Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: a/c works about 80%, chevy silverado, accelerator pedal

Question
To answer your question, the a/c system works intermittently.  I don't know whether it's a compressor problem though.

I understand your explanation regarding uphill travel.  Unfortunately, the a/c system works about 80% of the time around town too.  Any thought how I can get it work 100% of the time?

Thanks for your help!

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Followup To
Question -
I have a 1996, 2 wheel drive, Chevy Silverado with a 305, V-8 engine.  The a/c works well about 80% of the time, but will suddenly stop working about 20% of time.  By the time I get the vehicle to a mechanic the problem has fixed itself and mechanic can't help.  Freon pressure is ok.  Clutch seems to work fine.  

The problem seems to get worse as temperatures climb above 100 degrees (I live in Las Vegas) and when the engine is worked (going up-hill for long distance).  Please help!
Answer -
Vehicles NEVER act up when taken into a repair facility for an intermittent fault. They just seem to know your taking them in.

Let's clear up the gets worse when going UP a steep hill. When the accelerator pedal is accelerated at FULL THROTTLE as in holding the gas pedal to the floor or real close to the floor, The sensor(s) on the vehicle automatically dis-engage the A/C compressor so as to provide more horse power to the vehicle in order to get up the hill. Once the gas pedal is somewhat eased up on the sensor(s) let the compressor re-engage.

When you say it STOPS working intermittently, Are you saying the compressor shuts OFF intermittently ?.


autohelp

Answer
OK, If you want to spend a few dollars on the off chance that and I have seen this many times, especially with GM vehicles is that the compressor intermittently fails to come on.

Call a loacl parts store and ASK for a LOW PRESSURE CYCLING SWITCH and see how much it costs. This switch is usually mounted on the receiver/dryer (accumulator) and has a 2 wire black plastic connector to it.

You can simply unplug the electrical connector and unscrew this switch from the accumulator and install the new switch. No you do NOT have to discharge the refrigerant (freon) as this switch is threaded onto a fitting that has a schrader valve that prevents the refrigerant from being expelled when you unscrew the switch.

This schrader valve works in the same manner and looks almost like the schrader valve on the valve stem of the tire where you put air in the tire.

This switch is well known for intermittent failures and has been this way for many years.


Let me know.


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autohelp