 of 24

#212 of 226 overheating AGAIN!! by maw1125

Aug 13, 2012 (4:34 pm)

I have a 2003 pt cruiser 5 speed with 164,400+ miles. I have been having alot of overheating problems over the last few months. I have replaced the radiator and hoses, thermostat, and cooling fan. I have had the AC system pressure checked a couple times and have been told there was nothing wrong, they also said the compressor was ok. For the most part my car will not overheat unless the AC is on. A couple of times it over heated the AC started blowing warm air and I heard a buzzing/grinding noise just before it started to run hot. After i heard the noise i saw smoke coming from the front of my car on the right side. I have had 2 different shops check it out they keep telling me they cant find out why it is overheating still, they cant get it to overheat when they have it and it only does it to me at night when the shops are closed! Is it my AC compressor?? Most of the time it overheats my AC is on but there has been a few times it has overheated without the AC being on.

#213 of 226 Re: overheating AGAIN!! [maw1125] by patman1

Aug 19, 2012 (5:57 am)

Replying to: maw1125 (Aug 13, 2012 4:34 pm)
Had the same problem with my wife's car. The smoke was white. All I had to do was replace the fan, $80 for a new assy online. About an hour to replace. The fan has 2 speeds, high speed is for when you are running a/c. To see if it is the fan, run the car till the fan kicks on. Watch the fan and have someone turn on a/c. You should see and hear a difference. If not, the high speed is shot. order the fan assy. Pull the grill off, 2 bolts on top then slide it up and away. take loose the radiator, Its only 3 bolts if I remember right. Now you can move the radiator and get more room. 4 bolts on the fan assy, 2 up 2 down, unplug the fan and slide it out the top. Put the new one in and your good to go. I hate working on cars but this was an easy job.

#214 of 226 Re: The infamous paperclip test herein [shobudsteelman] by beckert1

Dec 16, 2012 (4:54 pm)

Replying to: shobudsteelman (Aug 03, 2012 10:25 am)
Ok I was really sceptical about this but when the air con on our 2006 PT Cruiser (bought in 2008 ex demo with only 27,000 currently on the clock) went. Just as summer kicked in and 2 weeks before Xmas, we didn't want to take it in for fixing not knowing how many hundreds it would cost.
So decided to give this paperclip test a go yesterday... 5 minutes later, air con back on. Well worth giving this a go. Thanks so much for posting it!
My husband is now calling himself Macgyver

#215 of 226 Re: The infamous paperclip test herein [beckert1] by bthompson40207

Dec 16, 2012 (7:52 pm)

Replying to: beckert1 (Dec 16, 2012 4:54 pm)
Thanks for sharing. The test costs nothing and it can save hundreds - not to mention the frustration and hassle.

#216 of 226 2007 PT Cruiser air conditioner compressor low pressure and cycling switch by shobudsteelman

Dec 17, 2012 (7:27 am)

Have been meaning to get back on here for weeks, since I first posted here my earlier concerns about the truth of a cutoff valve underneath the low pressure cut off switch. In my search for an answer, I learned that this is not only the low pressure cutoff switch but the CYCLING SWITCH as well. Once I had tried the paperclip test and had my air conditioner up and running in seconds, I knew this switch was the problem. As a backyard mechanic with 38 years experience, I was very concerned about whether there actually was a cutoff valve beneath this switch or not on the 2007 year model. I bought a new low pressure/cycling switch at the local auto parts store for around $17 and him-hawed around for several more days, all the while using the paperclip to keep my air conditioner running (something that I and other knowledgeable people would not recommend doing as a semi-permanent or permanent fix, but this vehicle is usually used sporadically, and I knew that my Freon level was fine as there had been no problems immediately prior to this switch going bad). One day, rather frustrated, I happened into a recently opened repair shop in our small town, popped out of my car and asked the very young mechanic headed my way if he had time to answer a question for me. I popped the hood and showed him the new switch and asked if in fact there was a cutoff valve underneath. To which he replied yes, and offered to put the new valve in for me for $5. Can you believe it? The dealership had quoted me a price of $225 to do the same thing only they insisted the system would have to evacuated of Freon and recovered, the switch replaced, and the Freon put back in the system, AT WHICH TIME, they would also top off my Freon level. I gladly paid the $75 diagnostic fee that day, but had no access to the amount of money, real or plastic, that they were wanting to charge me. At any rate I now can attest under oath that there IS a Schrader valve underneath the low pressure cut off switch located on the silver canister mounted to the firewall on the 2007 PT Cruiser, and for a grand total cost of $17 and less than five minutes work, ANYONE can make this repair! See the picture I posted on my Facebook wall: sterlingministriesyahoo.com for the proof!

#218 of 226 Existence of a Schrader valve under the low pressure cutoff switch by shobudsteelman

Dec 17, 2012 (7:35 am)

Here is the url for the picture of the Schrader valve underneath the low pressure cutoff/cycling switch on the 2007 PT Cruiser. No one should be afraid of attempting this repair given this proof that such a valve exists:
 
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=461676450535352&set=a.423945877641743.911- 42.100000790024714&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

#219 of 226 replacing low pressure cutoff/cycling switch by shobudsteelman

Dec 17, 2012 (7:46 am)

Oh, last post for a while, I promise concerning this issue! FYI replacing this switch requires a 17mm wrench or SAE equivalent. (See posts 209, 210, 216 and 218 for a record of my journey.)

#220 of 226 LPS solution for AC problems by ptlover45

Feb 09, 2013 (7:15 am)

FIRST OFF, WHAT AN LPS ? I have done many car repairs myself but not encountered the "LPS"
Where is it located? Is it hard to access?
Thx Dave

#221 of 226 Re: LPS solution for AC problems [ptlover45] by bthompson40207

Feb 09, 2013 (11:47 am)

Replying to: ptlover45 (Feb 09, 2013 7:15 am)
The LPS is the Low Pressure Switch that cycles the A/C compressor on and off during normal operation. In the case of the PT Cruiser and other Chrysler vehicles, it also enables the low-speed radiator fan (replacing the fan is a frequent mistake). It is located atop the accumulator (firewall, passenger side). It is easily accessible and replaceable. Carefully unclip the connector and test compressor engagement with a paperclip. You can get the Sentech LPS at AutoZone (etc.) for under $20. No hose, vacuum, or freon required. The LPS is screwed onto a valve fitting to prevent loss of freon gas (just unscrew and re-attach quickly).

Messages Page 23 of 24

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