The A/C has recently stopped working on my 2003 Expy. FX4 with 36,600 miles on it and I was wondering if someone could possibly help me out.

When you call for A/C the clutch engages and the compressor runs for a few seconds and then stops. During the few seconds that the compressor is running you can hear the normal gurgling sound inside the vehicle that I've always heard when you first turn on the A/C, but then the compressor shuts off. It then keeps repeating this cycle every 15-20 seconds...

Any ideas? Relay for the A/C clutch? The clutch itself?

The truck is only used for vacations and trips to the summer place up north so usually it's just sitting. It has really only been driven a handful of times....4 of them being 7000 mile road trips..

I'm getting ready for my next road trip and was thinking it would be nice to have A/C.

Thanks for taking the time to read this..

Tony

http://www.madcash.com/tony/album/2003_trip/page_05.htm

 

Try re-charging your AC. The compressor will not run (completely) if it cannot generate the required pressure.

You may want to put a leak detector in it or even the kind of R134-A that has a sealer contained with the refrigerant. That usually works well for those small kine leaks.

 

Well, that certainly makes sense to me..

I don't really understand why a truck with such few miles needs to be recharged, however I will definitely look into it... The truck has certainly been hammered through high temperatures and lots of mountains!

http://www.madcash.com/tony/album/2004_road-trip/

It's only 600 miles out of warranty, does anyone know what Ford usually does in cases like this? Think there is a chance I can get them to take care of it?

Thanks for your time!

 

I acutally just had the same problem. Took it to the dealer and i was told that it was a gasket leaking. They werent specific anymore. But they replaced it and it is like antarctica now. Im thinking a gasket where the refrigerant is held.


Good Luck

 

I wouldn't count on it. It could be 6 miles out of warranty, it's still just that -- out of warranty. I believe Ford usually sticks to the 3/36 rule pretty tightly. I doubt any of the other auto manufacturers are any different.

 

Well, I called them today. They said there is a 200.00 deductible but they'll fix anything that's wrong with it. It will cost me 79.00 if I decide not to fix it.

Sigh.. I think I'm done with american vehicles. I'm seriously considering trading this thing in for a Land Rover..

 

They're owned by Ford, though...

Nice trip pics! I took that trip a few years back...Awesome!!

If you trade your truck let me have first dibs on the grill guard (do the headlight guards come off?) and the headlights (I can trade you. ).

 

the land rover is owned by ford and it has more problems than the expy.

 

Just because of an a/c problem? That seems a little harsh.