my ac in my 2.8 is cold but not that cold. it was deffinatley alot colder last summer...could there be a specific reason for this and a quick fix?

 

check your freon level. there's tons of reasons why the ac isn't as cold. i got the same problem here but the weather around here can't make up it's mind so i don't need ac all the time lol

 

1. See if the secondary fan comes on when the AC is switched on.....thats the electric one that cools the radiator and AC condenser up front. If it doesn't run, there are fuses, relays and loose connections you can check. AC will not cool well at less than freeway speeds if this fan doesn't run.

2. OBD using the Climate control head unit here > http://www.audiworld.com/tech/int5.shtml
Retrieve any trouble codes.

3. Start the car, turn on the AC. Feel the metal evap pipes under the hood on the passenger side by the battery. One should get colder than the other. Drive the car for 1-3 minutes, leave running and check again. If there is frost on either pipe or heavy condensation, you may only need some freon.

Ideally the evaporator outlet pipe should get close to but not below 0 deg C. In traffic or on a really hot 90++ or humid day this might go up 5-9 deg C and still be acceptable.

 

thanks, i will check it out in the morning, i remember seeing one of the tubes by the battery driping wet after a short trip to pepboys which resulted in me popin the hood..hah..but yeah the electric fan runs well, so if it is the freon how do i check the levels and get some added to it?

 

Hey, no prob.

A pressure gauge is the best way to check freon levels. Some of the DIY recharge kits come with a gauge.

AC off there will be about 70-90 psi on the system. With the AC on and ambient at around 80F the low side should read somewhere near 50psi. The target pressure varies by 20% or more depending on ambient temperature. Lower than 25psi with the AC on is too low and you will most likely need some refrigerant.