about a week ago i started the X and the air would/will not come out the vents. It just comes out the defrost. No matter what setting its on be it A/C, vents, or floor it comes out the defrost. It just did this overnight. There were no signs leading up to this problem. The night before it worked on my way home from work, and the next day is when the problem started.

Often vacuum actuators fail to actuate because oif vacuum line disconnects and or damage. Check this.

There is a 4" round globe thingy in the front passenger wheelwell,behind corner lamps.It has 2 hard vacuum lines attatched to it. Check that those lines haven't broken-disconnected
This is weird, I had a sluggish switching of vent, couldn't find.
I was relocating the vacuum reservoir (globe thingy), and found it half full of water.
Emptying (shaking repeatedly) fixed it.

My truck has never off roaded, I don't know how it got there

There is a 4" round globe thingy in the front passenger wheelwell,behind corner lamps.It has 2 hard vacuum lines attatched to it. Check that those lines haven't broken-disconnected



Thanks a lot man. thats exactly what it was. signed on about 10 min ago to check the responses, read that, went outside and had it fixed in less than a min. it has been really hot lately and riding with the windows down is just hot air coming in.

thanks again.

So what was the issue? the line was disconnected at the vacuum canister?

So what was the issue? the line was disconnected at the vacuum canister?


yeah

Straight vacuum will not give proper operation. This reservoir is needed.
You had a vacuum leak, which you've just found also. Your economy might just increase. score!!

I have the same problem and I do not know where to find canister, would you please guide me to find it?

Thanks

There is a 4" round globe thingy in the front passenger wheelwell,behind corner lamps.It has 2 hard vacuum lines attatched to it. Check that those lines haven't broken-disconnected

It is a black plastic ball

thats right one line is damaged but I did not expect that this thin line could cause this big issue and unfort the line which is damaged is the one that going to the concule and I could not reach it to get it fix

Could anybody offer any additional information on how to locate the vacuum canister on a 97 Explorer (export to UK - RHD) have followed the useful info above but still no luck. Thanks in advance

There should be 2 hard vacuum lines going from the firewall, near the blower housing, to the engine area--one is grey, one black.
Follow the grey one to the vacuum reserve.

Just dig around in the engine compartment. You're looking for a black plastic "ball" that's about 4 or 5 inches across. It kind of looks like the old toilet tank floats! There should be two hard vacuum lines that are attached to it. Good luck!

They are well hidden, below the air cleaner(USA), under the metal inner fender, above the right plastic inner fender. Good luck,

That is a good pic. They are in the same place on our UK (RHD) models.
You can get to it by unbolting the two small bolts at the front end of the plastic inner wing liner and pulling it down a bit.

It took me a while to find where to install it. I had my whole truck apart, and the ball was intact with my entire AC system. Most people don't realize that there is a volume of space there on both sides. The other side hides the horns, they are a pain to work on.

Thanks to all who have provided feedback and CDW6212R for the picture, will take a look later today and post the results.

Sorry for delay in feedback but I have only just had the chance to check the canister, both vacuum lines look fine with no breaks or splits, managed to release the canister but upon inspection found that it contains no water nor did it rattle, will assume for now that it is not the source of my problem. will now follow the lines within the cab and check connections to controls.

Any additional thoughts gratefully received. :)

I have the same problem on my 2001 Ranger XLT. There is no air that comes out of the vents or floor, only the defroster. I just got the truck a few months ago and it has A/C but it doesn't work either. I was going to just recharge the A/C but now that I saw you have the same problem and your A/C doesn't work, I decided I need to fix the vents first. I located the little ball thing and the grey hose is missing off of it. Where can I expect to find the grey hose?

Please help!

Thanks!:)

Sorry for delay in feedback but I have only just had the chance to check the canister, both vacuum lines look fine with no breaks or splits, managed to release the canister but upon inspection found that it contains no water nor did it rattle, will assume for now that it is not the source of my problem. will now follow the lines within the cab and check connections to controls.

Any additional thoughts gratefully received. :)

I have a similar problem on my 97 XLT Explorer 4x4 w/ 3 knob A/C control. When using Max A/C and going up a hill, the vent shifts to defrost. I assume that I have a vacuum leak in the lines to the vent system somewhere. I checked the vacuum canister and the vacuum line from the engine manifold all the way to the connection behind the glove box with no problems noted. With the glove box door disconnected I noted that the recirculation door did not actuate with Max A/C selected (also while driving). Has there been a problem with leakage at the control unit?

Speaking of the "globe" did you read this?

