Air Conditioning blowing through defrost vents

[dbl78]

I am a low level mechanic, however, I can read and follow directions. My 03 Explorer XLT is now blowing the air conditioning air through the defrost vents rather that the regular vents. I have studied this forum but cannot find where this topic has been previously addressed. Based upon my research, it sounds like this is a vacuum problem, but I do not really understand the vacuum system, and maybe that is the problem. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

 

[galbre]

When I have it on max ac it goes back and forth every so often from the regular vents to the defrost vents. I'm not sure if that is normal or the same as what you're experiencing.

 

[usnthem]

This same exact issue occured in my 2002 XLT: The vacuum component 's arm works fine, but it was the cheap plastic piece that hooked onto the vacuum component 's arm that broke off. The cheap plastic piece connected to the vacuum component 's arm opened / closed the directional flap door. To check all this:
- start your car and run the A/C.
- open your glove compartment, all the way, pull together the ends to fully extend the door downward.
- Now stick your head in and look to your left. You'll see the vacuum cylinder and while you move the control switch from defrost to front-vents. You'll see the vacuum cylinder's metal arm move back and or forward.
- Stick your hand in there and feel around for another lever. This lever is the flap door.
- Move it to the front-vents. It will stay for a couple of trips. But will eventually fall.
- I just wedged a piece of 1/2 in. plastic tubing to keep the lever / trap door front-facing all the time.
I haven't attempted to look for a replacement piece of plastic. Hope this helps.

 

[oneeyemike]

check the black vacuum pod under the dash on the passenger side. Check to see if the hose is still attached to it. It would be easy for someones foot to knock it off. If it is attached pull it off and start engine and place finger over hose to see if it has a vacuum. If it does you need to look behind the glove box to see if the actuators are working. If no or little vacuum, need to check the lines from the pod to the engine. Mine was pinched between the blower motor and the housing. Hope this helps.

 

[danny98explorer]

I been having a lot of issues with AC on my 98 explorer... im starting to believe what FORD stands for.
Fix Or Repair Daily.

 

[NS87.8]

I drilled a hole through where the plastic piece broke off. I then ran regular bailing wire through the actuator hole and the plastic piece hole I drilled. Twisted together, cut off excess and now works. Will it break again? Maybe....but for now it is all working right, and only took 10 minutes, after spending 2 hours checking vacuum hoses .

Paul

 

[mustnged]

This same exact issue occured in my 2002 XLT: The vacuum component 's arm works fine, but it was the cheap plastic piece that hooked onto the vacuum component 's arm that broke off. The cheap plastic piece connected to the vacuum component 's arm opened / closed the directional flap door. To check all this:
- start your car and run the A/C.
- open your glove compartment, all the way, pull together the ends to fully extend the door downward.
- Now stick your head in and look to your left. You'll see the vacuum cylinder and while you move the control switch from defrost to front-vents. You'll see the vacuum cylinder's metal arm move back and or forward.
- Stick your hand in there and feel around for another lever. This lever is the flap door.
- Move it to the front-vents. It will stay for a couple of trips. But will eventually fall.
- I just wedged a piece of 1/2 in. plastic tubing to keep the lever / trap door front-facing all the time.
I haven't attempted to look for a replacement piece of plastic. Hope this helps.

This is precisely what was wrong with my brother's 2002 v6 xlt. The metal arm was functioning properly but the plastic piece that connects to it for the vents broke. So the metal arm was moving back and forth properly without anything attached to it.
I just got 2 zipties and tied the broken piece of plastic in the upward position so air comes out of the vents. Temporary fix for now.

 

[cchant]

I've found that I have the same issue on my wife's '05 Explorer. The plastic piece broke off that the metal arm attached to. Initially I tried to rig it up so the metal arm could still move the plastic piece, but it seems the component that moves the metal arm is froze up. It worked fine at first, but after me messing with it for a while, it only wants to stay fully extended.

Is there any way to get it moving again?

Also anyone have any luck replacing or rigging up a fix for the broken plastic piece?

 

[Jarome Iginla]

If the air is blowing from defrost vents, then the problem is probably in the main unit that controls the flow of air. Another reason for this can be the ac blend door going out of adjustment. Air Conditioning Miami has well qualified ac specialists, who can solve any of your AC problems.

