Blows hot air - air conditioning problems

Tiny
EXPLODERFAMILY
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
  • V8
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 110,000 MILES
With the hot-cold selector in any position in any position it will only blow hot air. With the selector in the max ac position it will blow semi cool air.
Saturday, July 17th, 2010 AT 12:22 AM

30 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,128 POSTS
Hello,

This sounds like a classic temperature blend door actuator that is not working due to a vacuum leak under the hood please take a look at this guide to see what I am talking about.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/air-vents-stay-in-the-defrost-position

This guide can help as well

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-air-conditioner-not-working-or-is-weak

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Saturday, July 17th, 2010 AT 12:28 AM
Tiny
EXPLODERFAMILY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yes its cycling. Where is the blend door?
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Saturday, July 17th, 2010 AT 9:07 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,128 POSTS
If it is cycling, then the freon level is good enough to make the system to work. The blend air door is located in the HVAC system next to the heater core. That would be my first guess.

See the guide below, not vehicle specific, but it will show you what needs to be done

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-blend-door-motor
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Sunday, July 18th, 2010 AT 1:09 AM
Tiny
TODDMANZ
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  • 1 POST
Actuator fixed it. Thank You !
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Monday, June 3rd, 2019 AT 7:53 PM
Tiny
THEBIEV
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2008 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 31,000 MILES
Just recently my air conditioner started blowing warm air and it took some time to blow a little cool air but not enough to cool off. Sounds silly but it blows cooler on the passenger side than the driver side. My husband checked belts, fuse.
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Monday, June 3rd, 2019 AT 7:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi thebiev,

Thank you for the donation.

Problem is due to a fault in the air blend doors and from symptom description, your system should be equipped with dual-zone meaning there are 2 separate electrical blend door motors an the driver side seems to be stuck in heater mode.

Check the air blend motor functions and linkages for sticking.

Sorry I could not find any diagrams to show you the location of the blend actuators. They should be at either of heater housing assy underdash.
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Monday, June 3rd, 2019 AT 7:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RAYRAMOS
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1996 FORD EXPLORER
  • V8
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 127,000 MILES
My 1996 Ford Explorer A/C is not working properly. I had the compressor changed last year. We do not use the Explorer very much because of gas prices. So everything was serviced in accordance with. However, now when I turn the Air conditioner on, it blows cold air for a little while, then you hear a door or something close and it starts blowing extremely hot air. Does anyone know what this door or panel may be? And what is causing it to close? Where is this Door/Panel located?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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Monday, June 3rd, 2019 AT 7:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAT2257
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I had this problem on my 96 Explorer. On the Explorer, hot water is always running through the heater core. There is a door inside the duct that blends the hot air that passes over the heater core and the cold air that passes through the A/C coil. The door is acuated with a small electric motor that is mounted to the top of the duct under the dash. On mine, the motor turned the door too far, and the door eventually cracked. It would have cost $800 for the dealer to replace the whole duct unit. Instead, I cut a slot in the bottom of the duct and pulled out the door, glued together the broken parts, reinstalled the door, and reinstalled the bottom section of duct. Then, I put JB weld on the heater knob so it wouldn't turn as far to prevent it from happening again. When I cut the slot in the bottom of the duct, I only cut three sides, so that one side was still attached to the duct, and I just bent down the part I cut to get the door out.
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Monday, June 3rd, 2019 AT 7:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOE39168
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 55,000 MILES
Where is the port to recharge unit or is there ant else I can do?
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Monday, June 3rd, 2019 AT 7:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TECHS IN
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
You could also check the ac pressure switch if the compressor is not kicking in this could indicate that the pressure switch is faulty. Also the low pressure side port is on the larger line going to the accumulator
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Monday, June 3rd, 2019 AT 7:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ROD2639
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 132,000 MILES
I have a 1998 Ford Explorer 4x4 (6 cyl) and when I turned on the heat it only blew cold air. I made sure that the knob was on the hot side and waited a ten minutes to warm the truck up, but still no heat, only cold air, but not the cold air that would be coming from the a/c. What can it be?
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
If the radiator is completly full then it probably a blend door or blend door motor problem. So what is happening is that the blend door is not closing the cold air off so you get outside are without going through the heater core. Here is the blend door so you know what you are looking for


