Is this normal?
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Cathedral City
Is this normal?
The compressor in my truck cycles constantly. I've done a search and can't find anything like this situation. My owners manual states that "the air conditioning compressor can operate in all modes except panel & floor." In that respect it works correctly. However when any of the other modes are selected, defrost, floor/defrost, etc. the compressor turnes on and off about every 30 seconds or so. Is this normal? If not, what might cause something like this to happen?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Are you pressing the A/C switch down? That activates the compressor.
The cycling is perfectly normal, though I am curious as to whether it's supposed to operate when yours is. As I said though, if the A/C switch is pressed down it will operate.
The cycling is perfectly normal, though I am curious as to whether it's supposed to operate when yours is. As I said though, if the A/C switch is pressed down it will operate.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: ventura, CA
The AC is used in defrost mode because it dehumidifies the air which makes it a much better window defogger. If you're saying that it DOESN'T work unless in a defrost mode (or AC mode) then is sounds right to me. It cycles to keep the evaporator from freezing into a block of ice. If it did no air would pass through it and it couldn't pull moisture from the air as efficiently anymore.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 769
Likes: 12
From: Moneta, VA
There is no A/c switch on a 2002. The compressor will run at all times except for the vent, floor, and off positions. It is normal, believe it or not, for the compressor to cycle often, just not constant.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Cathedral City
Pilot: I have the "manual heating & air" set up. So there is no "switch." There is a mode selector **** with 8 possible selections. Reading clockwise from left to right they are max a/c, a/c, panel (dash vents), off, panel & floor, floor, floor & defrost and defrost. If anything other than panel, off or floor is selected the compressor is on. That's as it should be according to the owners manual. It's the constant cycling of the compressor that I'm questioning. In any mode where it's supposed to be working, it does. I'm just wondering if it should be going on and off every 20-30 seconds. The reason I'm so concerned is I'm planing to install an Efan. As I understand it the fan will come on anytime the compressor does. If this is so, then with my current setup, the fan would be on almost constantly, thereby negating any power gain because the fan is off.
Sorry for the confusion about the year, etc. All that info is in my public profile. So I didn't think to include it.
Dude: I know the system dehumidifies anytime the temp is above 45 deg. However I live in the So. Calif desert where the humidity seldom exceeds 15-20% and in the summer it's usually in the 6-9% range. So I don't believe that would be the problem.
Sorry for the confusion about the year, etc. All that info is in my public profile. So I didn't think to include it.
Dude: I know the system dehumidifies anytime the temp is above 45 deg. However I live in the So. Calif desert where the humidity seldom exceeds 15-20% and in the summer it's usually in the 6-9% range. So I don't believe that would be the problem.
Last edited by MemphisSenior; Dec 4, 2005 at 04:41 PM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Yes it should cycle on and off regularly, it's perfectly normal.
Ahh, I see. On the older Rangers, mine included, it went OFF - Max A/C - Panel - Panel/Floor - Floor - Floor/Defrost - Defrost
Regular AC was achieved by just pushing the switch down if it was on the off position.
Ahh, I see. On the older Rangers, mine included, it went OFF - Max A/C - Panel - Panel/Floor - Floor - Floor/Defrost - Defrost
Regular AC was achieved by just pushing the switch down if it was on the off position.
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From: ventura, CA
Originally Posted by MemphisSenior
Dude: I know the system dehumidifies anytime the temp is above 45 deg. However I live in the So. Calif desert where the humidity seldom exceeds 15-20% and in the summer it's usually in the 6-9% range. So I don't believe that would be the problem.
.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Originally Posted by RangerPilot
Yes it should cycle on and off regularly, it's perfectly normal.
I am not so sure that the compressor should cycle on and off every 20 to 30 seconds. That useally indicates that the system is low on freon. There are several sensors that control the AC compressor, one of them is a low pressure sensor that will shut off the compressor when the low side pressure gets to low.
Have the system checked I would bet that the charge is low.
Cheers Jim
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 769
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From: Moneta, VA
Mine cycles once every twenty to thirty seconds. When I first got the truck, I thought the charge was low. I took it to the a/c shop and they said it was full. Four years later, it still cycles every twenty to thirty seconds, but it will freeze you when the a/c is on. Still full, too. I don't know why, but it seems Rangers cycle more than other vehicles.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: ventura, CA
Again, it cycles to keep the evaporator from freezing. There is a thermocouple in there sensing the evap temp. It is strictly temperature based. Per your experience with the AC freezing you when it's on - the Ranger's AC setup must have a lot of capacity.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Originally Posted by probedude
Again, it cycles to keep the evaporator from freezing. There is a thermocouple in there sensing the evap temp. It is strictly temperature based. Per your experience with the AC freezing you when it's on - the Ranger's AC setup must have a lot of capacity.
Cheers Jim