Has anyone had thier A/C repaired under the TSB calling out changing the accumulator? Did it get the A/C working a-okay?

Thanks!
Jim

I am waiting for the parts to come in. should be a week or two. Figures- Aug in AZ can be pretty hot- LOL.

I had mine done about a week ago. It worked so-so when I bought it new (about a month ago) and it just quit cooling. They replaced the accumulator and hose per TSB and now it cools great.





Jeff

still waiting for the "hose"..... Glad to hear it seems to fix it. My new tinted (13%} windows seemed to help too---but I like it real cold. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif

My truck is in the shop now for repairs. I called the service people last week and talked to them about the TSB. They told me they would order the parts and to bring it in on Tuesday. I took it in late Monday and left it. I called today (Wednesday) to check on it and found out there is a problem with parts. The hose is apparently not even available from GM. It is supposed to arrive tomorrow from some other source. I'll let you know the results when I get my truck back, probably Friday.

That’s pretty funny- the exact same thing happened to me. But I did not laugh!!! They asked me to bring my truck in and then called me only to figure out they don't have the hose. I was pissed and didn't have the time to go back and get it today. I guess it will just have to stay there until I find time to pick it back up. Like I have nothing better to do- this dealer is a good hour drive each way. Maybe I should bitch to get a free lof or something.


They told me I just have to wait for the hose- they "tried" another source but no luck- YOU PROB GOT MY DAMM HOSE!!!!! LOL http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

I had mine done about a week ago. It worked so-so when I bought it new (about a month ago) and it just quit cooling. They replaced the accumulator and hose per TSB and now it cools great.

Thanks. Took mine into the dealer today and they got the parts on order. I look forward to having an A/C that works.

Jim

Are they going to install a larger condensor as part of the "fix"?

i'm getting the same thing done to my truck too all it is is a ac accumilator, hose, bracket and a heat shield for the accumilator that wasn't there before however the hose is on major backorder and all dealers in the country that have them are spoken for so i've been told to expect the part in sept-octhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif just my luck

I have ordered the parts for my truck as well.. I may put a post up on how the install goes.

I'm picking up my truck from the dealer Friday morning. I'll traveling 400 miles south to Laredo, TX on Sunday and returning late Monday. The A/C will be tested for sure. I'll report the results.

Anyone know what the TSB number is, and does it SPECIFICALLY apply to 2004 models?

On edit: Found TSB and dealer is ordering parts today. They were unaware of new TSB (7/27/04) and were glad to get a copy as it's been real hot this summer in Seattle and they have had lots of AC complaints.Edited by: smshiver

Anyone know what the TSB number is, and does it SPECIFICALLY apply to 2004 models?

02-01-38-007c. yes. It is in the TSB section

Jim

Is this fix just for new trucks? My dad, brother, and I all have 2001's and the A/C works like sh*t in all of them. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif


Luckily mine seems to work the best, but it's by no means great.

A lot of people seem to have trouble with A/C on Diesels (I know some have one that work good too) so GM is dropping the ball here with something. I think the accumulator thing is a bandaid fix and that there are more serious design issues here. My newest truck is only a 2000 K3500 gasser and the A/C has always worked great in it in any weather and I never use recirculation either.

A lot of people seem to have trouble with A/C on Diesels (I know some have one that work good too) so GM is dropping the ball here with something. I think the accumulator thing is a bandaid fix and that there are more serious design issues here. My newest truck is only a 2000 K3500 gasser and the A/C has always worked great in it in any weather and I never use recirculation either.


I think you are on to something! Diesels and airconditioning must be imcompatible. Must have something to do with all of that torque they make when compared to ther gasser counterpart.

A lot of people seem to have trouble with A/C on Diesels (I know some have one that work good too) so GM is dropping the ball here with something. I think the accumulator thing is a bandaid fix and that there are more serious design issues here. My newest truck is only a 2000 K3500 gasser and the A/C has always worked great in it in any weather and I never use recirculation either.


I think you are on to something! Diesels and airconditioning must be imcompatible. Must have something to do with all of that torque they make when compared to ther gasser counterpart.

My theory is that with all of the hardware in front of radiator (tranny coolers, Intercooler, condensor and such) that there is not enough airflow through core to cool freon enough to give good cooling in hot weather. If this is true, GM needs to increase air flow through core with more aggreesive fan clutching (which I think they try to avoid to keep noise down) and/or a bigger condesor to better cool freon. Gasser do not have some of this extra hardware in cooling path so they may get better airflow to begin with and if intercooler is in path before condensor the A/C will be even further hindered in performace when engine is pulling. Some very aggressive fan cooling would help this if this is the problem.

