2006 E450 6.0. Only 45k miles. This truck was in a major front end wreck that I had repaired and when I got it back, it wouldn't blow through the dash vents. I think it's because they didn't hook up a vacuum line - maybe the one to that canister above the passenger-side wheel well.

I figured out that one of the actuators on top of the dash controls that function, so I unmounted it and moved the vents manually. Now it blows out the dash just fine.

However, while the AC seems to work, it just doesn't get cold enough and hardly cold at all when idling/stuck in traffic - during the daytime (it's been 100 degrees here). I'm thinking that the other vent control that allows the air to recirculate is not working such that it's constantly pulling in that superhot outside air, which it can only cool so much so it's never getting colder. It does work better at night when it's cooled off.

I'd also note that the wreck caused a gap in the engine cover on the passenger side, which lets hot air into the cab. I have a blanket stuffed in the floorboard to try to block that, but isn't that where the recirculate air sucks in?

I'm about to go check the freon, but I think it's alright. I see a second actuator on top of the dash, maybe it'll controls the recirculate vent.

 

Fix the vac line to the dash. The rec door is the one on the bottom between the box and the right kick panel. I just "fixed'' an 03 with a no vac problem, just ran a new hose from the drivers side connection right into the cab through the oe hole. Eliminated the vac tank and check valve and system still worked good. They needed the truck quick, so I hacked haha.

 

Well, I just checked the freon with the cheapo gauge that comes on the freon bottle. Showed that it was pretty high. I think I added freon to it a few weeks ago, before I know how the gauge worked. So, I "called in an EPA expert" who removed freon until in went into the normal zone on the gauge. Doesn't seem to have made a difference. I also sprayed water on the condensor - nothing. It's night now, so a little cooler, and it just started raining. Woulda thought those would help it get cooler but it doesn't seem to.

Don't know that it matters, but this is an ambulance with a rear AC as well. I don't know that it has two compressors although I've heard some do. I'm having some kind of electrical problem with everything in the back - none of the lights or that AC work until I've driven on the highway awhile. I think it has something to do with the Aux batteries - once I drive long enough to juice them up, the lights and the rear AC work. It gets cold, but, again, not as cold as it should, and it has its own recirculate/fan motor.

Also noticed just now that the engine fan never came on while I was out there checking it. However, it does come on a lot while I'm driving during the day, so I know it works. Comes on less at night, so I assume that's just temperature related (it's just hot as heck here for the last month, which is as long as I've been driving this).

My F250 AC went out last week driving back from Oklahoma - 600 miles with no AC in 100 degree heat was not fun. Now, I'm off to North Carolina this week in the van and afraid it'll do the same thing.

 

What brand box do you have? Most amblances have just 1 compressor with the rear evap tied in.

 

Hmm, sorry, I'm stupid about ACs (and most other things). Do you think a no vacuum/no recirc would cause my no cold problem? It was a theory on my part, could it be true? I kinda thought it would improve now that it's dark and raining, but the temp seems the same. I think I just thought it was colder before because it wasn't 100 degrees outside.

I messed with that other actuator, manually closing the lever it controls. Didn't notice noise or suction coming from below the passenger side. Did feel a little AC coming out there, as if my manual fix of the dash vents didn't shut off the heater vents as I assumed it would.

 

Don't know that I can survive another long trip without AC. That is a special kind of hell. Now, I'll be passing through flooded out Louisiana, which means lots of humidity, and driving 2400 miles. I'm too old for this stuff.

 

This one is a Wheeler.

 

Do you mean wheeled coach?

 

Yes, sorry about that. Brain dead tonight.

 

Well a wheeled coach should have a vac solenoid and a shut off valve for the rear heat up at the cowl near the master cyl. I would check to see if you have vac there when running. You should have a "t" where the large hose comes up from the vac pump and ties to the small black hose that feeds the dash.

 

OK, I'll check that first thing tomorrow. Will I be able to tell if there's vacuum by just putting my finger on the hose? I've never really worked on the Evans and am not sure what you mean by "cowl." I assume the master cylinder is right behind the brake fluid reservoir, wherever that is, LOL, although I'm sure I'll find it. Do F-series diesels have a vacuum pump? I know their brakes don't run off vacuum.

 

Yes you can feel vac with your finger. Yes F series have a vac pump but its electric, yours is a belt driven pump. E and F series diesels all have hydraboost power brakes which run off the power steering. And the "cowl" is the plastic at the base of the windshield.

 

thank you, sir. Do you think vacuum could be why my ac doesn't get cold by not letting it recirculate?

 

Yes, if the rec door is open, then you are drawing outside air through the evaporator. Most of the time on these I see the plastic T or a hose near the master cyl is off or broken. So I would start there.

 

thx. I'll definitely check, but I'm thinking that I'm losing vacuum from that canister above the wheel well. they had to cut out and replace all of that area from the passenger door front pillar up to the bumper, fenders and all the apron(?) on that side, which required that they take the dash out to some extent. I'm guessing the canister hose got broke or they just didn't plug it back in. I may have to do the hack you first mentioned.

But, I'm talking out my rear end, cause I don't know much about all that. Just assuming from what I've read here and elsewhere about that canister often being the reason dash vents didn't work.