A\C blows hot and cold
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2004
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A\C blows hot and cold
Ok, here goes: 97 Ranger, 110K mi, XLT Extended cab Splash;
When I turn the air to the blower, it is all hot air. I can put it all the way to cold, and it blows very hot air. If I turn it on regular A\C, it is hot. It only blows cold air when I turn it to Max A\C. Any suggestions?
When I turn the air to the blower, it is all hot air. I can put it all the way to cold, and it blows very hot air. If I turn it on regular A\C, it is hot. It only blows cold air when I turn it to Max A\C. Any suggestions?
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,759
Likes: 70
From: Elk River, MN
Sounds like your blend air door is stuck or sticking. If you get cold car in Max a/c, your compressor and a/c should be good. All Max a/c really does is use inside air instead of outside air to blow across the a/c core.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 943
Likes: 2
From: Randolph, NJ
Max AC also shuts off coolant to the heater core. That is why it is cold in Max AC. My guess is you have the ubiquitous Ranger/Explorer Blend Door problem. Now, it could be something else, like a blown actuator motor on the blend door, but I give it an 90% chance on the blend door. Check the technical info sticky in the forum for a link to the blend door diagnoses and fixes.
-Jim
-Jim
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2006
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I worked on my neighbor's 97 with the same problem. His was always cool never hot. I took out the glove box removed the blend door servo motor and saw it turned when you twist the hot/cool ****. I then looked into the hole for the blend door motor and found the square plastic peg on the door that fit into the motor had broken off. Actually I couldn't see into the hole I had feel with my pinkie finger. I told him I needed to drop the whole hvac box and he decided to call the dealer. The dealer told him $1500 to replace the box, heater core and A/C Evap. He asked me to do a cheap fix and I told him I could set him up with "manual heater controls". I used a hole saw and drilled a 2" hole in the bottom of the box directly under where the blend door sweeps. To switch from heat to cool he had to stop, lean over to the passenger side and put his finger up into the hole and flip the door to one side or the other. He was pleased to get a cheap fix and I made an easy $50 by drilling a hole in the right place.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 943
Likes: 2
From: Randolph, NJ
Nick,
Unfortunately, we've lost the tech info sticky for the moment, I hope that there is a replacement soon.
Your "manual" fix is an option but I would recommend reading:
Blend Door Fix
If that doesn't work, options are a solution like yours, or replacing the plenum as you mentioned. The bill that the dealer quoted is not that off mark (though it seems a little high). The job is mostly labor since you need to pull the dash out to get the plenum out, though discharging the AC system is not necessary (but probably listed in their repair book). A used plenum can be found for $100 or possibly less. I detailed how I did it in this thread:
Heater Plenum Replacement
-Jim
Unfortunately, we've lost the tech info sticky for the moment, I hope that there is a replacement soon.
Your "manual" fix is an option but I would recommend reading:
Blend Door Fix
If that doesn't work, options are a solution like yours, or replacing the plenum as you mentioned. The bill that the dealer quoted is not that off mark (though it seems a little high). The job is mostly labor since you need to pull the dash out to get the plenum out, though discharging the AC system is not necessary (but probably listed in their repair book). A used plenum can be found for $100 or possibly less. I detailed how I did it in this thread:
Heater Plenum Replacement
-Jim
New User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I worked on my neighbor's 97 with the same problem. His was always cool never hot. I took out the glove box removed the blend door servo motor and saw it turned when you twist the hot/cool ****. I then looked into the hole for the blend door motor and found the square plastic peg on the door that fit into the motor had broken off. Actually I couldn't see into the hole I had feel with my pinkie finger. I told him I needed to drop the whole hvac box and he decided to call the dealer. The dealer told him $1500 to replace the box, heater core and A/C Evap. He asked me to do a cheap fix and I told him I could set him up with "manual heater controls". I used a hole saw and drilled a 2" hole in the bottom of the box directly under where the blend door sweeps. To switch from heat to cool he had to stop, lean over to the passenger side and put his finger up into the hole and flip the door to one side or the other. He was pleased to get a cheap fix and I made an easy $50 by drilling a hole in the right place.
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