yes i went out today to use my a.c. it came on as it did last summer with very cold air. all of a sudden it went dead. Now last year i never had a problem but when i turned off the car and let it sit for a minute and then started it again,it would run very cold for 2 minutes than went dead again, and would repeatedly do this. the only thing i did between last summer and this spring was i replaced the water pump and lucklily i caught it right when the gauge shot to the top, but i am wondering if the heat ruined an a.c. component when the pump went out. i also replaced the thermostat and heater valve, could the auto parts store have gave me the wrong valve or are they universial. if anybody can help me i would appreciate it.

It sounds to me like you have a problem with the Ac fan out in front of the rad. This fan comes on with the AC and moves air throught the condenser even when the car is not moving. This fan should come on as soon as the AC is switched on in the summer. It has a tendanvcy to seize as it is out front where all kinds of things can get at it. Also because it only comes on when the Ac is on there could be months of inactivity also promotive failure. Does the AC work better when the car is moving on the highway? If it does there s something wrong with the fan. At speed there is enough air moving through the condenser that the fan is not needed.

See if having a warm engine affects the vent temp with A/C on - i.e. maybe the heater control valve is not fully closing hence allowing collant into the heater core and heating the previously cooled air.

Other culprits to look at are the solder joint at the a/c switch in the dash.
Also maybe the system is freezing due to a damaged orifice valve (last resort - would require an a/c tech and a re-charge).


Greg