Weird AC problem

[bigred90gt]

Automotive AC systems are not that sensitive/critical that an ounce will cause them to shut down. The system has to operate in very wide range of conditions, that kind of sensitivity just wouldn't work.
With the new 1234YF refrigerant not many repair shops are willing to spend the money for the equipment to service the systems. Once there is more vehicles using this refrigerant there will be places other that the dealers to get the AC systems serviced.

When did that refrigerant become the standard? My truck is a 2017.

 

[crash68]

When did that refrigerant become the standard? My truck is a 2017.

I think it was 2014 for the 1500s and 2015 for the HD trucks

 

[indept]

When did that refrigerant become the standard? My truck is a 2017.

As soon as they could so they can make more money, even the name says it, 1234YF. The YF stands for "You're F**ked".

 

[MRFREEZE57]

With these new vehicles and refrigerant, you have to always go back to the dealership to get serviced ! A/C systems can be off by an ounce and they will shut down ! Only precise equipment can detect this !!!

they would not be that sensitive, even a system less than 1lb would not be adversely affected by 1 ounce plus or minus.

 

[MRFREEZE57]

As soon as they could so they can make more money, even the name says it, 1234YF. The YF stands for "You're F**ked".

I would not be afraid to use 134A in the system, the pressure/ temperature range is very close in that evaporating range, example at a 40 deg evap, 1234yf =38.4psi, 134A=35psi, main thing to check if any liquid flood back to compressor, not sure if these systems have a TXV or just an orifice but for the price of this 1234yf if I needed to do a recharge would not be afraid to use 134A.
retired 38 years as a commercial refrigerant tech had never heard of 1234YF until buying the ram truck, but there are so many flavors out there now are hard to keep track of.

 

[indept]

It's getting common. My wifes 2019 Rav4 uses it too.

 

[crash68]

Automotive companies are being forced to reduce emissions and global warming potential of vehicles. 1234YF has a significantly lower GWP than 134a, that's the reason for the change. 134a GWP is 1430 where as 1234YF is less than 1

 

[indept]

All new vehicles have to use it by 2021. Look at the bright side, what could be better than getting in a front end collision and the 2nd thing to get hit is your AC condenser full of a flammable substance.

 

[indept]

In fact you can use propane as a refrigerant but they wisely decided to use it to grill burgers instead......

 

[crash68]

In fact you can use propane as a refrigerant but they wisely decided to use it to grill burgers instead

Any gas that can be condensed into a liquid technically can be used as a refrigerant. There was talk of using CO2 as a refrigerant for vehicles.

 

[indept]

Any gas that can be condensed into a liquid technically can be used as a refrigerant. There was talk of using CO2 as a refrigerant for vehicles.

Do you know why they didn't use it?
It probably has something to do with not being able to patent CO2 and make royalties off of it.

 

[crash68]

Do you know why they didn't use it?
It probably has something to do with not being able to patent CO2 and make royalties off of it

There's some technical difficulties in making making CO2(R-744) reliable in a vehicle application. Everything in the system has to be able to withstand pressures upwards of 2000psi and oil miscibility. It's good in controlled conditions like secondary refrigerant.

 

[chrisbh17]

2000 psi makes leak detection simple!

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[bigred90gt]

I managed to get a video of it cutting in and out. When it cuts out, it stops blowing cold air and the fan speed drops, then it kicks back on to cold and full fan. It unfortunately is inconsistent, and I no longer have warranty, so any repairs most likely won’t be at the dealership.

 

[Tom Cannon]

To the OP, I have the same issue. Yes, part number 68330737aa is outrageously expensive. When my compressor cuts out, I can reach down and wiggle the wire and it will come back on. So, I'm just going to hardwire it with a waterproof butt connector, heatshrink it and bypass the connector.
Also, having the new coolant does not make it easy to find people to work on these trucks, right now.

 

[grumpygirl]

Wow, $175 for a connector. and i thought the clutch assembly was expensive ($210). good thing you have the option to just hard wire it. kind of hard to do with a clutch unless you weld it together. but then the a/c would run all the time.

 

[grumpygirl]

Mine stopped blowing cold today, when it hit 97.
Nothing but warm air. Middle of pulley has a ring of rubbery goop around it, and the very center isn't spinning. I'm thinking compressor clutch maybe?

yep its your clutch. the seal flange thingy melted. they used a rubberized mechanized clutch throw instead of metal. mine went out in 115* out on a desert road. the wife was not happy. its taken two weeks to find just the clutch which i can change in the driveway and not pay $800+ for someone to crack open the A/C system. https://www.ramforum.com/threads/a-c-clutch-melted.166012/