A/C Compressor running w/o switch on????

tomasnc · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:01 pm

Hello All!

I noticed last week condensate draining from my CRD. I have not run the AC or the defrost but the compressor is running without either the air on or the defrost. Is this normal?

Thanks

TP

wenied · **Joined:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:01 pm **Posts:** 107

Mine will run with everything off as well....kindof wierd

naturist · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:47 pm

How odd. I'll see what the dealer says about it tomorrow when mine's in for EGR replacement.

tomasnc · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:10 pm

naturist,

OT, but how many miles do you have on yours?

I just turned 9100+ and here in North-Carolina am finding my CRD starting a little weird in the mornings.

I set my service reminder at 6,250 and checked the oil level. I was at the min level. I am less than 500 miles before service so I'm not overly worried about the loss of oil. It is probably sitting in the intercooler

Anyway, I'll be interested to here what the dealer says about the compressor cycling when no switch is on.

Thank you!

Tom

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:32 am

I noticed this too. Apparently, the incredibly intelligent engineers at DaimlerChrysler thought we owners were too stupid to know when to use the AC compressor and when not to. So, on the '05s and newer the AC compressor cycles on automatically in certain modes. For instance...you select the "feet only" mode and turn the dial all the way to cold. On 99.9% of vehicles this would give you fresh air from outside aimed at your feet, right? Well not on the Liberty...the "feet only" mode and other modes too will automaticaly turn on the AC compressor and freeze you to death and use more fuel too. This is one of my big complaints about the vehicle. It's stupid. There are only two modes you can use that don't use the compressor...I think "face only" and "face and feet" are the two. I'll have to double check that.

naturist · **Posted:** Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:55 am

tomasnc wrote:

naturist,

OT, but how many miles do you have on yours?

I just turned 9100+ and here in North-Carolina am finding my CRD starting a little weird in the mornings.

I set my service reminder at 6,250 and checked the oil level. I was at the min level. I am less than 500 miles before service so I'm not overly worried about the loss of oil. It is probably sitting in the intercooler

Anyway, I'll be interested to here what the dealer says about the compressor cycling when no switch is on.

Thank you!

Tom

1) I have 6,500 miles on it, and this will be the second EGR.
2) I had to add a quart of oil at 5,000 miles, as the level had dropped to the min, and still 1,000 to go before the first oil change. This is not unusual for new engines, BTW.
3) Whattaya mean, "Starting a little weird?" Are you waiting for the glow plug light to go out? Did you know diesels almost always give off a puff of smoke on a cold start up? Or is there something else going on???

tomasnc · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:59 am

nat,

I have yet to see my glow plug light burn. "If equipped" as the O.M. states..... I am guessing that I'll have to look at the equipment list to determine if my CRD has a glow plug or it's function based on ambient temperature? 'Don't recall seeing a glow plug option when I ordered this car.

I do have a block heater and I would have hoped that DC put one a car here in the foothills of North-Carolina.

What I failed to convey was that my CRD has several different starting patterns so-to-speak, meaning that it will fire very quickly sometimes while at other times it takes a little longer. No different than other diesels I own. I guess I am over analyse this....

Thanks All!

Thanks.

naturist · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:35 pm

tomasnc wrote:

nat,

I have yet to see my glow plug light burn. "If equipped" as the O.M. states..... I am guessing that I'll have to look at the equipment list to determine if my CRD has a glow plug or it's function based on ambient temperature? 'Don't recall seeing a glow plug option when I ordered this car.

I do have a block heater and I would have hoped that DC put one a car here in the foothills of North-Carolina.

What I failed to convey was that my CRD has several different starting patterns so-to-speak, meaning that it will fire very quickly sometimes while at other times it takes a little longer. No different than other diesels I own. I guess I am over analyse this....

Thanks All!

Thanks.

"If equipped?" I've never heard of a diesel for sale north of the tropic of cancer that didn't have glowplugs. Most of them start to kick in at 40 degrees or so. I have seen my glowplug light come on, but so far it has only done so for 3-4 seconds at the longest. The block heater, however, is probably mostly a northern item put on there largely to save inventory issues with having two versions "on the shelf." And largely because it cost more to not put it on some than the unit itself cost.

