Air Conditioning - Fast Cool Down Procedure

NUMBER: 24-19-99

GROUP: Heating & A/C

DATE: Sep. 3, 1999

SUBJECT:
Air Conditioning Performance

MODELS:
1999 (DN) Durango

DISCUSSION:

When a vehicle is parked in direct sunlight, the vehicle's interior temperature will exceed the outside ambient temperature by as much as 10°C (50° F). When discussing A/C performance with owners, it is important to encourage owners to operate their A/C system as identified in the 1999 Durango Owner's Manual (Publication No. 81-326-9933), page 93 of the Second Edition (page 90 of the First Edition) "Fast Cooldown" to achieve the best performance from their A/C system. The "Fast Cooldown" method of operating the A/C system is designed to quickly expel the hot passenger compartment air that may be noticed when the passenger compartment's temperature exceeds the outside temperature.

The "Fast Cooldown" method of operating the A/C system is as follows:





^ Turn the blower fan speed control rotary knob (upper knob) to the extreme right position (blower on HIGH) (Figure 1).

^ Turn the mode control rotary knob (middle knob) to the A/C panel position (A/C panel is the position above MAX A/C) (Figure 1).

^ Turn the temperature control knob (bottom knob) to the coldest setting (knob rotated to the extreme left) (Figure 1).

^ Drive the vehicle with the windows partially open for the first few minutes (two - three minutes).

^ Once the hot air is expelled, close the windows and turn the mode control knob (middle knob) to MAX A/C.

^ When a comfortable condition has been reached, choose a mode position and adjust the temperature control knob and a blower speed as necessary to maintain comfort. For high humidity conditions, it may be necessary to remain in the MAX A/C mode to maintain comfort.

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