DO YOU NEED BOTH AC AND DC CORDS TO MAKE IT WORK?

One cord is all you need if it works . the ac cord might be bad . but most likely the cooler is bad ..... i am a ****** for these coolers i have had a few (4) i have none now all of them burned up and stopped working or cooling and when it does work all you get is 20 degrees below outside temp every time does not matter if its the one i bought in 1990 ( that kept killing my battery) or the last one i had bought in 2005 that one was better it cooled 25 degrees below the temp in the truck a little cool but hardly close to cold and lasted about 6 months ........ dont spend a lot on a cord , you will be sorry .... myself i think i will wait another 10 years or so before i try again ... good luck