Hi Paul; And thank you for the reply. Yes, I think I will pick up that book this weekend at Border's Books. Sincerely, Brenda Joan

 

I'll note that my '97 4WD Ranger 4.0L does the same thing (A/C vent switches between passenger/winshield). Thanks to your thread I'll start checking vacuum. Sounds like it might be a common problem on vehicle? I suspect experienced Ford mechanic would have seen this before and should home in on the problem quickly.

Regards,
Dan

 

Hi There Dan;
Thank you for the reply and sorry to hear your having the same problem! I think I have it traced to a problematic "vacuum resivoir" which, by the way, no-one except an "expert", (Ken and others in here really helped me!)could possibly discover. Reason being is that you CANNOT SEE IT! It seems to be located "between" the plastic wheel well shell and the inner body on the right passenger side, UNDER the washer fluid/radiator fluid containers. Thin black tube goes to a "union" connector. (Just pull it off while you have the heater or AC on, let's say directed toward the floor or something and it will default up to defroster, the no-vacuum default position!)I just called the local Ford Dealer, (seems to be a Dealer item only), and the part costs $41 dollars. You know Dan? If I like "pull up" on that thin black tube? I can actually hear it like "banging" around in there! Gee whiz, talk about a STOOPID place to put this thing eh? Almost like an "after thought"! Now, what's a girl to do eh? Looks like I get out my cool lil' Husky tool kit that my Momma gave me, start undoing the bolts that hold the plastic inner well to the body, (actually not that many of them)and get at the vacuum thing that dwells in the Neither World between that inner shield and the truck's body. Like I say, what a dumb place to put such a criticle part!! Oh yes? Dan? The part is a "non-stocked item" and has to be ordered ok? So best to maybe order it a day or so before you decide to mess with it. Gee? Might even be more parts to it, like a check-valve or something? Parts guy at the Ford Dealer wasn't too helpfull. Guess he was skepticle of me doing the job myself? Anyway Dan, good luck ok? E-mail me if you wish. Medopsgirl(No Email Addresses In Posts!) Take care of yourself and have a great day
Sincerely, Brenda Joan

 

Brenda,
I'm glad the vacuum resevoir on my big Bronco sits right next to the battery, out in the open not under anything.
Don't let those dealership guys give you any crap; You act confident and like you know what you want, they'll be a bit respectful.
Good luck with everything.

 

Hi Paul;
Thanks for the kind words Have a great day ok? I gotta get back to work here, sick folks are starting to pile up in our ER Department and my Head Resident, Mother Superior, is giving me the "evil eye" and is theatning to bash my knuckles with the stick she carries under her "Nuns Habit" if I don't get my butt down there like STAT! Sincerely,
Miss Brenda Joan
Medical Operations Coordinator

 

Yes, there is definatly a check valve in line near the vacume cannister and this is a common problem for the check valve to go bad. I would definatly check it with a vacume pump.

Scott

 

Hi Everyone;
Well, during lunch, (I took an early lunch) I brought my little tool kit to work with me and removed the plastic inner fender well to get at the vacuum resivoir. Like I suspected, it was "just flapping in the breeze" because the holding brackets were broken. Anyway, I passed the air tubes back up through the engine compartment, disconnected the excess tubing so it is a more positive direct connection to the resivoir, and relocated the "globe", (looks like a small black globe thing) by the washer fluid cannister. I think it's bad because it rattles when I shook it, then again, that could be a "check ball" inside of it? The Ford guys want $41 dollars for a new one. When I drive home from work tonight I will see if maybe it is working like it's suppose to, if not, I'll just replace it, keeping it in the engine compartment and NOT replacing it where Ford had put it, (under the inner plastic fender well!)If that doesn't work? Then as Scott and others have suggested? I will start replacing other check-valves as I go down the line to ascertain this most damning of problems! Oh yes? I did unplug the main vacuum connection from the manifold to see what it would do, and it started running really rough! So? I would imagine the vacuum leak isn't too big? I do think it's that stupid vacuum resiviour thingie though, we shall see what we shall see...... God Bless you all for your input and guidance. Most Sincerely,
Miss Brenda Joan

 

Good Morning Guys Well, it's Sunday morning and I am getting for church, just thought I would drop a line here and tell you all I managed to fix my ac/heater vent problem! All thanks to everyone in here that helped me along with the problem, and, I might add, it only cost me a total of $16.60 cents!! Yep, Seems there are "2 versions" of the vacuum reservoir, of the 6 Ford Dealers I called to get this part, only 1 asked me,(Bill Brown Ford in Westland, Michigan) "Where was your truck built girl"? There was a sticker in the back window that said "Twin Cities", so I assumed St. Paul/Minniapolis. I told the guy, he said that version was only like $16 bucks and change, and NO, they are NOT suppose to "rattle"! And, he DID have one in stock, (which he very nicely held for me until I could get up there) I also might wish to add that I did not put it back up under the inner pastic wheel well shield where it's supposed to go. My old one had broken bakets and was just dangling in the breeze and to get at the holding screws and stuff was beyound my limited scope of mechanical expertise, so what I did was fine an unused hole along the inner hood lip, got 2 1/4"~28, (fine thread) nuts from the local general store and a few washers and attached it there, took the excess tubing and coiled it up neatly and tied it up with a cute nylon twist tie, (has a smiley face on it) and wrapped it up by the heater motor wiring harness. I also needed a rubber grommet thingie to replace one that was missing on my door jam and the guy said they are like $3 bucks each but he sold me one for $1 dollar. Gee? What a great bunch of folks there! I am also missing an end cover cap for my pull out rear seat cover thing, but he pulled up the picture on his computer and said I would have to replace the entire pull out cover just to get a new end thingie and to just save my money because they were well over a $100 dollars for that thing! So guys? My vacuum reservoir project is over, I'll come by to visit from time to time if it's ok? And maybe I'll have another problem at some point in time you folks might enjoy helping me solve? I really wish to thank you all for the help and guidance. You guys sure saved me a lot of money!! If I could, I would treat ya'all to a few "good & greasy" monster pizza pies and some ice cold long necks up at the local country & western roadhouse for all your help! Gotta run here, gonna be late for church, ya'all have a great day
Sincerely, Miss Brenda Joan......