Chevrolet Cruze Forums banner

HELP! No AC and multiple codes

11918 Views 34 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  snowwy66
Hey guys, my wifes 2012 cruze has been great for her and just over 100k now so out of warranty. Only stuff I have had to do since out of warranty is the thermo housing and coolant reservoir.

Yesterday she was taking her mom to a chemo and we had very heavy storms here in NC. During her trip AC stopped. I hooked my Ethos edge up, and found a bunch of electronics codes which leads me to think the rain may have done something. Codes below. Where should i start troubleshooting?

P0533 - AC Pres sensor
B3125 - Driver door unlock circuit short to gnd
B3130 - ALL door unlock circuit fault to gnd
B393B - ac compressor valve control circuit current above threshold symptom 0b
1 - 20 of 35 Posts
Was the negative battery ground cable ever changed?
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Was the negative battery ground cable ever changed?
Negative. These codes were also not here 1k miles ago when I changed the oil. I always scan for codes, and reset service interval properly.


Snowy - I got it at a great price during a promotion from my Snap-On Vendor at work, during xmas.. and paid for it out of pocket and took it home.


Alright, so some other symptoms I have that may ring a bell for someone that has had or seen this issues in the shop.

  • The AC Compressor is running (clutch is engaging)
  • The AC Switch is working (enabled with ethos, checked voltage on all AC fuses)
  • The Cooling Fan is not running with AC on High, but I can enable the fan manually via the ethos. It rarely heats up to the temperature at which the fan is needed without AC, so I have not found if it will run at a high temp yet.
  • Checked all fuses for the AC and the Cooling Fan. Tested Cooling Fan Relays 1,2,3 via ethos.
  • AC High Pressure Sensor is not steady; it's jumping around from 87-97 psi with no specific order. I have not located the High pres sensor yet to visually inspect/diagnose it.
See less See more
Have you tried resetting all of the codes and see if they all return?

Special Coverage #14311: Negative Battery Cable

2013 Cruze A/C off due to high engine temp

P0533 means the A/C refrigerant pressure is too high to safely function often due to inoperative cooling fans or too little or too much refrigerant.


0r maybe this video

FIXING OF RADIATOR FAN FULL BLAST IN A CHEVY CRUZE 2012 THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT



See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
The Radiator fan don't work until high pressure gets high enough on the ac. Same manner as it works when your coolant temp gets high enough. Basically only when your sitting at idle. Fan not needed when driving down the road.

Compressor running and high pressure is only 87 - 97. That's your answer right there. You're almost out of freon. High pressure should be around the 250 mark. The reason it's bouncing around is because the low pressure switch is cycling the compressor. Low pressure too low. That be my guess anyways but I'm not there to see what you got going on.

I would slap on some gauges to verify though. Make sure the sensor to the computer is reading accurate.

An accurate diagnosis of the system requires knowing what both the low AND the high are doing. Harbor Freight sells a good gauge kit for $60. I bought my last set on the july 4th sale 25% off. There are adaptors fair cheap at any store that sells freon in those cans. I buy the 30 lb. cylinders. 75% cheaper then buying enough cans to equal 1 cylinder. But I have a NAPA connection.

Since you have a high pressure gauge with your ethos. A kit of gauge and can will work for the low side,.

You'll have to let me know the price of ethos at christmas time this year. I"d like to have a more comprehensive software package over the usual basic stuff commonly available.

I bought toad. It's cheap. And a few happy campers on youtube but I"m not seeing it with the software. See what happens when the obd2 connector arrives. But I have a feeling it was a waste of $130.
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Have you tried resetting all of the codes and se if they all return?

Special Coverage #14311: Negative Battery Cable

2013 Cruze A/C off due to high engine temp
Yes, I reset the codes and I have not seen them return. I also haven't spotted a leak anywhere.

The Radiator fan don't work until high pressure gets high enough on the ac. Same manner as it works when your coolant temp gets high enough. Basically only when your sitting at idle. Fan not needed when driving down the road.

Compressor running and high pressure is only 87 - 97. That's your answer right there. You're almost out of freon. High pressure should be around the 250 mark. The reason it's bouncing around is because the low pressure switch is cycling the compressor. Low pressure too low. That be my guess anyways but I'm not there to see what you got going on.

I would slap on some gauges to verify though. Make sure the sensor to the computer is reading accurate.

An accurate diagnosis of the system requires knowing what both the low AND the high are doing. Harbor Freight sells a good gauge kit for $60. I bought my last set on the july 4th sale 25% off. There are adaptors fair cheap at any store that sells freon in those cans. I buy the 30 lb. cylinders. 75% cheaper then buying enough cans to equal 1 cylinder. But I have a NAPA connection.

Since you have a high pressure gauge with your ethos. A kit of gauge and can will work for the low side,.

You'll have to let me know the price of ethos at christmas time this year. I"d like to have a more comprehensive software package over the usual basic stuff commonly available.

