Ram Losing its Cool
Q: I have a 2000 Dodge Ram with the 5.9-liter V-8. The air-conditioner started blowing warm air, so I added coolant. The A/C worked for about two months and then ran out of coolant again. I can tell when it gets low, because the compressor starts to kick on and off. Recently, I added a can of coolant with dye in it and found no sign of a leak. What else can I do to check for leaks?
A: Coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water in the radiator. R134A refrigerant is what's leaking out of your air-conditioning system. Assuming the proper refrigerant dye was installed correctly, you should be scanning all A/C components, hoses, lines, and connections with the appropriate ultraviolet lamp. A leak will show up as a bright-yellow/green glow of the dye. There are also electronic refrigerant leak detectors, which can help pinpoint leaks more quickly, but not necessarily as accurately. One leak that can be difficult to trace is from the evaporator core, inside the cab within the dash. Crawl under the truck and be sure to shine the UV lamp inside the evaporator's condensation drain hole or tube. It may take some time and mileage, but if the evaporator is leaking the dye will slowly drip out of the drain along with the refrigerant oil. Evaporator replacement on a Ram is a considerable job, requiring more than five hours labor, plus parts and a refrigerant recharge.
Out Go the Lights
Q: My 2000 4WD Z71 Chevrolet Silverado just hit 60,000 miles and selective lights on my dashboard have gone out. For instance, a few of the radio-station presets (1, 2, and 3) and the radio mode (AM/FM/CD) don't light up. Is this something as simple as a fuse or is it an electrical issue with the entire dash?
A: The radio display is activated by the ignition. The illumination lights come on with the headlamp switch and are then controlled by the instrument-panel dimmer control. Radio illumination is a string of bulbs on an internal circuit within the radio. If there were a problem with an external voltage or ground source, all the lights would be out. Just a few switches going dark means the applicable bulbs within the radio have burned out and need to be replaced. These bulbs aren't considered serviceable parts. The radio should be removed and sent to an automotive-electronics contractor for repair or replacement with an exchange unit.