[Guest]

Took the 05 in today. The A/C compressor shuts down every 15 seconds for about 10 seconds. Warm air blows in.... Happens at idle, on cruise control...all the time. After attaching a computer to the car it showed no problem. Then I suggested we go for a ride with the computer attached to see if we get any kind of readings. The mechanic felt the problem right away even though the computer showed nothing wrong. Then the service manager went with me and he felt it to. After discussing it with the mechanics about posssible sensor changes I suggested they get another SSR and lets take it for a spin. Guess what...it did the same thing. My 05 vette doesn't do it, even when accelerating. They are going to contact GM to see if they have had other complaints and if there is a fix. BOTTOM LINE...THE A/C BLOWS COLD 50% OF THE TIME. I have a black car in South Florida...Maybe I should paint it white. Anyone have any ideas.

 

[JRYS]

I do not have that problem on my Yellow 2005 SSR. My AC works just fine.

 

[Peaches]

A/C Pressure Switch

I've had several vehicles from various manufacturers that have A/C that operates this way. If this is like what I'm used to, the cycling is caused by a pressure switch with normally closed contacts (usually not adjustable) that is protecting against overpressurization of the system. If you replace it with one that works correctly, your system will probably stay on longer and off shorter, resulting in a cooler interior with less noticeable hot air from the vents. On an old Dodge Caravan I used to own, I kept having to replace the switch so often that I kept an extra in the glove box. I haven't looked closely at my '03 SSR, but I'll bet this is the way it operates.

For you guys in the know, why is this such a common design? It seems inefficient at best, and potentially expensive if the switch should fail to open at the prescribed pressure. :mad

 

[Guest]

I had the same problem w/my 04 Avalanche, that I traded in on my SSR. Have not had it with the SSR.

 

[n29we]

So far so good with my 05, no AC problems

 

[comley]

ac problems

On the way home from my ex wife's house yesterday the a/c was on when I started the truck and left her house. After a few miles I noticed the compressor wasn't kicking in and the air was blowing hot. I recycled the a/c switches and it started working again. :confused

 

[wildcat66]

My 96 Tahoe had a low pressure switch fail and it would work just the way you describe for a while then no cold air at all. We thought we had a leak and put in more Freon but that didn't work. One dealer tried to get me to buy a compressor, compressors either work or don't!!!! A 600$ fix vs. a 60$ fix.


So far my a/c works great in Susie but one thing I have mentioned before is when I shut off the air, cold air still blows out of the vents until I turn off the engine and start up again. :confused :confused

 

[Fiveoh]

I just got back from the GM National car show at Carlisle,PA and the entire way home we had to go top up a/c full blast. It was 95 degrees and better than 90% humidity, a/c was ice cold the whole way home apprx. 200 miles.
Many years ago I had Ranger and when I would press on the gas more than 3/4 of the way the a/c would do what yours is doing. The service dept. found the vacum hoses hooked up improperly. Hope this helps..

 

[mgcrebkr]

problems with my 03 ssr

Experienced loss of power and A/C not working on I-95. Called the dealer and brought my car in. They said I was the 2nd SSR of the day with the same problem. They replaced a chip and everything was fine for about one week and the same thing happened again and the transmission started clunking? complete loss of power and both times the engine light came on? Any one else with a similar problem or do I have a lemon?

 

[beer100]

Sometimes it's just a matter of cycling the fan off and on. Don't know why that works but on some rare occasions I've gotten nothing but hot air till I did that. :thumbs

 

[WOW_FCTR]

Sometimes it's just a matter of cycling the fan off and on. Don't know why that works but on some rare occasions I've gotten nothing but hot air till I did that. :thumbs

Now that you posted that...I did have a problem with hot air blowing last summer and turning off the A/C and turning back on fixed the problem....BUT I haven't had that problem this year (I wonder if I had that fixed, but can't remember).

And I had a fuse that blew which caused the transmission to only be in first and second (would not get to 3rd or Drive).....that was weird.

 

[Guest]

05 Air conditioning problems

My 05 and I had the same experience you describe. Car's interior is warm, the system cycles on and off every 15 seconds, the vent air is 47 degrees when it is ON and I am uncomfortable in the car. Everything checks out with the codes and the readings, except my comfort. I took the original post to the dealer and now he is taking my report seriously. Anybody else with a 12/04 manufacture date having or NOT having problems?

 

[TerryH]

My 05 and I had the same experience you describe. Car's interior is warm, the system cycles on and off every 15 seconds, the vent air is 47 degrees when it is ON and I am uncomfortable in the car. Everything checks out with the codes and the readings, except my comfort. I took the original post to the dealer and now he is taking my report seriously. Anybody else with a 12/04 manufacture date having or NOT having problems?

