Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

VGuitar85 on Wed October 24, 2012 8:38 PM

Year: 2002
Make: Chrysler
Model: Town and Country
Engine Size: 3.3
Refrigerant Type: R134

Hello everyone,

I am having several different AC problems in my 2002 Chrysler Town and Country, I'm hoping I have one thing causing all of these problems to make for an easy and cost effective fix.

I drive about 800 miles a week for work. For 4 months, the AC would work perfectly for about an hour, than it would start to blow softer. I would keep turning up the blower speed until eventually I could hear the AC working at full blast, but no air would come out. I was also getting drippage onto the passenger floor board from the cabin air filter box.
I read online about a TSB for this make/model that called for a small "L"-shaped hose to go over the metal drain tube coming from the inside of the passenger compartment out to the firewall in the engine bay. This was to resolve any blow-back by angling the drain downwards instead of forward facing. I installe the hose (only $7), snaked a bunch of debris out of the drain tube, cleaned out a bunch of wet sloppy mess from the cabin air filter box, and replaced the cabin air filter. This helped for about 3 weeks.

Next I started getting a white vapor coming from the vents when I first run the AC in the morning. It was blowing perfectly cold, and the vapor would stop a few miles up the road. It would then work fine for an hour, than slowly stop blowing as usual. This happened for about a week. Now I can't get any cold air out at all. I checked the freon level 2 months ago and it was where it was supposed to be. I used one of the cans with the hose and gauge attached from an auto parts store.

The cabin air filter was pretty gross again, but not nearly as wet as before. The rubber drain hose is still attached.

Am I out of refrigerant?
Am I leaking?
Is one of my major components broken?
Is something clogged?


Thanks for any help!

mk378 on Wed October 24, 2012 8:52 PM

Sounds like it was freezing up. After it stops working, pull over and look for ice on the lines under the hood. Ice would mean the evaporator is also covered with ice, which prevents airflow and making cold air. It appears to be a CCOT system which is controlled by a pressure switch on the accumulator. If the switch doesn't open when it should, the system will over-cool and freeze up.

Now that it doesn't work at all, that is a different problem. If you have pressure in the lines but the compressor won't engage it could still be the pressure switch not closing now.

Dougflas on Thu October 25, 2012 12:25 PM

I thought those were TXV systems with a temp sensor in the evap coil. I also agree that it is most likely freezing up. I'll try to remember to check my info to determine the type of metering system to be sure.

Dougflas on Thu October 25, 2012 4:33 PM

Well, I do not have 2001 info but I do have 2001. That uses a TXV and sensors. There is a proceedure to test this bad boy and a scan tool makes it easier.

doctorbee on Thu October 25, 2012 10:29 PM

your blower motor stops working? check your blower motor resistor