AC stops blowing cold air

[kevinwillis]

I have a 2001 Suburban LS and the air conditioner works great for about 5-10 minutes and then stops blowing cold air, as if the compressor has stopped working. We turn the air off and open the windows and wait for about 30 minutes. Then the air will work again, but only for about 5-10 minutes.

I took it to our mechanic who said it has a damper problem that will run about $400, but that he could put in a heater bypass valve for $160 that would fix the problem. Well it didn't.

I researched a bit online and found this to be a common problem, but no real solutions. One person said they replaced the low pressure switch and that fixed the problem. I tried that, but the switch I got at the auto parts store was a different color, but he said it should be fine. We tried it, no luck. I n fact it was worse. I put the old switch back on, but now the AC blows warm air all the time.

This is very frustrating and I really need help!

 

[zora]

you need to take the vehicles to a shop that specializes in AC repair or a shop that has a mechanic with ASE certification in AC systems and can determine exactly what the problem is with your system. I can not imagine a heater bypass correcting an issue with a blend door actuator which I assume is what the mechanic meant by a damper. When you replaced the low pressure switch you didnt loose the refrigerant?

 

[VanGo]

Troubleshooting A/C can get very complicated. Interpreting a mechanic's comments second hand isn't much help either. Start by pulling your codes. If there's a blend door (damper) problem you should have an ODB II code. I've been through this a couple times on my wife's Cadillac. Most other problems with A/C are too dangerous or could cause more damage if not done properly. Every problem has a solution even if you don't find it on the internet.