I have the parts on order like so many others. The service manager didn't say what was on backorder, but must be the hose. Thanks

condensor is second in line only behind the trans cooler, which dont cover even half of it, air flow isnt an issue...

condensor is second in line only behind the trans cooler, which dont cover even half of it, air flow isnt an issue...

Actually it is because there is a intercooler and a thick radiator core behind it hindering air flow a lot. Place a consendsor in front of a "wall" and it will not get good airflow. I believe it is very much a airflow issue. Heck look under the hood of a Dmax and there is not much room for air flow there either without a fan to force it thru.

are they covering it over the 36k warranty or how much is it.....

I agree its an airflow issue. When its 100+ here and you come to a stoplight...nothing but hot air. Get moving again and its some cooler air. I dont think the fan (from a stop) can pull enough air through all those cores.

I agree its an airflow issue. When its 100+ here and you come to a stoplight...nothing but hot air. Get moving again and its some cooler air. I dont think the fan (from a stop) can pull enough air through all those cores.

I think it could if it was clutched and "fanned" correctly but I think they are trying to keep fan noise down and they need to bite the bullet here. I have a 2000 gasser K3500 (and yes it does not have the cores to draw air through) and it stay cold in any weather even when it is well over 90 in traffic. Engine temps stay stable too so it is possible. It has a 10 bladed fan on it and a agressive clutch for it but it is not very loud and you can hear it come in and out as needed often on hot days. Temp gauge is very stable too

That fan could be as loud as a jetliner for all I care....get me some cool air! Dont the diesels run hotter than the gassers in general? This is my second diesel with terrible AC and if I continue to live here it may be my last.

I agree its an airflow issue. When its 100+ here and you come to a stoplight...nothing but hot air. Get moving again and its some cooler air. I dont think the fan (from a stop) can pull enough air through all those cores.

I think it could if it was clutched and "fanned" correctly but I think they are trying to keep fan noise down and they need to bite the bullet here. I have a 2000 gasser K3500 (and yes it does not have the cores to draw air through) and it stay cold in any weather even when it is well over 90 in traffic. Engine temps stay stable too so it is possible. It has a 10 bladed fan on it and a agressive clutch for it but it is not very loud and you can hear it come in and out as needed often on hot days. Temp gauge is very stable too

I would imagine if it was as simple as getting more air through then it would work much bettern tooling down the parkway than it does. I would imagine if it was simply a different fan then the General would be changing the fans instead of changing parts on the AC it self. I certainly would be a lot cheaper. Why would the General take a more expensive approach to solving the problem?

Jim

I agree its an airflow issue. When its 100+ here and you come to a stoplight...nothing but hot air. Get moving again and its some cooler air. I dont think the fan (from a stop) can pull enough air through all those cores.

I think it could if it was clutched and "fanned" correctly but I think they are trying to keep fan noise down and they need to bite the bullet here. I have a 2000 gasser K3500 (and yes it does not have the cores to draw air through) and it stay cold in any weather even when it is well over 90 in traffic. Engine temps stay stable too so it is possible. It has a 10 bladed fan on it and a agressive clutch for it but it is not very loud and you can hear it come in and out as needed often on hot days. Temp gauge is very stable too

I would imagine if it was as simple as getting more air through then it would work much bettern tooling down the parkway than it does. I would imagine if it was simply a different fan then the General would be changing the fans instead of changing parts on the AC it self. I certainly would be a lot cheaper. Why would the General take a more expensive approach to solving the problem?

Jim

Noise would be my guess, they are trying to keep it quite so owners will not complain about fan noise. Myself, I would not mind it at all if it made everything work correctly but I am not everyone.

Can we find the folks that would complain about noise and beat them with our sweaty clothes? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

is this fix goin to cost us?

How much drop in air temp be from outside. 20 to 30 degree drop or more.

I put in a new orifice specifically for the diesels and drained the oil out of the accumilator while I had it apart last weekend. It cools alot better now. The orifice has a smaller hole in it allowing for a greater pressure drop. The old pressures where 250/50 and now it is 280/40. I don't think it cools as good as my Denali but now I can live with it. Before the compressor would cycle about every 7 seconds at highway speeds never allowing it to cool down.

Picked up my truck from the dealer Friday morning. Drove 400 miles south to Laredo Sunday. A/C works great following the TSB work. Cools even at idle speed. Coming back home yesterday had a scare. After filling with diesel and engine off, noticed fluid dripping under the truck. Found it was condensate from the A/C. I had never seen it drain like that before. I'm very happy with my working A/C.

