I have an '01 7.3L Excursion that was blowing 75-degree air out of the vents, both front and rear. I took it to a shop and they diagnosed a bad compressor, but could not get the work done in time for me to make a planned trip. So, I had them evacuate the system and I replaced the compressor, orifice tube, and accumulator/dryer. One interesting thing here, is that the orifice tube that I removed looked brand new -- no junk built up on it at all. I pulled good vacuum on the system for around an hour, and closed it up to sit overnight. The next morning, I still had solid vacuum, so I charged the system, making sure to not introduce any air when changing refrigerant cans on my manifold gauges. After charging with 5 and a half cans of refrigerant, the truck blew around 70degree air at idle and around 60 degree air while driving. My pressures were 180-200 on the high side and 50-60 on the low side at idle. They dropped with revs into the 175 and 40 ballpark. I made my trip, then put it back in the shop.

Round 2 at the shop resulted in them diagnosing a clogged AC condenser, so we replaced that, and pulled the orifice tube just to make sure. This new one, was covered pretty well with sludge and a few tiny metallic bits, so we replaced it again, pulled vacuum again, and recharged the system . Now, I'm getting the same pressures on my gauges as before the condenser replacement, but slightly better cooling. It will hit 52-55 degree vent temps after driving on the interstate for a half hour or so. In traffic, it still blows 65-70 degrees. The temperature control **** appears to function normally, as I can switch it over to the hot side and get hot air, so I don't think it's a blend door or actuator motor problem. The temps are pretty consistent between the front vents and the rear vents.

I drove my uncle's crew cab F250, also a 2001 7.3L truck. Within 30 seconds of cranking the motor, that truck blows 48degree air out the vents, while idling in the driveway, and it hits 44degress driving around town in traffic. Clearly something is still wrong with my Excursion's AC system, but both myself and the shop are stumped. They've written it off as "it's just such a big volume of air to cool, that's the best it's going to do", which I find ridiculous. I can understand how the larger interior volume will result in a longer time to cool the interior off, but I think it should be able to pump out the same vent temps as the F250.

Any suggestions for what I can try next, or something that we have overlooked?

 

Just trade trucks with your Uncle....<G>, "the Devil made me say that", sorry......

One thing, when I bought my 89 E150 and the A/C was weak, my mechanic turned off a valve on the heater circuit that caused hot water not to flow through the heater core all the time........maybe that might help......if your truck don't have such a valve, you can plug it off temporarily and if it helps you can install one.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3