Strange AC problem - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

km9v · 03-19-2022, 08:37 PM

I noticed a strange AC problem today. The driver's side vents get slightly cool air & the passenger side get full cold air. I've tried adjusting heat, the floor, bi-level buttons, nothing corrects the issue. Anyone experience this issue? 2011 SS

PaulsSS · 03-19-2022, 11:39 PM

Maybe the blend door has broken off and is causing this.

0stones0 · 03-20-2022, 12:40 AM

Could be just low on freon but, check this out, as well.

Heater Blend Door Database

InFiD3ViL · 03-20-2022, 12:58 AM

Oh yeah, we have seen it. Unfortunately it seems as though every 5th gen owner may get to experience this mark of GM excellence at some point in their ownership.

It usually points to a broken blend door (temperature door). Follow stones advice and read through the very handy database he created.

badcompany · 03-20-2022, 08:41 AM

Mine did this recently. I researched and researched, everyone said blend door but I wasnt ready to just jump in and do that right off the batt. My driver side was warmish and passenger side blew cold just like you stated yours is doing. Ended up being low on freon. Id highly suggest checking that first before you go off the deep end and just replace the blend door just because.

km9v · 03-22-2022, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badcompany

Mine did this recently. I researched and researched, everyone said blend door but I wasnt ready to just jump in and do that right off the batt. My driver side was warmish and passenger side blew cold just like you stated yours is doing. Ended up being low on freon. Id highly suggest checking that first before you go off the deep end and just replace the blend door just because.

I'll try that first. It's the cheap/easy place to start. If that's not it, I may look into the heater by-pass valve fix. Living near the gulf coast, AC is on 90% of the time.

KaBoom1701 · 03-22-2022, 03:41 PM

Drive faster.... no AC needed.

gtstorey · 03-22-2022, 03:58 PM

Driving faster only helps a little when the humidity is approaching 100%.

Moto-Mojo · 03-22-2022, 04:16 PM

Driving faster makes for more of the $6 gal gas stops - and it’s air conditioned in the Quik Mart! (and they sell beer)

ssonic2013 · 03-22-2022, 10:21 PM

I'm not very mechanical,so glad I took out an extended warranty when I bought my 2013 SS. Will add though whoever designed the HVAC system on these cars should be reassigned to other duties.

barkeater46 · 03-25-2022, 07:28 PM

Looked good in CAD.........engineers and designers should do a year in the field before they are turned loose

Royal Tiger · 03-25-2022, 08:12 PM

Remember as long as the car makes it to the end of the warranty period GM could care less if it blows up the next day.

km9v · 04-21-2022, 12:15 PM

It turned out to be low on refrigerant. I picked up an AC recharge kit for about $32. Works great now. I still don't see how being low on refrigerant would cause one side to be warmer than the other, but whatever, I'm happy it's fixed.

ChibiBlackSheep · 04-21-2022, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by km9v

It turned out to be low on refrigerant. I picked up an AC recharge kit for about $32. Works great now. I still don't see how being low on refrigerant would cause one side to be warmer than the other, but whatever, I'm happy it's fixed.

That was a temporary fix, if you were low it is because there is an issue with the system. They need to be properly evacuated and filled under vacuum, and those recharge kits don't really do it properly.

I would recommend saving up some money, and then when this happens again (depending on the severity of the leak) getting it professionally diagnosed to find where the leak is and repair there.

03-19-2022, 08:37 PM	#1
km9v Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS M6 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Beaumont, TX Posts: 418	Strange AC problem I noticed a strange AC problem today. The driver's side vents get slightly cool air & the passenger side get full cold air. I've tried adjusting heat, the floor, bi-level buttons, nothing corrects the issue. Anyone experience this issue? 2011 SS

03-20-2022, 12:40 AM	#3
0stones0 It don’t come easy. Drives: 2010 2SS RS M6 Join Date: May 2014 Location: WI Posts: 2,201 View My Garage	Could be just low on freon but, check this out, as well. Heater Blend Door Database __________________