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/249564_379286_1.jpg

Hope this helps let me know how it goes.
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MICHELLE_84
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 FORD EXPLORER
  • 147,000 MILES
My a.C just blows hot air I took it to a mechanic and the compressor would not turn on but when he connected the compressor direct it clicked on but was still just blowing hot air it has no leaks it was recharged also the pressure is right where it is supposed to be. I opened the the glove box and the blend door does not open or close I did it manually still no cold air the acuator I took it out and it looks fine I dont see any wear or cracks on the teeth of the the wheels in there. Please need help any idea what it can be I have a 1997 ford explorer eddie Bauer v6 sohv 4 L.
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Are you sure the system held its charge? As far as the compressor, did the mechanic check the cycle switch? Also, was the system pressure checked to make sure there are no blockages in it?
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MICHELLE_84
  • MEMBER
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Yes it held its charge I dont think he checked the cycle switch and yes he checked the pressure he said it was where it was supposed to be
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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I would have him check to make sure the cycle switch is working. That is what energizes the compressor clutch.
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TODD37
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • FORD EXPLORER
Hi, I need help getting pointed in the right direction about an a/c problem.

Here's the info: Ford Explorer XLT 1999, 145,000 miles, 4.0 SOHC.

Porblem: a/c stoped working last week

I thought it might be something simple like a recharge so I went ot recharge it. Put on the gauge at the reciever/drier. This was the only place I could find to attach the gauge anywhere in the line. I turned the a/c to max with the fan on high. I noticed the reading would shoot from normal (on the higher side) to low. What I also notced was that this was happening when the clutch on the compressor was engaging. What looked to me was that the clutch wasn't staying engaged for more than a few seconds at a time, it would click on and click off. So now I don't know if it's a problem with the compressor, the clutch plate on the front of the compressor, something electrical, or something else. I don't have the money to take it somewhere or get taken by a not so honest mechanic. Please Help! :(
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
98RANGERXLT
  • MEMBER
  • 301 POSTS
You are on the right track close the high side put ac on NORM fan on high temp full cold fill until comp stays on
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TODD37
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi Fordman16,
If this works that would be awesome let me just walk thru this with you if you don't mind I still have a question or two.
The first is. Am I ok with recharging it at the reciever/drier? It was the only place I could see to try to recharge it at.

I'm not sure what exactly you mean when you say. Close the high side?

The next steps are:
Set fan to normal or lowest setting.

Set the temp control to High (hot. Red area) not cold (blue area)

So by doing this there should not be the back and forth spike on the gage from the refrigerant can from the on/off of the clutch plate engaging on the compressor? I'll tell you when that gage would spike to the high/warning side I was getting a little nervous.

One other little question. Something goes totally wrong. Worst case the car will still runs normal just no air because I blew the a/c system to hell?

Thanks again!
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 132 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 203,560 MILES
Hello, My Ford Explorer has an unusual problem. It will drive fine, however when you turn the AC on it will drive fine for a little while then when you take off from stop, it will rev up and kinda stall between 1st and 2nd gears. Eventually after a while doing that, it will act like the rear end is slipping when taking off. When you turn the ac off it will continue with these symptoms then after a little while it will drive fine. I have replaced the battery and these symptoms do not recur as much now but it still does it every now and then. Diagnostic codes say Bank 1 too lean and sometimes Bank 2 too lean. Also I hear a vacuum leak coming from the back of the engine and it sounds like its between the firewall and the dash. When you turn off the ac off or on when the vehicle is off you can hear a air sound. I hope I get a reply, this problem has been annoying.
My vehicle has 203560 miles and it is a 4.0L V6 OHV.

Thank you!
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)

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