I bought toad. It's cheap. And a few happy campers on youtube but I"m not seeing it with the software. See what happens when the obd2 connector arrives. But I have a feeling it was a waste of $130.


Yeah, I have been looking in my garage for my AC gauges but haven't used them in so long and cannot remember if I loaned them out or something... my Z28 doesn't have air and I am used to it that way.. so I suppose I will have to buy a new set of gauges to really continue diagnosis. Going to lift it up and look for leaks again and verify the AC High Pressure sensor is working correctly with the AllData manual I just downloaded.

Any idea if the compressor control valve can stop the AC from working, even if the clutch is turning? Seems like this would cause damage to the compressor since it would be running dry/choked off.



/edit - Oh and if you PM me I will tell you what the price was during the promotion. I can put you in touch with my vendor if you wish.
Yes, I reset the codes and I have not seen them return. I also haven't spotted a leak anywhere.
That's odd. Have you turned on the AC since?



That's odd. Have you turned on the AC since?




Yeah, the AC off due to engine temp never showed it's face.. It wasn't in the history codes either.

Yes, I have turned the AC on since. The compressor kicks on, the air is running but it's hot and not getting any cooler. Everything cycles and seems to be working. The PCM is also showing it's requested and enabled.. but no error codes are back yet.
Yeah, the AC off due to engine temp never showed it's face.. It wasn't in the history codes either.

Yes, I have turned the AC on since. The compressor kicks on, the air is running but it's hot and not getting any cooler. Everything cycles and seems to be working. The PCM is also showing it's requested and enabled.. but no error codes are back yet.
Seems like your narrowing it down to low "Freon"

DIY Bone chilling AC


As @snowwy66 recommended:

A/C R134A Manifold Gauge Set


20% off coupon good today

More active longer
See less See more
The AC High pressure sensor is changing while the car is off, power on. I did all the diagnostics and everything passed up until the "Diagnose/Replace B1 AC High Pres Sensor" So the circuit is good, it's either the sensor or the actual PSI on the system is wrong. Don't get why the pressure would be jumping around while the car is off though.

The P0533 S0 is Sensor Circuit High; yet the sensor is reading low and jumping
Any idea if the compressor control valve can stop the AC from working, even if the clutch is turning? Seems like this would cause damage to the compressor since it would be running dry/choked off.
Keep in mind the compressor is a variable displacement type. How much it can "throttle back", I don't know.
Yes, I reset the codes and I have not seen them return. I also haven't spotted a leak anywhere.



Yeah, I have been looking in my garage for my AC gauges but haven't used them in so long and cannot remember if I loaned them out or something... my Z28 doesn't have air and I am used to it that way.. so I suppose I will have to buy a new set of gauges to really continue diagnosis. Going to lift it up and look for leaks again and verify the AC High Pressure sensor is working correctly with the AllData manual I just downloaded.

Any idea if the compressor control valve can stop the AC from working, even if the clutch is turning? Seems like this would cause damage to the compressor since it would be running dry/choked off.



/edit - Oh and if you PM me I will tell you what the price was during the promotion. I can put you in touch with my vendor if you wish.
If you find your gauges or buy some gauges. A full charged system will sit at around 110 on both hi and low when it's sitting.

What's your high pressure reading on your ethos with the car having been off for a couple of hours????????

When it's running. Fully charged will clock in around 250 on hi and you should have 30 - 35 on low. If everything is working properly.

If you're that low though, I'd go ahead and have it sucked out with a machine. Then vacuum it and fully charge it.

If you have access to a scale to measure the amount and label on your car still to tell you how much. That way you know how much to put in. YOu should end up around the 250 mark. They always end up around that mark. No matter what car or brand.

FIRST. If you have a leak detector or can come up with one. Check the evaporator. Turn fan on high and sniff the vents. WITH CAR ENGINE OFF.
So..went and ggauges and theyre reading 0psi... why would the ac high pees sensor see 100psi but none at port.. wtf
Either you forgot to open the valves on the quick disconnects if you have them or your gauges are broken. The hoses themselves also have shrader valves. Something is wrong with your gauges.

Here's a link to explain how the compressor control valve works.

https://macsworldwide.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/variable-displacement-ac-compressor/
Nah, i hit the schrader on hi and lo port with a pin and no pressure. It must have a monster leak somewhere or something.. but why read 100psi?
Make up your mind.

Is the compressor running or not? LOL

Cuz it can't run without at least 50 psi on both hi and lo.

The low pressure switch kicks on at 50 and shuts off at 10.

You said it was running. But now you say nothing comes out with the push of a pin.
Yes sir, the compressor is running, clutch engaged. The pressure switch is reading 87-97psi at idle and when running; but the ports are reading 0psi and also not firing off any pressure when the schrader is depressed.
When charging ac and diagnosing pressures. Engine should be at 2000 rpm.

What does ethos read at 2000? shut car off for 10 minutes and what does ethos read with engine off?
3






Video coming next.. im leaning toward leak and bad high pres sensor
See less See more
1 - 20 of 35 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top