 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Ford / Ford Explorer / May 2007Air Conditioner '95 XLT
The airconditioner on my XLT just isn't giving very much cold air. The compressor goes on for about 2 seconds, then goes off, and then a few seconds later goes on again for about 2 seconds. What could the problem be? I just had the belt tensioner replaced -- could that have caused this problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Fast cycling is typically a sign of low refrigerant charge. Not surprising in a 14 year old vehicle, but please don't be tempted to just dump a can into it. It can be dangerous. Have it checked by a pro, and if there is a leak, repaired first. > The airconditioner on my XLT just isn't giving very much cold air. The > compressor goes on for about 2 seconds, then goes off, and > then a few > seconds later goes on again for about 2 seconds. What could the problem > be? >Fast cycling is typically a sign of low refrigerant charge. Not surprising >in a 14 year old vehicle, but please don't be tempted to just dump a can >into it. It can be dangerous. How is that dangerous?? Have it checked by a pro, and if there is a >leak, repaired first. > >> The airconditioner on my XLT just isn't giving very much cold air. The >> compressor goes on for about 2 seconds, then goes off, and > then a few >> seconds later goes on again for about 2 seconds. What could the problem >> be? >The airconditioner on my XLT just isn't giving very much cold air. The >compressor goes on for about 2 seconds, then goes off, and then a few >seconds later goes on again for about 2 seconds. What could the problem be? >I just had the belt tensioner replaced -- could that have caused this >problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. It's low on Freon most likely. Not surprising for it's age. If it was mine and if there were no obvious leaks (look for lots of dirty oil film on the AC lines and connections) I'd buy a recharge kit at Walmart and put it in it. If it has a significant leak it will start acting up again in a month or two if not sooner and then you can take it to a repair place. Or you can take it to a repair place now but if they find even the tiniest of leaks they will probably tell you (even though it's not true) that you have to fix the leak for big bucks. As I said, I'd risk the lost of my investment in the $35 recharge kit first. > It's low on Freon most likely. > ... Hopefully, in a '95 vehicle it's not Freon, but R134a. As for my comment about danger. Well, we don't know for sure that it's low, and adding to a fully charged system is not a good idea, to say the least. I would certainly confirm with a manifold gauge first. The OP didn't appear to have any, or he would have reported the pressure readings. And then there is always the risk of hooking the can to the high side port by someone who does not understand the system. Fairly low because it normally won't fit there, but who knows what has been done to that system before, and the consequences could be dire. Make double sure that it's the low side port if you are going to attempt a recharge. >> It's low on Freon most likely. >> ... [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >could be dire. Make double sure that it's the low side port if you are going >to attempt a recharge. People worry too much. He could get struck by a meteor too. Yes, the '95 uses R134a Dave >> It's low on Freon most likely. >> ... [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > that system before, and the consequences could be dire. Make double sure > that it's the low side port if you are going to attempt a recharge. Thank you for your help. If I buy the kit, is it complicated to do this? I don't really have tools, but would they come with the kit? If it is a leak, how much would it cost to have a professional take care of it? Also, it doesn't use freon, but uses something else instead. Thanks. >>The airconditioner on my XLT just isn't giving very much cold air. The >>compressor goes on for about 2 seconds, then goes off, and then a few [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > I said, I'd risk the lost of my investment in the $35 recharge kit > first. > Thank you for your help. If I buy the kit, is it complicated to do this? I > don't really have tools, but would they come with the kit? If it is a leak, > how much would it cost to have a professional take care of it? Also, it > doesn't use freon, but uses something else instead. Thanks. No extra tools needed. I just recharged an '01 Escort, and did a '97 Explorer a couple years ago. It's the easiest job ever. The complete *kit* includes a pressure gauge and simple instructions. Keep that gauge, and the hose, and everything else, so you'll only need to buy a cheaper refill can next time. I recently saw what looked like a refill kit with a gauge built onto the top of the can, for (I think) about the same cost as the kits with separate components... a waste of money if you end up tossing the gauge in the trash. If I recall, low pressure A/C fittings have smooth domed caps on them, high pressure fittings have hex shaped caps. You might have to look around to find them. The Escort has them located at opposite corners of the engine bay.  SignatureMake friends with a few animals. Then you will become a cheerful man once more and nothing will be able to trouble you. -- Albert Einstein >Thank you for your help. If I buy the kit, is it complicated to do this? I >don't really have tools, but would they come with the kit? If it is a leak, >how much would it cost to have a professional take care of it? Also, it >doesn't use freon, but uses something else instead. Thanks. The kit comes with instructions, just read them several times and go over all the steps before you actually start. If it has a leak there is no way to know what it will cost to fix till you know where the leak is. Figure the smallest, easiest leak will probably cost at least a hundred bucks. A leak in a major component could run many hundreds or even over a thousand with the labor. >>>The airconditioner on my XLT just isn't giving very much cold air. The >>>compressor goes on for about 2 seconds, then goes off, and then a few [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> I said, I'd risk the lost of my investment in the $35 recharge kit >> first. > Thank you for your help. If I buy the kit, is it complicated to do this? I > don't really have tools, but would they come with the kit? If it is a leak, > how much would it cost to have a professional take care of it? Also, it > doesn't use freon, but uses something else instead. Thanks. The kit I bought came with refrigerent that contained stop-leak. It also came with plenty of instructions and even a DVD instruction video. I found that if you smear a tiny bit of Vaselline on the top of the can before attaching the hose it seals better and the next time you need to add refrigerant it might still have some in the can. On second thought that may have been the old R12 cans... the new stuff I think is threaded on the can. > >>The airconditioner on my XLT just isn't giving very much cold air. The > >>compressor goes on for about 2 seconds, then goes off, and then a few [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > I said, I'd risk the lost of my investment in the $35 recharge kit > > first. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.