[Spridgets] PT Cruiser AC

[Chris M West]

Brent Wolf wrote:

My wifes 1992 PT Cruisers A/C has
quit blowing cold air.  Symptoms are: compressor cycles relatively often,
the tubing/hoses are ice cold, however, the air blowing into the car is
warm.
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Brent, The HVAC system on the PT (as well as most newer vehicles) is of
the "air blend" type in which the temperature of the system's output is
determined by mixing hot air (from the heater core in "heat" mode and
from the outside in "AC" mode or the vehicle cabin in "max AC") with cold
air ( from the outside in "heat" or from the AC evaporator in "AC"). 
This mixing is regulated by a "blend door" in the HVAC ductwork.  This
blend door is vacuum controlled.  If there is insufficient (or no) vacuum
present at the actuator the door will not move, and the temp will not
change.  The Chrysler minivans are pretty notorious for hacing issues in
this regard. The door that determines where the hot air comes from is
also vacuum controlled and could also be inoperative.   Do a thorough
visual inspection of all of the vacuum lines in the engine compartment,
especially the small diameter hard plastic ones, whick seem to get
brittle and break for no apparrent reason. If these all check out OK, try
to inspect the ones under / behind the dash.   I have had good luck
repairing these lines by slipping a length of the appropriately sized (
inner diameter) rubber vacuum hose over the broken ends.

One other possible cause of the problem is the "cabin air" filter (not
sure if the PT has one, but many newer vehicles do).  Check the owner's
manual to see if you have one and where it is located.  Pull it out and
inspect.  If it is very dirty it could be restricting the air flow to the
HVAC system.  Replace it if needed,
Hope this helps,
Chris

AN5L35578