Air conditioner

BFULLERYOUTHGUY

MEMBER
2001 FORD EXPEDITION
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC

I have a 2001 Ford Expedition. Recently the air conditioner started acting up; when the rpms go above 2K, the front air stops blowing and it all comes out of the windshield defroster vent. Once the rpms go below 1,500, the air returns to the front vents. The back vents are not affected at all; oh, and the air remains cold throughout this scenario. What's happening?

Thursday, May 26th, 2011 AT 5:48 PM

1 Reply

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

The mode selection is done through a series of air doors that are operated by vacuum. When there is either a partial or total loss of vacuum, the system will default to either defrost or on some vehicles, heat. Acceleration can also have an effect on the doors for the same reason.

Look under the hood for a small black plastic hose coming through the firewall. Follow it to the vacuum source looking for any breaks, cracks or leaks. Also follow any other lines that branch off because they may go to a vacuum reservoir (storage tank) and a leak there will cause the same problem. Using a vacuum gauge to determine if you have full vacuum at any given point is the best way to find it. You can cut into the line anywhere and splice it back together with a piece of vacuum hose. Find the broken line, you found your problem.

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Thursday, May 26th, 2011 AT 6:14 PM