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169945&highlight=globe

And, as for how it's all connected to function...look at the post from shamaal #18.

Aloha, Mark

I noted that the recirculation door did not actuate with Max A/C selected (also while driving).Check this out.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125962&highlight=vacuum+motor

Aloha, Mark

Check this out.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125962&highlight=vacuum+motor

Aloha, Mark

I hadn't seen that link. Thanks. Looks like I be replacing the function selector vacuum valve.

I have a similar problem on my 97 XLT Explorer 4x4 w/ 3 knob A/C control. When using Max A/C and going up a hill, the vent shifts to defrost. I assume that I have a vacuum leak in the lines to the vent system somewhere. I checked the vacuum canister and the vacuum line from the engine manifold all the way to the connection behind the glove box with no problems noted. With the glove box door disconnected I noted that the recirculation door did not actuate with Max A/C selected (also while driving). Has there been a problem with leakage at the control unit?

I thought that I had throughly checked the vacuum line... Turns out the line to the water valve vacuum motor had touched the exhaust manifold and was leaking. A quick splice and everthing is back to normal.

So how is the best way to access the "globe"? Through the engine compartment or from under the truck thru the fender well????

From underneath. Just lower the front edge of the plastic fender liner and you should see it.

From underneath. Just lower the front edge of the plastic fender liner and you should see it.

Thanks for the quick reply!

There is a 4" round globe thingy in the front passenger wheelwell,behind corner lamps.It has 2 hard vacuum lines attatched to it. Check that those lines haven't broken-disconnected



Jt smith---looking at this thread for similar issue with my 04 XLT. I could not locate the reservoir behind either front wheel well.

Any suggestions for other possible locations?

thanks,
N

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192842

^^^^^^^^^^belongs in this thread--

Jt smith---looking at this thread for similar issue with my 04 XLT. I could not locate the reservoir behind either front wheel well.

Any suggestions for other possible locations?

thanks,
N
I have to plead ignorance--sorry.

jt--I know this seems to be a recurring problem that has appeared in many posts. But all the solutions, drawings, and pictures make reference to models below 2000. In my case, it is an 04 XLT, so I am wondering if maybe Ford discontinued the use of the black ball during some year, and now uses some other mechanism.
I stuck my hand in both front wheel wells, prodded around, removed panels, and did not see the black ball, nor a space in which it would fit. Maybe I need to look behind the glove compartment. Although this excellent post
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125962&highlight=vacuum+motor

keeps mentioning the actuator motor and the recirc function. Is that related or the same thing as the issue with the vacuum line to the black ball?

N

I believe that all Ford vehicles since the invention of the air conditioner have got a vacuum reservoir. They are all different shapes, find your AC vacuum lines at the firewall, and follow them out to the reservoir. Good luck,

CDW--thanks for your reply. I followed a white and black line that go into the firewall, and they go into the glove compartment. Behind it, is a black container. Not round, but rather like a large vitamin pill. It has a black line that goes into it, and if you take it out, it makes a suction noise. Therefore, I assume this giant pill is indeed my elusive vacuum reservoir.
Now that it is found. I took out the line, and reattached it, and while doing so put the AC on normal and MAX----no difference. So, I assume that my problem is not caused by the reservoir, but maybe the recirc motor that is not closing that vent. Where is that recirc vent located?
I checked all fuses, and they are fine.

Thanks again all,
N

The recirculate function is basically always a vacuum switch, simply a diaphragm where the vacuum line goes. Look under the glove box at the few choices, it's usually right there. In the 95-01's it is a white vacuum line.

I found the culprit!!!!
I found a small motor that has an arm that slides in or out. In front of that arm is a black knob that rotates to open or close the air vents for defrost/max (the recirc!!).
However, that arm is not attached to that knob at all, and thus the problem. It doesnt look like anything is broken, but it appears that something must be misting to attach that arm to that knob. I called 2 Ford dealers, and they don't find anything that could act as a fastening clip or screw. I tried a home solution, but not sure if I want to do that. It looks as though I am missing some small clip or fastening device that has caused this problem.

Thoughts?
N

Post up a picture for us, that sounds like the vacuum switch I mentioned. If it is electrical then I need to know about it for another project.

Sorry
trying to insert pictures, but not working properly.
I finally did a home remedy to the problem, and it works fine.
I have the jpegs on my desktop. If someone can post instructions on how to instert pics (sorry), then I can put before and after shots.

N

I believe that you have to be Elite to upload pictures. You can locate them on a free website and use the URL for them instead.