TxAshurst · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:59 pm

The "If equipped" clause is in your owner's manual because the same manual serves for the gassers. If you have a U.S. CRD, it is equipped with glowplugs and an engine block heater. The glowplug light will come on when it is needed, but you have to look quick when you first turn the key to ON. It usually flashes for a wee part of a second and it's gone. The manual says to wait for the glowplug light to go out before you crank it, but it hasn't been cold enough here in Texas for it to be possible to do otherwise. There is a delay when you turn the key to START and the glow plug light has come and gone by the time cranking starts on mine.

I use the engine block heater when the forecast says it will drop as low as mid40's, but usually I just use it because it's cool to be able to. I do worry about when I'm out in the boonies with no electric to plug into. I'd sure hate to have to light a campfire under my Jeep to get it started.

greiswig · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:39 pm

naturist wrote:

I've never heard of a diesel for sale north of the tropic of cancer that didn't have glowplugs.

I've got a diesel without glow plugs that fires every time right down to at least -10F. Came from Northern latitudes, too...Germany. ;-)

So it can be done, but your point is right on: the manual only says "option" because of the gas engines it covers in addition to the CRD.

tomasnc · **Posted:** Fri Jan 20, 2006 1:39 pm

I finally witnessed the glow plug light go on then off!

Much faster than the Dodge Cummins rigs.

Thanks

TP

dog_party · **Posted:** Fri Jan 20, 2006 1:57 pm

I had noticed some dripping condensation from my compressor too. Hadn't thought about the dang thing "thinking for me." I'll have to keep that in mind. Pretty stupid take-over-my-life because I lack self-government kinda design...but the truck's too cool for that to spoil it.

My other gripe about the temp control setup is that there's only one setting for recirculating air. In every vehicle I've ever owned the recirculate switch was secondary to the output knob. So you could recirculate air regardless of whether you're pumping out through defroster or through face, or feet. The Jeep's only got the one recirculate setting. Am I missing something there?

The glowplugs sure DO work faster than older diesels! Whew! I remember the old diesel that was in my uncle's F250. Turn key, take nap, write novel, start motor.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:09 pm

Yeah, the HVAC system on the new KJs S U C K S. Not as bad as the seats, but it does suck. The rest of the KJ is pretty cool. I agree.

My father used to have an old Ford truck with the diesel and the glow plugs were slow. Turn key, take nap... yeah you are just about right.

gsbrockman · **Posted:** Sat Jan 21, 2006 3:00 pm

LibertyCRD wrote:

I noticed this too. Apparently, the incredibly intelligent engineers at DaimlerChrysler thought we owners were too stupid to know when to use the AC compressor and when not to.

I PM'd a guy on another Jeep site regarding this topic, and here's his reply :

"You may be hearing the viscous heater cycling. It's an aux heater to help keep the engine coolant at the proper temp when idling or starting cold. It will cycle on & off reguardless of heater on or off or summer or winter."

Mine didn't do it in April when purchased, but did later on in the fall & winter as the temps dropped.

Greg

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jan 21, 2006 3:17 pm

No, what's going on with the '05s is this: Let's say it's 65 degrees outside. You turn the dial to "feet only" position, turn the thermostat to it's coldest setting, and turn the AC compressor button OFF. What you should be getting is 65 degree air coming into the cab of the Jeep, right?? Well, you don't. Even with the AC button OFF, the air coming into the Jeep is still "air-conditioned" air! It's ridiculous. There is no sense in even having an AC compressor button if the computer is going to cycle the compressor on when it wants to and not when I want to.

I used to love cruising down the road with the natural air blowing on my feet to keep me cool. Not anymore....can't get natural outside air in these Jeeps on your feet. it's not possible.

greiswig · **Posted:** Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:45 am

LibertyCRD wrote:

No, what's going on with the '05s is this: Let's say it's 65 degrees outside. You turn the dial to "feet only" position, turn the thermostat to it's coldest setting, and turn the AC compressor button OFF. What you should be getting is 65 degree air coming into the cab of the Jeep, right?? Well, you don't. Even with the AC button OFF, the air coming into the Jeep is still "air-conditioned" air! It's ridiculous. There is no sense in even having an AC compressor button if the computer is going to cycle the compressor on when it wants to and not when I want to.

I used to love cruising down the road with the natural air blowing on my feet to keep me cool. Not anymore....can't get natural outside air in these Jeeps on your feet. it's not possible.

I would think it wouldn't be too hard to wire the AC switch to interrupt or connect the voltage to the AC relay, so that no matter what the computer told it to do, it wouldn't come on. Manual override, if you will.

A/C Compressor running w/o switch on????

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