Thread: BEWARE: Dumb question inside

So I'm well aware that this is probably a really stupid question but attached to this post is the HVAC control panel on my 99 GTP.

My question is how do I turn on my A/C without using the Auto button? I'm used to cars that actually say A/C so I'm befuddled and I'm trying to determine if my AC even works LOL

Originally Posted by QUICKSILVER462

If the "ECON" button light is not illuminated, then the a/c is "ON", or press the "AUTO" button and set the temp. to 60 degrees and control the amount of air with the fan speed, thats the way I do it. I live in Florida so the a/c is almost always on full blast for me, I never use a fan setting less than 3 anyways, I like the cold air blowing on me when driving, the actual temp. inside the car is irrelevant.

Interesting. I would have never guessed this about the ECON button. Not real intuitive to my little pea brain I guess LOL That confirms that my AC needs charged then. I can never get cold air to come through my vents regardless of what I do. That's where the assumption was made that I was doing something wrong. Which I kinda was, but still..... LOL


Thanks for the response, quicksilver.

Originally Posted by QUICKSILVER462

Before you do anything to your a/c, put some gauges on the system first. Verify the compressor is engaged when the a/c is selected, radiator fans should be "on", and your ambient air temperature is reading correct and not to cold out for the a/c to turn on, I think if the ambient air temp is in the 40's, the a/c will not actuate at all.

Will do. When I tried to legitimately test the AC (I just got this car back in december) it was almost 70* outside so I don't think the lack of temps was my issue at the time but I'll definitely do some more investigating before doing anything else. Very well could be a compressor issue for sure. Thanks again for the tips.

Does it blow a little colder on the passenger far side vent than the driver? That's a good clue that it needs topped off. I have to top mine off every couple years.

Defrost works? Like you get cold air from defrost? Yeah ac will always switch on with defrost. Do you hear the compressor click on and see rpm's drop when it does?

Originally Posted by bandook

Defrost works? Like you get cold air from defrost? Yeah ac will always switch on with defrost. Do you hear the compressor click on and see rpm's drop when it does?

Defrost does work and I use it almost daily during the winter in the mornings. With that said, I've not tried to push cold air through it because who thinks to do that when they're freezing cold

But you bring up a good point about the RPMs dropping and all that. Now that you say that, I've not let the car idle and specifically listened for the compressor to kick on or for RPMs to drop. I've just seen the window cleared up and been happy and went back to thinking about rainbows and puppy dogs. So I need to do that and can check to see if the compressor is working. Thanks for the idea. For whatever reason that hadn't made it's way through my thick skull yet LOL

You said it was 70° when you tested the ac, that's why I asked about the cold air.

Yeah, I know. It was my attempt at humor. On the break from winter we had where it was 70 one day I did not use the defrost that day because it was not needed. That's when I tried the AC and got nothing but warm air. The rest of the days it's usually 40* or lower.

I will continue to look to see if the compressor is coming on or not and go from there.