Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Bug or feature?

Old Jun 17, 2008 | 09:26 AM
  #1  
JasonI's Avatar
JasonI
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Bug or feature?

In my 1989 F250 2wd, auto, when pulling a trailer uphill, my A/C seems to stop. Does it do this on purpose to give the truck all available power or is the truck using all available power and killing the A/C?
 
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2008 | 09:30 AM
  #2  
jroehl's Avatar
jroehl
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
It's all about the vacuum. Under hard throttle/load/acceleration, the engine doesn't create much vacuum, so as soon as the pressure comes up in your vacuum reservoir, the blend doors in the dash go to their default position (defrost), so you don't feel air from the mid-level vents.

Jason
 
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2008 | 09:58 AM
  #3  
Conanski's Avatar
Conanski
FTE Legend
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Community Builder
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
This is built into the computer programming, it toggles off the AC clutch at WOT.. which is actually any throttle position above about 4/5th.
 
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2008 | 11:33 AM
  #4  
JasonI's Avatar
JasonI
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Good to know. Thanks!
 
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2008 | 11:45 AM
  #5  
gweeds's Avatar
gweeds
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 658
Likes: 2
Can't it also be a vacuum leak though? I mean, the clutch on the AC going out is because of the computer obviously, but going to defrost means a loss of vacuum pressure, no?
 
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2008 | 01:01 PM
  #6  
Conanski's Avatar
Conanski
FTE Legend
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Community Builder
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Originally Posted by gweeds
Can't it also be a vacuum leak though? I mean, the clutch on the AC going out is because of the computer obviously, but going to defrost means a loss of vacuum pressure, no?
Yes.. that points to a vacuum leak.. though the OP made no mention of the air switching to another vent in his case.
 
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2008 | 02:12 PM
  #7  
JasonI's Avatar
JasonI
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Conanski
Yes.. that points to a vacuum leak.. though the OP made no mention of the air switching to another vent in his case.
Once I get the #$%@# harmonic balancer back on it, I'll verify that it's not just switching vents.
 
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2008 | 02:56 PM
  #8  
danr1's Avatar
danr1
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 13
From: Sand Lake, MI
The wife's explorer does the same thing, towing a camper through the mountains on a trip out west had it happen to us for the first time.

I thought oh great, on vacation hundreds of miles from home out in this heatwave and the air is going to pick now to die?

Long, steep uphill climbs at full throttle or close to it would cancel the A/C and yea I think it did even switch to defrost when it happen. Backing off the throttle a bit once cresting the hills and everything returns to normal. We got some hills here but nothing that long or steep so we never had it happen before that.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-4

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-6

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
Old Jun 17, 2008 | 04:14 PM
  #9  
EPNCSU2006's Avatar
EPNCSU2006
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,557
Likes: 44
From: Concord, NC
Not all vehicles have an A/C WOT cutout. That was one thing that I added when I converted to mass air using a Mustang computer. The Mustang computer had the feature, my stock truck computer did not. Even then, it just disengages the compressor -- it doesn't turn off the whole system (i.e. the fan still runs).
 
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2008 | 04:32 PM
  #10  
frederic's Avatar
frederic
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,214
Likes: 13
From: New Jersey
Some Fords turn off the AC compressor when the coolant temp gets too high. All three times my Intercepter overheated the AC compressor cut off while the temp gauge was at it's normal "4 bars" (digital cluster) then within 10 seconds the gauge jumped to "all bars", the knocking starts, the power goes away, then another 10 seconds later the engine shuts down.

Even if you're on the highway doing 75.

Definately the most bone-headed design there is.

The cause of all this? The electric fan was occasionally drawing over it's 50A fuse, and popping it, thus no fan.
 
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:32 AM.

story-0
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-02 21:45:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-5
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-9
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE