RAM 2012 air cond. question???

Thank you all for the suggestions and responses. So far the air is working good and I will keep a look out for the dye in case of any small leaks. thanks again to all..

Dave H M wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
How is the dealer in the twilight zone? He said the same thing you're advocating.

:h I did not say that auto AC systems traditionally leak. I sold my last ford at the 13 year mark and the AC worked like new.

You said

"I would take doug's advice and move on."

Doug said basically what the dealer said: they may leak down over time. I considered what you said as agreeing with Doug, which was, in essence, agreeing with the dealer. A slight mis-interpretation.

I have had two Jeep Grand Cherokees, a 2012 and now a 2014. The 2012 had a leak from the factory and the AC quit in about 3 months. The over the next 6 months the dealer filled it 4 times with leak dye always stating they couldn't find a leak...finally discovered the dye coning out of the heater/AC box drain. Evaporator leaking, big job to replace but under warranty. Traded the 2012 in and got a 2014 with the 8 speed trans (much better). After 3 years (warranty expired) the AC started not working so good. Took it in and guess what...the evaporator was leaking! Service writer said this is very rare...then I reminded him the exact same thing happened on the 2012. With a very surprised look he said he was going to call the factory for help. The factory had me pay $250 and they paid the rest. Hopefully it will last until I trade it in...

KD4UPL wrote:
My '05 Chevy, which I bought new, is now 13 years old with over 230,000 miles on it. I use the AC extensively and it will still freeze you out of the cab. It's never been worked on, recharged, or anything.
My '96 Dodge truck that I owned for 11 years needed a recharge every year. I had 3 different shops tell me they couldn't find the leak. I finally figured out it was less expensive to get it recharged every year than to keep paying shops to look for a leak they couldn't find.

Our 2012 RAM AC is the blowing super cold as well. I do use it year round. In the winter, I run it for the defrost and to keep the condensation down. That may be why I do not have problems. Did I just jinx myself?

fj12ryder wrote:
How is the dealer in the twilight zone? He said the same thing you're advocating.

:h I did not say that auto AC systems traditionally leak. I sold my last ford at the 13 year mark and the AC worked like new.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
YES...true statement. A/C Compressor does run when defrost is used.
Provided one uses defrost.
It doesn't get cold enough for me to have to use defrost but a few times during winter....hence the reason I run A/C occasionally

Good point. Coming from the midwest we forget that not everyone has need of the defrost.

fj12ryder wrote:

dougrainer wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
A/C compressors do not get used during winter so seals/o-rings dry up a little git and will leak over time

Your system was LOW not empty so minor minor leak

See how long it goes before (IF) it looses coolant again.


Personally I run my A/C every once in a while during winter just to circulate the coolant....not sure if it helps BUT it sure HASN'T hurt.




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You need to test your Auto/Truck. Starting over 35 years ago the Auto makers used to have the Compressor come on when in defrost mode. to do 2 things
Help stop moist air from blowing on the inside of the windshield and also to allow the AC Compressor to run during those winter months to prevent such drying out problems. Maybe they have stopped doing that now. Doug

True, any car/truck I'm aware of runs the AC compressor during the defrost setting.

YES...true statement. A/C Compressor does run when defrost is used.
Provided one uses defrost.
It doesn't get cold enough for me to have to use defrost but a few times during winter....hence the reason I run A/C occasionally

My '05 Chevy, which I bought new, is now 13 years old with over 230,000 miles on it. I use the AC extensively and it will still freeze you out of the cab. It's never been worked on, recharged, or anything.
My '96 Dodge truck that I owned for 11 years needed a recharge every year. I had 3 different shops tell me they couldn't find the leak. I finally figured out it was less expensive to get it recharged every year than to keep paying shops to look for a leak they couldn't find.

RV AC is all metal lines soldered, no flexing parts or seals or readlily/easily replaceable parts that hold refrigerant.

Automobile AC, every single part that holds refrigerant is replaceable and therefore must have a connection joint with an oring. It also has flexible hoses from compressor attached to the engine that move with the engine, those hoses mount to the vehicle body/engine compartment under the hood that is stationary. Hoses fail or leak all the time. Its usually that or compressor seal as the most common items. Just replaced a main manifold hose set on my 99 Tahoe last month, had a hole in it from flex/age/pressure.

Seems to me it's more a question of semantics. It's not a perfectly sealed system in that there are points where it can leak, but it's also not a system open to the atmosphere. It's an imperfectly sealed system. But many are sealed well enough to last many many years.