# Dodge dakota ac/heat

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota-ac-heat/171723>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [October 29, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota-ac-heat/171723 "2020-10-29T23:04:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![raystownprimitives\_143914](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@raystownprimitives\_143914](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raystownprimitives_143914)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota-ac-heat/171723/1 "2020-10-29T23:04:18Z")

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Hello,

I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota 3.9l V6…

When I turn the AC on the truck shutters and doesn’t blow cool air. It almost stalls.

Still problem occured a few months ago so through the late Summer and Fall I just haven’t been using the AC but now it is getting cold and I need the defroster/heat.

i went to use that today and the the truck did the same thing.

I thought the heat and defroster wouldn’t be effected since it was the ac compressor

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota-ac-heat/171723/2 "2020-10-29T23:08:43Z")

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Some HVAC systems automatically turn the AC on when set to defrost.

Unplug the compressor clutch electrical connector to see if the problem goes away.

Tester

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**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota-ac-heat/171723/3 "2020-10-29T23:08:48Z")

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The compressor kicks in when you’re in defrost mode.

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**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota-ac-heat/171723/4 "2020-10-29T23:37:58Z")

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The a/c compressor runs in defrost mode.

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**Author:** ![vipergg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@vipergg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vipergg)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota-ac-heat/171723/5 "2020-10-30T00:28:28Z")

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Sounds like the compressor is on its way out and when it engages it is putting a heckuva load on the engine when it engages . Most Dodge products do indeed run the compressor when the setting is set on the front windshield (defrost) . It should not engage in a normal heat setting thru the front outlets or the floor .

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**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota-ac-heat/171723/6 "2020-10-30T00:33:03Z")

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If you are tight on funds, you can maybe use a substitute belt to bypass the ac. Sure everybody says it is needed, but my frst ac car was 1993, 22 years without ac for defog worked fine for me.

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**Author:** ![raystownprimitives\_143914](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@raystownprimitives\_143914](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raystownprimitives_143914)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 11:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-dakota-ac-heat/171723/7 "2020-10-30T23:23:02Z")

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I removed the AC clutch relay and the defrost and heat work fine without any stalling.