A/C reliability
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Joined: Mar 2006
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A/C reliability
I have a 2002 3.0L V6 Escape with 110,000 miles on it, as you might see from another post. Does this year Escape, or other years, have problems with the A/C systems in them? So far my works good, even with 90's that we have had a lot of this summer in Wisconsin. It takes about 60 seconds for the a/c gases to settle after turn off the engine, which is the longest I have had my previous cars do. I just want to see if I should be expecting anything to happen or what I can do to keep it going for as long as I own it. I am hoping that there are cheap preventive maintenance options. Thanks!
Last edited by mcgeenl; Jul 28, 2006 at 12:12 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 189
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From: Minnesota
There's not really any preventive maintenance required for the A/C. I installed black-painted gutter screening in the grille openings to prevent rocks and other highway debris from damaging the A/C condenser and the auxilary transmission cooler. I had to replace a condenser on a Bronco II I owned because of a rock hit. The serpentine belt drives the alternator and power steering pump as well as the A/C compressor, so that's not unique to the A/C. The only things that may cause you problems is if a leak develops or the compressor fails, but you'll just have to wait until that happens. There is some conventional wisdom that says you should occasionally run your A/C in the winter to keep the seals lubricated, but if you use defog or defroster, it will run when the under-hood temperature is high enough and take care of that.