My '05 has the same exact problem as the first post, and this has been discussed in previous posts. Even with the small interior it's impossible to get the cab cool when it's above 85. Never had this problem in any Chevy and won't accept that this is normal. Taking it to the dealer this week, I'll report the results.
Other then this, I' love this ride!

 

[SSR71Blackbird]

Both lights must be lit

Another SSR owner asked me why his A/C wasn't working.

I checked and saw that he had not pressed in BOTH buttons of the lights below the temp guage and the fan guage. A/C won't work without both illuminated.

Just a simple reminder.

Bob G.

 

[perinati]

Pissed

Me To
2005 air go's on and off. 100 degrees today 1st time I noticed it. When it's on boy it could freeze you out in 5 minutes. Problem it cycles every 30 or so seconds. Still get sweat on forehead. Every other car I've ever had I controlled the temp. Had A/C all the way up fan on full all the time in it. This is stupid for a $40,000+ truck. We all say we love are trucks which I'm sure we all do. But some time I think they (GM) thinks we love them to much to complain. This is :bs I'm sure they know whats up with it. Maybe to try to keep the engin from hitting 250 degrees. Which is another joke for an 2005 car. But I'll drive it till it drops 5 year warrenty.


Paul Perinati

 

[comley]

a/c computer controlled.

It is my opinion that it was a mistake to rely so heavily on the computer in the vehicle to have such complete control of our vehicles. Computers are notoriously undependable and full of glitches, quirks, etc. Not only has the computer ruined every other aspect of man's life on earth but now you can't even buy a dependable automobile anymore. :cuss :cuss :mad

 

[JimGnitecki]

comley: Believe it or not, we gained a lot more than we lost with this transition to computer control of our vehicles.

Yeah, the screwups, which by the way are te fault of the PROGRAMMERS (humans) not the computer, are annoying. But for a simple SINGLE example, one of many, we get incredible power, clean emissions, and great fuel mileage BECAUSE the computer can do millions of checks and adjustments per second, and do them CONSISTENTLY every time.

Also, without computers, you would not have this website to both (a) get help and (b) complain when you need to complain!

Jim G

 

[Guest]

SSR Air conditioning?!

Hello Fanatix,
Thanks for the ongoing feedback regarding the air conditioning. I need to have as many reports as possible because I know folks in the industry who are in a position to encourage changes, updates and recalls. I am personally walking copies of the reports to my dealer as well as to company folks. Thanks for the support. Lets all keep and GET our cool.
Dave

 

[Guest]

Air conditioning

Hello Fanatix,

I just spoke with a GM engineer who told me the following.

The PCM or power control module is in charge of the compressor.
The BCM or body control module is in charge of temperature.
One component of the BCM is something like a thermistor which regulates the on and off of the compressor according to the thermistor's reading of the temperature in the cabin. It is possible that the thermistor is located too close to the cold air output, which confuses the sensor into thinking that the car is cold because the sensor is cold. Perhaps the fix is to relocate the sensor, or to rotate it away from the cold ducting. Apparently the compressor cycles on and off because it reallly believes that is is cold enough, which would be either 60 or 65 degrees typically. Lets fit that thermister with a parka, because I am not cold enough. Keep the reports coming. We are going to get this resolved. This is my second new car in my lifetime. I am accustomed to driving around uncomfortably in vintage cars without air. NOT ANYMORE.
Dave

 

[beer100]

Hello Fanatix,

I just spoke with a GM engineer who told me the following.

The PCM or power control module is in charge of the compressor.
The BCM or body control module is in charge of temperature.
One component of the BCM is something like a thermistor which regulates the on and off of the compressor according to the thermistor's reading of the temperature in the cabin. It is possible that the thermistor is located too close to the cold air output, which confuses the sensor into thinking that the car is cold because the sensor is cold. Perhaps the fix is to relocate the sensor, or to rotate it away from the cold ducting. Apparently the compressor cycles on and off because it reallly believes that is is cold enough, which would be either 60 or 65 degrees typically. Lets fit that thermister with a parka, because I am not cold enough. Keep the reports coming. We are going to get this resolved. This is my second new car in my lifetime. I am accustomed to driving around uncomfortably in vintage cars without air. NOT ANYMORE.
Dave

This is almost right. The sensor is not reading the temperature of the cabin. It is inserted in the evaporator core. (this is the part that air passes thru to make it cold)

Service manual page 1-103
"Evaporator Temperature Sensor
The evaporator temperature sensor will not allow an A/C request to the powertrain control module at temperatures less than 32 deg F (0 deg C)."


This would be to keep the core from freezing up with ice. Absolutly necessary because if it freezes over you can make ice tea but not cold air.