Improve AC performance
08-13-2012, 03:33 PM
#1
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Improve AC performance
Took a trip to CA central Valley and AC was not cuttin it. How often Should you recharge your AC and is there some sort of service or things I can do to get it to blow colder air? I have an 08 Sahara unlimited
08-13-2012, 04:36 PM
#3
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
) if there was some way to improve our AC. I have an '08 Sahara too BTW! 
Good answer.... Sort of.... 
08-13-2012, 05:46 PM
#7
JK Newbie
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Heber City, UT
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have had a number of Chrysler products and none of them had AC worth poot. I currently have a Dodge Dakota and it takes a good while for the AC to put out cold air and even then it isn't much to brag about. On the other hand my Chevy truck and wife's Maxima have ice cold air within seconds.
The one thing I really think Chrysler did right on my Dakota was the rear view mirror. At night it is the best I have ever seen at automatically dimming the headlights of cars behind me. I want that mirror with a different AC unit on my JKUR when I get it.
I also like the 4.7L V8 engine on the Dakota. Wish it came on the Jeeps.
The one thing I really think Chrysler did right on my Dakota was the rear view mirror. At night it is the best I have ever seen at automatically dimming the headlights of cars behind me. I want that mirror with a different AC unit on my JKUR when I get it.
I also like the 4.7L V8 engine on the Dakota. Wish it came on the Jeeps.
Trending Topics
08-13-2012, 06:19 PM
#8
JK Jedi Master
If your A/C is properly serviced, and it's working the best it can, and the HVAC doors are all working properly, there is another thing to consider.
There is a thermistor on the evaporator that prevents it from freezing up by turning off the compressor when the evaporator reaches a certain temperature. Thermistors of the same value actually vary quite a bit. Consequently, there is a wide range of "normal" temperatures at the panel outlets.
Here is a chart showing the expected A/C performance of the JK:
Ambient Temperature........... Air Temperature at Center Panel Outlet
21° C (70° F)............................6 -15° C (42 - 59° F)
27° C (80° F)............................7 -18° C (45 - 64° F)
32° C (90° F)............................9 - 21° C (48 - 69° F)
38° C (100° F)..........................11 - 22° C (52 - 72° F)
43° C (110° F)..........................13 - 24° C (56 - 75° F)
I have seen threads dealing with improving the performance of an otherwise properly functioning A/C system.
The mod involves installing a resistor across the leads of the thermistor.
It fools the system into lowering the output temp from the high end of "normal" to the lower end. There will be no harm done if the temp still falls in the range listed in the chart above.
There is a thermistor on the evaporator that prevents it from freezing up by turning off the compressor when the evaporator reaches a certain temperature. Thermistors of the same value actually vary quite a bit. Consequently, there is a wide range of "normal" temperatures at the panel outlets.
Here is a chart showing the expected A/C performance of the JK:
Ambient Temperature........... Air Temperature at Center Panel Outlet
21° C (70° F)............................6 -15° C (42 - 59° F)
27° C (80° F)............................7 -18° C (45 - 64° F)
32° C (90° F)............................9 - 21° C (48 - 69° F)
38° C (100° F)..........................11 - 22° C (52 - 72° F)
43° C (110° F)..........................13 - 24° C (56 - 75° F)
I have seen threads dealing with improving the performance of an otherwise properly functioning A/C system.
The mod involves installing a resistor across the leads of the thermistor.
It fools the system into lowering the output temp from the high end of "normal" to the lower end. There will be no harm done if the temp still falls in the range listed in the chart above.
Last edited by ronjenx; 08-13-2012 at 06:21 PM.
08-14-2012, 05:59 AM
#9
JK Enthusiast
a/c
If your A/C is properly serviced, and it's working the best it can, and the HVAC doors are all working properly, there is another thing to consider.
There is a thermistor on the evaporator that prevents it from freezing up by turning off the compressor when the evaporator reaches a certain temperature. Thermistors of the same value actually vary quite a bit. Consequently, there is a wide range of "normal" temperatures at the panel outlets.
Here is a chart showing the expected A/C performance of the JK:
Ambient Temperature........... Air Temperature at Center Panel Outlet
21° C (70° F)............................6 -15° C (42 - 59° F)
27° C (80° F)............................7 -18° C (45 - 64° F)
32° C (90° F)............................9 - 21° C (48 - 69° F)
38° C (100° F)..........................11 - 22° C (52 - 72° F)
43° C (110° F)..........................13 - 24° C (56 - 75° F)
I have seen threads dealing with improving the performance of an otherwise properly functioning A/C system.
The mod involves installing a resistor across the leads of the thermistor.
It fools the system into lowering the output temp from the high end of "normal" to the lower end. There will be no harm done if the temp still falls in the range listed in the chart above.
There is a thermistor on the evaporator that prevents it from freezing up by turning off the compressor when the evaporator reaches a certain temperature. Thermistors of the same value actually vary quite a bit. Consequently, there is a wide range of "normal" temperatures at the panel outlets.
Here is a chart showing the expected A/C performance of the JK:
Ambient Temperature........... Air Temperature at Center Panel Outlet
21° C (70° F)............................6 -15° C (42 - 59° F)
27° C (80° F)............................7 -18° C (45 - 64° F)
32° C (90° F)............................9 - 21° C (48 - 69° F)
38° C (100° F)..........................11 - 22° C (52 - 72° F)
43° C (110° F)..........................13 - 24° C (56 - 75° F)
I have seen threads dealing with improving the performance of an otherwise properly functioning A/C system.
The mod involves installing a resistor across the leads of the thermistor.
It fools the system into lowering the output temp from the high end of "normal" to the lower end. There will be no harm done if the temp still falls in the range listed in the chart above.
The following users liked this post:
J. Dub (08-28-2023)
08-14-2012, 09:14 AM
#10
JK Enthusiast
Last summer we set a record for the number of 100+ days and my ac was struggling to keep it cool so I decided to make a custom headliner. I'm glad I did it, this year I have been running my ac at half the blower speed and it stays cool. And I don't feel like my brains a slowly being cooked by the top. This may not be your issue but it certainly can't hurt looking into it.
