2001 Ford F150 Air stops coming out of dash panel outlets

2001 FORD F-150
169,000 MILES • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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TERRY KENNEDY
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  • 1 POST
When I have the air conditioner blowing out of the dash,
as soon as there is a little strain on the engine like going up a hill The air stop blowing out of the dash outlets and seems to be coming out of the defroster vents. As soon as i let up on the gas, the air starts coming out of the dash again.
Aug 3, 2010 at 12:41 PM
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CARADIODOC
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 34,309 POSTS
Hi Terry Kennedy. Welcome to the forum. Your HVAC controls are vacuum operated and that is the spring-loaded fail safe default in case of a failure. Your feet might freeze, but your windshield will be clear. Look for a check valve in the vacuum hose going from the intake manifold to the firewall. Replace it if you can blow through it both ways.

If the valve is working properly, install an updated valve with a vacuum storage canister built in. If Ford doesn't have one available, you can find them at your local Dodge dealer or in a salvage yard. The original valve is about the side of a stack of three nickels. The improved valve is about 1 1/2" long by 1 1/4" in diameter.

caradiodoc
Aug 3, 2010 at 2:17 PM
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