When I took my 2001 (19,000 miles) in to the dealer for an oil change, I again complained about the weak a/c performance. They had recharged the system twice before, putting in a dye the last time looking for an air leak. “No leak was found.” I have discussed with them the real reason for the poor performance and the fix that has been described here and on other boards. They acknowledged the problem and the fact that new trucks have a vacuum valve that solves this problem. I asked why they don’t just install this valve on my 2001 to fix the problem. They stated that Ford does not authorize this fix under warranty, so they could not do it.

The service receipt I got when I picked up the truck does show a few interesting things.

Specifically it states “vent temp 53 F Code 68 analyze refrigerant. R-134-A 100% performance test A/C compressor cycling normal. Pressures normal.” Then it states “Suspect air leak inside heater box. Remove heater core access cover. Inspect blend door and heater core. Air leak around bottom of heater core. Add foam tape to bottom of heater core to seal. Test vents, temps 42 to 44 F normal.” Service guy told me some trucks were "missing" this foam tape.

Problem fixed as far as they are concerned. The problem for me is that the 42 to 44 temps they got were in 60 F weather first thing in the morning when truck engine is cold. I can now get those sort of temp readings myself under those conditions. Also, it does seem that the vent only air does not get heated up quite as much as before. Maybe only 8 - 10 degrees as opposed to 15 degrees. I could never use the vents only position before except in the winter. BUT, if the engine is warmed up and it is over 80 degrees outside, the a/c shows no real improvement. Yesterday with 96 F outside temp, the best I could get was 51F from the center vents. Ambient temp in the crew cab would not go below 83 degrees! Add the sun on your body coming through the windows and it feels a lot hotter.

I wonder why ford will authorize all this sort of work and customer complaining every oil change, but will not authorize the simple fix of putting on the vacuum valve?

I could add the valve myself, and probably will someday. But my issue here is that I should not have to do something like that to a truck under warrantee. Ford should fix it. Maybe I am just being stubborn. Been known to happen before!

I am also not that automotivly inclined and my hoses going to and from the heater core are not laid out in the same fashion as any of the pictures I have seen here or on other boards. I do know, however, that when I decide I have to do this myself to fix the problem, there will be lots of help here to figure out exactly where I should put the valve. The folks at FTE are #1 in the helpfulness department!