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Asked: May 03, 2008 - 12:29 PM

Status: Closed

My 1998 Pontiac Bonneville has the automatic A/C. It works fine for 40 to 60 minutes, then stops. What's wrong?

My 1998 Pontiac Bonneville SLE has the automatic A/C. The air conditioning works fine for the first 40 to 60 minutes, then stops blowing cold air. The fan and heater automatics work fine and the A/C works real well again after the car is not running for a period of time. Is it a vacuum problem?

In Maintenance & Repair > Heating / Cooling > Air Conditioner
In Makes & Models > Pontiac > Bonneville
1 answer - 572 days ago

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mr_shiftright

Date: May 03, 2008
Time: 04:18 PM

It would be very good to observe whether the AC compressor clutch disengages when the AC stops blowing cold. In other words, has the AC compressor cut off, or is it really still pumping cold air but some blending door under the dash just isn't letting it into the car. You can see where I'm going with this---is the loss of AC at the source (the compressor) or in the delivery (the flaps under the dash) or in the electronics (your control module for heat/ac)?

Watching the AC compressor and how it behaves is a good first step. If you aren't sure what to look for, open the hood, have someone start the car and then have them engage the AC while you are looking at the pulley on the compressor. Then have then disengage the AC. This will teach you how the clutch on the AC compressor works.

Answers

avatar

mr_shiftright

Date: May 03, 2008
Time: 04:18 PM

It would be very good to observe whether the AC compressor clutch disengages when the AC stops blowing cold. In other words, has the AC compressor cut off, or is it really still pumping cold air but some blending door under the dash just isn't letting it into the car. You can see where I'm going with this---is the loss of AC at the source (the compressor) or in the delivery (the flaps under the dash) or in the electronics (your control module for heat/ac)?

Watching the AC compressor and how it behaves is a good first step. If you aren't sure what to look for, open the hood, have someone start the car and then have them engage the AC while you are looking at the pulley on the compressor. Then have then disengage the AC. This will teach you how the clutch on the AC compressor works.

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