Dash A/C blows hot after a 10 minutes or so

[13sunstar]

Hey everyone. You guys were so helpful on my last issue, I figured I'd give you another chance. ;-)

The dash AC on our 2004 Dutch Star stops working and blows hot air after 5 or 10 minutes. And I mean hot. Yesterday we were driving back from Myrtle Beach and it was in the low to mid 70s outside. After blowing cold air for the first 10 minutes of our trip, the AC went hot, like you would expect the heat in the winter. On the way down, it did the same thing. Occasionally it would blow cold again before returning to hot.

I don't understand what would cause this. Any ideas?

[flyboy013]

Sounds like the temperature control valve. There’s quite a few posts about troubleshooting and repairing. Here’s one from a quick search.

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/das...tml#post636987

[tomgrigsby]

Check to see that the condenser fan is running assuming you have a dp

[shootist]

If you had moisture in the system freezing in the expansion tube it should only blow mildly warm. Heat has to come from the heater valve being open, or in some systems the vents switching to the heater core. To verify the a/c is working find the small line going into the evaporator, just before entering the evaporator is the expansion tube or valve. Should go from hot to cold all the way out to the large hose coming out of the evaporator. Touch them while it's working, if they're the same when it quits you'll know the ac is fine.

[ga traveler]

It sounds like low on Freon. When the Freon is low, it expands too much and freezes the coil.

[Harleytoter]

If your unit has heat pumps, which is what this sounds like. The reversing valve needs to be replaced. The ones for the Dometic Penguins cost about $50. This is an easy swap.

[RichKimball]

Originally Posted by Harleytoter

If your unit has heat pumps, which is what this sounds like. The reversing valve needs to be replaced. The ones for the Dometic Penguins cost about $50. This is an easy swap.

This trouble is for his DASH A/C. No heat pumps there.

I agree with Tom on checking your condenser fan (if your rig is a DP). The fans go bad and lock up causing your symptom. Check local auto parts house or I found a good source for a/c parts is coldhose.com.

[bstetler]

Did you get this fixed? My 2003 fleetwood exursion does the same thing. Blows cold then 5 miles down road just blows warm air. checked fan, cycles on and off, checked freon, no leaks. someone told me it's the high or low pressure valve but I can't find them. any ideas?

[Iceclimber]

Its hard to be sympathetic when we are going camping and nighttime is in the 20's lol

[Mile Marker 42]

Is the compressor turning (engaged) when it blows hot? Do you have a "sight" glass you can see the freon in? Your heater valve may not be holding. Many of us have added a manual valve from home Depot.

[Mile Marker 42]

Originally Posted by Iceclimber

Its hard to be sympathetic when we are going camping and nighttime is in the 20's lol

Doesn't sound like camping. Sounds like survival.

[13sunstar]

Originally Posted by bstetler

Did you get this fixed? My 2003 fleetwood exursion does the same thing. Blows cold then 5 miles down road just blows warm air. checked fan, cycles on and off, checked freon, no leaks. someone told me it's the high or low pressure valve but I can't find them. any ideas?

I actually sold this coach back to my dad, but he got it fixed. If memory serves, it was the temperature control valve.

He put a clamp on the outlet hose to test it. There is probably a better writeup, but this article post address it. Check the post by "Bluepill": https://www.irv2.com/forums/f107/das...em-111115.html

[Iceclimber]

Originally Posted by Mile Marker 42

Doesn't sound like camping. Sounds like survival.

Survival was doing it out of a pack. Now I have 50 amps, heat and hot water. Also fair supply of adult beverages and attractive company. So, more like a hotel. No room service ? I guess I could call Uber Eats.

[-Gramps-]

What dug this old 2012 post out of the closet?