How to fix the front air conditioning that blows hot air instead of cool air in 1992 oldsmobile silhouette van

Question

The 1992 oldsmobile silhouette has two air conditioning units but front air conditioning unit blows hot air instead of cool air how would you fix this problem?

Answer 1

you legally can't service your vehicle's ac system your self due to the fact that it's a R-12 system. Due to R-12 being so impact full on the ozone layer they've phased it out. you're going to have to take it to a shop and have them find the problem. be ready to be told you need a new compressor, condenser, evaporator, hoses and receiver dryer, basically the whole system. because when a hole appears in the system it's going to suck moisture and contaminants from the outside world into your ac system which is going to wreak havoc on all the inner workings. the system will need to be converted over to R-134a anyways so alot of this work will solve that problem. it's an expensive and time consuming operation so be ready to pay roughly around or over $1000 parts and labor. air conditioning is a luxury and shops know this, so i'm afraid you're just going to have to decide if it's worth it or not.

Answer 2

You do need to take it to MORE THAN ONE good A/C shop for an ESTIMATE using Freeze-12 refrigerant gas if there has been a leak.

If you are a female, have a male mechanic friend get the estimates. Repair shops really fleece females with unnecessary work and overcharges.

There can literally be many reasons why the A/C system is not functioning.

The vast majority of reasons will be expensive to fix.

There is no need to convert to R134a. If anyone tells you this, take it to a reputable shop that will use Freeze-12 or other R-12 replacement gas. Freeze-12 is a direct replacement for R-12 and is compatible with many different refrigerant oils.

Few shops will actually do what is necessary (system flush to get rid of the oil used in R-12 systems) for a R-12 to R-134a conversion and it is not a good idea anyway. R-134a conversions will run a higher high side pressure unless the condenser is changed (even more needless expense if the R-12 condensor is good).

The best option for anyone reading this is to go to your local community college and purchase the A/C Refrigeration class textbook and learn about A/C systems. They really are simple and simple to troubleshoot and fairly easy to repair if you do not have to pull the heater-A/C housing from under the dash (rare).

After you learn about A/C systems, to do it yourself you will need (all available on Ebay),

Factory repair manual for your car
Refrigerant Leak Tester
Digital Voltmeter or DVM
Propane torch for heating aluminum fittings to get them loose
A/C manifold gauge set
Vacuum pump
Freeze-12 cans and tap valve
(kits available with tapper and oil charge)
Epoxy kit for evap/condensor hole repair
(why buy a new one when the old one can be repaired?)

You can skip the vacuum pump purchase if after you make the repairs and confirm that all leaks are taken care of. Get an ESTIMATE from MORE THAN ONE A/C shop to dehydrate (pulling a vacuum) the system and put one can of YOUR Freeze-12 in to pressurize the system until you get it home to put in the rest.

In a lifetime you can save THOUSANDS of dollars by doing your own refrigerant A/C work.

I have! :-)

Answer 3

Is the back one blowing out cold air? If it is then your problem is in the housing that holds the air conditioner core and the heater core. Your air conditioning core could be plugged or the control door in the housing isn't opening or closing to allow the air conditioning core to be exposed. You could have a problem with your climate controller in your dash or the wiring to the control door. You could have a vacuum leak underneath your dash or underneath the hood that is causing the control door not to open in the core box. I know the compressor underneath the hood compresses freon for both units so if one of them is getting cold and the other isn't you might have a bad expansion valve. I don't remember if that one has 1 or 2 but a reputable mechanic or the dealer would know. Good luck!

Answer 4

OKAY FIRST YOU WILL TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION IF THIS VEHICLE IS WORTH FIXING IT THE RIGHT WAY.

DOES THIS VEHICLE RUN AND LOOK GOOD, ALSO HAS ALL THE MAINTENANCE BEEN DONE ON IT SINCE YOU HAVE OWNED IT AND IF THE ANSWER IS YES, THEN I WILL HELP YOU BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE RIGHT.

YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE REAR IS COOLING WELL FORGET THAT, YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A TRUSTED INDEPENDENT A/C REPAIR SHOP FIRST TO CHECK IF YOU EVEN HAVE FREON IN THE SYSTEM AND ONCE THAT IS DETERMINED THEY CAN PERFORM A COMPLETE A/C SYSTEM LEAK CHECK.

REMEMBER THAT YOU CANNOT DO THIS YOURSELF BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL TO DO SO JUST AS IT IS ILLEGAL TO ADD R134A FREON TO THIS R12 SYSTEM.

ONCE THE PROBLEMS ARE FOUND ON THIS A/C SYSTEM YOU WILL ALSO HAVE TO ADDRESS THE REAR A/C SYSTEM AS WELL.

ON THIS TYPE OF DUAL A/C SYSTEM YOU WILL BE CONVERTING IT TO R134A AND AS I STATED ABOVE YOU WILL BE DOING THE SAME FOR THE REAR.

TYPICAL JOBS OF THE CALIBER CAN RANGE FROM $850.00 TO $2000.00 DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL BUT USE YOUR COMMON SINCE AND NEVER TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY WILL IN EVERY CASE ALWAYS JUST PATCH IT AND YOU WILL BE BACK AND UPSET.

DO NOT CUT CORNERS BY TRYING TO SAVE SOME MONEY BUYING YOUR OWN PARTS AND THE REPAIR SHOP SUPPLIES THE LABOR EVEN THOUGH THE PARTS MAY BE WARRANTED FROM YOUR SOURCE FOR WHAT IS KNOWN AS “LIFETIME” THIS MEANS NOTHING IF YOUR PART FAILS. THE REPAIR SHOP WILL NOT REDO THE COMPLETE SYSTEM FREE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT SUPPLY THE PARTS.

Answer 5

You have a door that is attatched to the switch that changes from hot to cool. The linkage may have fallen off. It's under the dash. Happens all the time.

Answer 6

The cost to fix an air conditioning system is directly related to the reason it isnt working. If you can determin whats wrong with it, then I can estimate how much it will cost to fix it.

Answer 7

Well you cant fix one or the other. the systems are tied in together. The rear uses a little different setup so it may feel like its colder and may actually blow a little colder but sounds to me like there is a leak and it needs to be fixed. Take it to a reputable tech......

Answer 8

well for some reason there is probably no charge so most likely a leak or maybe just a failed pressure switch or compressor. either way bring it to a professional and consider upgradeing it to r-134a in the process

Answer 9

You have a leak most likely. Have it switched to R-134a instead of the R-12.

Answer 10

Take it to your local Pep Boys and have them do an AC performance check, with Dye to check for leaks, if no leaks you can evac and recharge for about a 160 dollars including the check.