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Old Jul 9, 2006 | 06:48 PM
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a/c trouble

Hello,

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I am looking for advice with my a/c before I have to take it to the garage. I have a 2001 F150, when I start the truck the a/c works just fine, once I start driving (highway speed) it cuts out and starts blowing hot air. If I shut it off for about 5 minutes and then turn it back on it will work fine for a bit maybe 10 minutes (all while at highway speed) then it starts to blow hot again. It seems to work fine most of the time driving around town at slow speeds. I was going to purchase an a/c sealer and repair kit and try that, I was hoping someone has experienced this problem before and could point me in the right direction.

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Thanks
 
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Old Jul 9, 2006 | 07:12 PM
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I don't have a lot of experance with A/C, but I think I could handle stopping by Wally World or your fav. auto parts store and picking up a can/kit of freon w/ gage and top it off as it sounds like you are a little low on freon. It'll cost ya less than $10.00 and if that doesn't work, then you can put it in the shop.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2006 | 07:13 PM
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Welcome to the site! I have no idea about your problem.To me, it does sound like you may have a leak or a low amount of freon. My heater core started leaking recently so I had to bypass it, but it wasn't blowing hot on the highway just stinking like anitfreeze!
 
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Old Jul 9, 2006 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by gtp20
I am looking for advice with my a/c before I have to take it to the garage. I have a 2001 F150, when I start the truck the a/c works just fine, once I start driving (highway speed) it cuts out and starts blowing hot air. If I shut it off for about 5 minutes and then turn it back on it will work fine for a bit maybe 10 minutes (all while at highway speed) then it starts to blow hot again. It seems to work fine most of the time driving around town at slow speeds. I was going to purchase an a/c sealer and repair kit and try that, I was hoping someone has experienced this problem before and could point me in the right direction.


Here's a piece of advice: Do not follow ANY advice from someone who starts out by saying they know nothing about the system with which you are having problems.

You need to determine if the compressor clutch is staying engaged when the airflow goes hot. If it is, then you have an issue with the blend door.

Since the system will cool initially, it most likely is not low on refrigerant. However, it is really necessary to get both high and low side readings in order to properly assess the condition of the system. You also need to confirm that the clutch is staying engaged.

DO NOT use a sealer. If you do and you have to afterwards take the vehicle to a shop, you will pay dearly for having used it. AC professionals hate that stuff as it can cause a lot of other problems.

Steve
 
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Old Jul 9, 2006 | 09:24 PM
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Anyone have the specs for high and low side? Mine isn't cooling the best and I'd like to check it.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2006 | 09:26 PM
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I bet projectho89 does, he seems to be blowing a lot of hot air!
 
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Old Jul 9, 2006 | 10:51 PM
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35 to 45 on the low side. Not sure exactly on the high side, I'd say between 200-250.
If it is low enough, it will cool some at low speeds, but when the rpms are up at highway speeds, it will cycle too fast to cool. Check the freon level.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2006 | 10:59 PM
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Forgot to add smiley, project , just rubbin' ya. I am lame!
 
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Old Jul 10, 2006 | 06:50 AM
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Originally Posted by looneylariat
Forgot to add smiley, project , just rubbin' ya. I am lame!
Hey, at least my truck and cars are all cool!

Ford does not publish pressure vs temp charts for R134a charged vehicles like they did for the older R12 services. The "correct" procedure is to completely evacuate the system and then to recharge by refrigerant weight.

That said, actual pressures will vary depending on ambient temperature. Typical low side pressures may cycle between around 22-45 psi on the low side while the high side readings wiill be anywhere from 180 to 250 psi depending on temperature and the particular point in the compressor cycle at which the measurement is recorded. All measurements should be made with the A/C selctor on MAX A/C, blower on high speed, RPMs at 1500, and the system should be allowed to stabilize for several minutes. Monitoring the center vent temp for the lowest reading is also helpful when tweaking the charge.

Steve
 
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Old Jul 10, 2006 | 05:14 PM
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i have a F150 FORD CD service disc. I though the number project89 gave was about right, but when i checked my AIR last weekend i had about 400 spi on the high side. I looked in disc and they do list 30-45 psi low side and about 350 on the high side which i thought was too high. They said the high pressure cutout is set about 450 psi. Seams too high to me, but thats what they said. I though maybe someone had added gas to mine (i have had it 1 year), now im not sure. I was running the test over 1500 RPM, it does say to stay at 1500 for the test and have the truck warmed up. i need to rerun the test. It does say the temp at the dash should be 35-45 degrees, mine is about 50. Crew cab dont cool quick.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 08:44 PM
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How bout the problem where the A/C will not cool at idle speed but will once the RPM start to pick up? And it does tend to do that during the hotter part of the day and not at night or morning. My truck is a 2002 F150 SC Lariat with the 5.4. It has always been that way since new. I just thought all ford A/Cs sucked and never thought about checking it.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 08:51 PM
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sounds like you may have moisture in the system and it is freezing up .have the system evaced and held under vacum for at least 30min and than refilled
 
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Old Jul 13, 2006 | 08:47 AM
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yeah seems to me blend door is getting stuck as well...since user advises it blows cool air in beginning....
 
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Old Jul 17, 2006 | 11:26 PM
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normaly when a blend door sticks it stays at one temp all the time not cool at first and warm later unless the opperator trys to adjust the temp
 
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Old Jul 18, 2006 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by ladiabla74
How bout the problem where the A/C will not cool at idle speed but will once the RPM start to pick up? And it does tend to do that during the hotter part of the day and not at night or morning. My truck is a 2002 F150 SC Lariat with the 5.4. It has always been that way since new. I just thought all ford A/Cs sucked and never thought about checking it.
If the A/C doesn't cool just at idle or while sitting and not moving it can be a fan problem. The Condenser needs airflow in order for the a/c to function properly. The best thing to do would be to put a set of guages on it while it sits and see what the pressures are doing. If you post pressures, the temperature coming out of the vents, ambient temps, control **** positions etc It would be a great help in determining the problem.
 
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