Picked up my truck from the dealer Friday morning. Drove 400 miles south to Laredo Sunday. A/C works great following the TSB work. Cools even at idle speed. Coming back home yesterday had a scare. After filling with diesel and engine off, noticed fluid dripping under the truck. Found it was condensate from the A/C. I had never seen it drain like that before. I'm very happy with my working A/C.

Thanks! great news! I look forward to getting mind fixed

Jim

I picked up my pickup this afternoon, they replaced the accumulator, the low pressure hose that now has a heat shield on it that goes above the turbo, a insulation blanket over the accumulator. and a new bracket to hold the accumulator. It was only in the 70's here today so not sure if it is going to help or not. If we get some warmer weather I will post if it helped. May have to wait until next summer.

In regards to a/c cooling issues, I believe..


The #1 priority is to keep the engine operating properly, diesels run best hot & at a stable temperature. This requires larger cooling systems (to more effiecently disperse heat evenly) which would be hogging/impedeing/restricting air flow. This of course would naturally come at the expense of an a/c system in a passenger vehicle due largely to the limitations on space & available install locations. This has been a condition that has existed in all diesel passenger vehicles I have had experience with (gasoline counterparts always provide superior a/c for numerous reasons, ie-engine cooling variations not as critical, higher rpm rate, etc..) If when moving at speed your a/c works fine, but is terrible at idle (& both high & low pressures are fine), then air flow over the condensor is the most likely the culpret.


Perhaps you could try attaching an electric fan to the condensor for additional flow, just make sure your engine doesn't run 'cold' as a result.


Best of luck with it....Edited by: Loki_nine

Perhaps you could try attaching an electric fan to the condensor for additional flow, just make sure your engine doesn't run 'cold' as a result.


Best of luck with it....

Perhaps you could just go to the dealer and have them install the parts called out in the TSB. Once you do that the A/C works just fine. Had mine done, 95 out and the A/C runs on auto with the temp at 68, no recirc and the fan speed is about "3" or so. Running down the highway 70 seems to do the job just fine.

Jim

Just had mine fixed two days ago. Been in the 80's here, and for the first time since 3-17 when I got the truck, the A/C is working marfelous (sp?) http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Hug.gif

Sorry about that jholly, perhaps I should have been a little more concise. I did not mean to imply that anyone should begin re-designing the vehicle BEFORE any inherent problems are addressed (ie-TSB's). However, the problem of insufficient airflow over the a/c condensor is a fairly common one, affecting most vehicle manufacterers & encompassing many different models, & the most common (add-on) solution I have seen (by vehicle makers included) is the placement of an electrical fan ahead of the condensor to assist airflow. Since I did not see this possible solution offered elsewhere in this post, I thought I would add it.


Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big%20Smile.gifEdited by: Loki_nine

Well here's my .02. I have a gasser and the A/C sucks also...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif

85 here today, and for the first time I could actually feel cold air coming from the A/C outlets. Before it was cool air coming out. I am thinking maybe the A/C problem is fixed. I drove the pickup around town, were before I didn't have much cooling going on.

I just thought I would let everyone know. The items they did on the TBS has really made am improvement to my AC. It works better than it ever has. 85 outside and I actually had to lower the setting on the Automatic Climate control. Before if it was 85 or above I had to have it set at 60 to just keep it kind of cool. I guess it was worth the wait. And Loki_nine the reason most of us were complaining was we all knew there was a problem, and have been waiting for over a year for GM to come out with the fix for it!!!! I am sure most of knew with all the stuff on modern vehicles it was hard to get the AC to work real well!!! GM had already admitted there was a problem, and we wanted it fixed. Some of the unfortunate people that have over 36,000 miles will have to pay to have theirs fixed!!!! Enough Said!!!! Edited by: BIGMoe

mines going back in the shop on wednesday..had freon charge first...then new accumulator etc....a few weeks ago....now its warmer than before...will see what they do next....bchttp://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

Bob, make sure they have installed the right parts as per TBS #02-01-38-007C Some of the dealers were trying a different Accumulator, but not the new one that they came out for this TSB. And the hose with the heat shield that goes over the Turbo.

mines going in 8am on monday for this too, hope dealer gets it righthttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

big moe...appreciate the input...will be doublechecking tsb numbers...a local dealer got to adjusting my refrigerant today ..got the temps down ten degrees cooler !! hopefully will be better..will test this weeknd..going upcoast of maine.. thanx again for your helpfulness and concer, bob


hopefully travel and see your state someday..i heard wyomings the best ! http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif


i am quite sure they did the proper tsb upgrade, i got the new hose, bracket and insulation over turbo etc..Edited by: bob camire