03-20-2022, 12:58 AM	#4
InFiD3ViL Drives: 2010 CGM 2SS/RS LS3 Swapped A6 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 4,570	Oh yeah, we have seen it. Unfortunately it seems as though every 5th gen owner may get to experience this mark of GM excellence at some point in their ownership. It usually points to a broken blend door (temperature door). Follow stones advice and read through the very handy database he created. __________________ 2010 CGM Camaro 2SS LS3 Swapped A6 - GPI LS3 SS1 .647/.638, (224/237, 112 +4, 7º overlap) on CamMotion 8620 core, BTR Platinum .660" Dual Spring kit w/titanium retainers, CHE bronze trunnion upgrade, stock heads milled @ .015, Melling HV 10296 oil pump, TSP 1-7/8" long tube headers (W/Catless Off-road Pipes), Corsa Xtreme 3" Catback, GPI Ported/Rod Mod Intake, Stage 2 Ported Throttle Body, Vararam OTR CAI, Mike Norris Gen 2 catch can + GM 1LE clean side separator, 160º thermostat - Megan Racing adjustable coilovers (lowered 1.75"), MRR M017 10/11" wheels-Tuned by Ryan @ GPI

03-20-2022, 08:41 AM	#5
badcompany Drives: 2010 Summit White 2SS Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Midland, Tx Posts: 146	Mine did this recently. I researched and researched, everyone said blend door but I wasnt ready to just jump in and do that right off the batt. My driver side was warmish and passenger side blew cold just like you stated yours is doing. Ended up being low on freon. Id highly suggest checking that first before you go off the deep end and just replace the blend door just because. __________________

03-22-2022, 03:41 PM	#7
KaBoom1701 KaBoom1701 Drives: 13' ZL1 Red M6 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: I.E. SoCal (Yucaipa) Posts: 8,630	Drive faster.... no AC needed. __________________ Mods: Roto-Fab Intake, WW Res. kit & Big Gulp Air Scoop, Elite Catch Can, ATI Super Damper & 18% OD Pulley, LF Idler pulley bracket, Metco CC breather, ID850 Injectors, Stainless Power Headers w/ ceramic coating, TR71X Spark Plugs, JMS Fuel Pump Booster, Bo White TB, Tuned by Ted @ Jannetty Racing, Ron Davis HX, D3 Reservoir, Pfadt 1" Springs, Moreno Camber Plates, ZL1 Addons Splitter guard washers, Tow Hook kit & rock guards, Hurst Shifter Billet Plus 6 Speed Short Shifter, ZL1 DRL lighting harness, ZL1 Recaro Seats.

03-19-2022, 11:39 PM	#2
PaulsSS Drives: 15SS Camaro Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: US Posts: 345	Maybe the blend door has broken off and is causing this.

03-22-2022, 03:58 PM	#8
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,147	Driving faster only helps a little when the humidity is approaching 100%.

03-22-2022, 04:16 PM	#9
Moto-Mojo Fast Cars and Old Guitars Drives: 2015 2SS RS (L99, baby!) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: N. CA Posts: 3,973	Driving faster makes for more of the $6 gal gas stops - and it’s air conditioned in the Quik Mart! (and they sell beer) __________________ “I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” - Groucho Marx

03-22-2022, 10:21 PM	#10
ssonic2013 Drives: 2013 Camaro ss Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: orange tex Posts: 120	I'm not very mechanical,so glad I took out an extended warranty when I bought my 2013 SS. Will add though whoever designed the HVAC system on these cars should be reassigned to other duties.

03-25-2022, 07:28 PM	#11
barkeater46 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Central New York Posts: 81 View My Garage	Looked good in CAD.........engineers and designers should do a year in the field before they are turned loose

03-25-2022, 08:12 PM	#12
Royal Tiger Account Suspended Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 3,873	Remember as long as the car makes it to the end of the warranty period GM could care less if it blows up the next day.

04-21-2022, 12:15 PM	#13
km9v Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS M6 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Beaumont, TX Posts: 418	It turned out to be low on refrigerant. I picked up an AC recharge kit for about $32. Works great now. I still don't see how being low on refrigerant would cause one side to be warmer than the other, but whatever, I'm happy it's fixed.