Auto Tech & Repair

» awellinger - chevy malibu 2002 air conditioning

My car a chevy malibu 2002 has strange acting airconditioning.

My air conditioning has a tendency to turn itself off. I turn it on after starting the car and also generally use the air recycle as well. I also usually set it to max cold.
After a few minutes running (and it does run/work), the recycle air option turns off. Next the airconditioning will turn itself off.

By repeatedly pressing the recycle and the airconditioning buttons it will eventually turn on and stay on for awhile. Then after a few minutes it does it again.

After I go through this a few times, it usually calms down and stays on.

Any ideas what could cause this.

Thanks,
awellinger

-- posted by awellinger

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» Vincent Ciulla - chevy malibu 2002 air conditioning

In response to chevy malibu 2002 air conditioning posted by awellinger:

It is possible the evaporator is icing up and turning the A/C off. Evaporators have a tendency to do that in the Recirc position on humid days. Try running it with the Recirc off and see what happens.

Vince Ciulla

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» mmunn405 - chevy malibu 2002 air conditioning

In response to chevy malibu 2002 air conditioning posted by MBVince1:

I have a 2003 Chevy Malibu with the same symptoms. At first, it was as if the A/C console simply reset itself (e.g. if it was set to recirculate, it would jump back to fresh air). Then after 30,000 miles it would reset itself with the addition of the A/C indicator light coming on and off intermittantly. At 34,000 and still under warranty, I took the car in to the dealership and they said everything with the A/C was working fine and they replaced the A/C console which fixed everything fine and dandy. Several months later, the symptoms started creeping up again with it intermittently resetting itself and then now it's difficult to get the A/C to stay on (currently at 61,000 miles).

In summary, if I try running it with the recirc off, the A/C will intermittently come on and off. Sometimes pressing the recirc button will get the A/C and its light to stay on, but usually within a minute or two it will reset itself back to fresh flow.

-- posted by mmunn405

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