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A/C not cold

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Old Aug 12, 2007 | 07:21 PM
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A/C not cold

Last week was driving the truck, all of a sudden noticed the a/c began blowing warm. Not hot, but just felt about the same as the outside air temp. Then later the next day it was fine. Yesterday and today got warm again, and hasnt got cold again. Refridgerant is full, verifed with a gauge. Noticed the compressor seems to cycle like every 5 seconds or so. I jumped the switch, which I belive is called the low pressure switch, and compressor stayed running constant, but a/c still warm. I dont get it. What else should I check? Condensor is clean, no mud or crud in it, and flushed it with a hose to make sure. Any ideas???
 
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Old Aug 12, 2007 | 07:40 PM
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Slap a manifold gauge SET (not an el-cheapo low side only POS thing) on there and see what your actual pressures are.

Short cycling is almost ALWAYS due to a low charge. Very few exceptions.

Steve
 
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Old Aug 13, 2007 | 07:57 AM
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Originally Posted by projectSHO89
Slap a manifold gauge SET (not an el-cheapo low side only POS thing) on there and see what your actual pressures are.

Short cycling is almost ALWAYS due to a low charge. Very few exceptions.

Steve
Yes,, you are low on freon,, It cools only when temps are low enough for it to have fluid at the expansion point. However you are short on freon so it does'nt cool in some conditions. Use gauges,, add fluid,, find the leak. You might just have some normal loss if it is 5 yrs old and never added freon. Or you might possibly have a leak.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2007 | 09:52 PM
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....or maybe, the one of the doors in the system is not shutting off the heat or vent, that will certainly allow hot air to blow....
 
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 01:49 AM
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Well, I can't remember if Ford ever did a vacuum operated blend door on the pickups. The older ones that I remember were cable and the newer ones are done by electric.

Usually compressor cycling is due to low freon, but jumping the switch will make it stay on until you ice up. The problem there would be that you'd have a really low reaging on the low side, like below 25 or so.

They are prone to leaking at the compressor shaft seal and, if you have one old enough, from the quick-coupler O-rings. The intermittant thing is what keeps me from saying low freon hands down.

When it does that, is it warm like the heater's on or just outside temp? Barring any weird problems with an automatic climate control module, if it's actually turning on the heater I would check if you have a heater control valve under the hood. That could be vacuum or cable actuated, right on the heater hose near the firewall. Some diesel SDs have them. Othwerise, it's the conventional Ford system where it's just you and the blend door inside. It could be broken or you might have a stuck actuator if yours is electric.

Best of luck with your A/C problem. Those are frustrating as all get out. Keep us posted.
 
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 06:16 AM
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When I jumped the compressor, the line going to the box on the firewall iced up after a few minutes. When I added some 134, the line de-iced and air began to get cold. When I had it on max a/c set to cold on the dial it was like outside temp, turning thermostat **** to hot makes it come out Hot. I think its time to just bring it in for service. Heat index is gonna be 98 and very humid here today!
 
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 06:54 AM
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Do a search on compressor air gap. You may be able to easily fix this.
 
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 08:06 PM
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Rustynuts, did you ever get that problem fixed? '02 F350 is doing the same, and I am certain that it is the blend door. I am not sure how to pull it off however.

Was that your problem?
 
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 08:29 PM
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Folks, Not telling anyone what to do, but please be careful force running compressors. By force running(jumping) you could over pressurize the high side blowing a line and putting hot liquid refrigerant right into your face causing severe burns. Even if the safety valve (if equipped) blows the refrigerant has to go somewhere.
 
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Old Jun 27, 2008 | 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by FordxFour
Folks, Not telling anyone what to do, but please be careful force running compressors. By force running(jumping) you could over pressurize the high side blowing a line and putting hot liquid refrigerant right into your face causing severe burns. Even if the safety valve (if equipped) blows the refrigerant has to go somewhere.
You are so correct. This is why I use gauges to verify pressures when I do this test.
 
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