 

[verno316]

I'm having the same problem With my 02 Eddie Bauer. After reading this thread I went out to have a look at the actuator arm. The arm is fine. I can't see the end of it but I can feel the end is securely attached. When I push the buttons to change the vent selection, I can hear a click but nothing changes and the arm doesn't move. I found a broken vacuum hose under the hood. It is a small hose right at the passenger side firewall inside the engine compartment. There is a soft rubber boot through the firewall that has hard plastic lines running into it. One line goes across to the drivers side of the engine compartment and one appears to go to a different valve on some kind of metal line (AC line maybe?). The line that goes across to the drivers side snapped right at the rubber boot. Anyone know what that part is called? I bought a piece of vacuum hose thinking i could use a piece of the broken stiff hose as a nipple to hook on to but it didn't work, and the plastic boot doesn't seem to want to come out.

 

[myacandheat]

It is possible that the air is blowing out of defrost vents due to a vacuum leak. There are also chances that the problem can be inside the vent control switch. Maybe a leaking check valve needs a repair job. Getting your ac service done can also fix the problem.

 

[verno316]

It is possible that the air is blowing out of defrost vents due to a vacuum leak. There are also chances that the problem can be inside the vent control switch. Maybe a leaking check valve needs a repair job. Getting your ac service done can also fix the problem.

Hey thanks much for the reply. I managed to fix it myself by pulling more line through firewall and then using a larger diameter hose to bridge the broken area. When that line was fixed I could hear a hissing noise inside the cab and found that one of the connections on the same line had been pulled off under the dash.

 

[D.E.Giro]

I had the same issue, found the disconnected vacuum tube under the air cleaner box. There is an easily seen/accessible, small, round vacuum reservoir with two connected tubes, one tube had come off, I re-attached it and now enjoy frosty A/C again.

 

[Huskerbob]

AC blows up and then down

Mine alternates between the dash vents and the defroster outlets when it is on full blast. If I cut the fan down a few notches it doesn't seem to do that. It's a 2003 with automatic controls. Any ideas? I looked under the dash through the glove box and the red and yellow vac lines seem all tight and the motors are operating properly when I switch the different positions on the control.

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

Mine alternates between the dash vents and the defroster outlets when it is on full blast. If I cut the fan down a few notches it doesn't seem to do that. It's a 2003 with automatic controls. Any ideas? I looked under the dash through the glove box and the red and yellow vac lines seem all tight and the motors are operating properly when I switch the different positions on the control.

I have the same issue. It will switch from the dash to the defrost vents when the engine is under load (when I am accelerating). I poked around and could not see anything out of place, so I am guessing it is a very minor vacuum leak somewhere. I really would like to pin point it, though!

 

[Huskerbob]

AC up and down

I have the same issue. It will switch from the dash to the defrost vents when the engine is under load (when I am accelerating). I poked around and could not see anything out of place, so I am guessing it is a very minor vacuum leak somewhere. I really would like to pin point it, though!

I will post up if I figure it out. I tried it with load, flat footing it, and no load, coasting, and couldn't make it change. I did figure out that if I cut the fan back to slow-ish it seemed to not do it anymore.

145,000 on the clock and this is the only problem I have I'm good.

 

[roush9799]

Check the white hose. I believe it's the one that goes up to the recirulate door. It plugs into the bottom of the actuator. Mine fell off, I think over time they work there way off. If you have your glove box down, it should plug in about midway up under the dash. The way it's oriented, gravity and vibration finally pull it off. Mine would blow out my vents until I put it in any mode that required recirculating air, then it would not have enough vacuum to hold the vent door open, so it would revert to defrost.

 

[Huskerbob]

up and down AC

Thanks, I will take a look at that next.

 

[Huskerbob]

Flip-flopping AC

I checked the white hose as well as the red, yellow, black and blue and they are all hooked up tight both to the little manifold and to thier repsective motors. I suppose an acutator/motor could have a leak or ???

I ran it through the various modes, up, down, up/down and face and all the motors seem to work correctly.

I'm stumped.

 

[Huskerbob]

I had the same issue, found the disconnected vacuum tube under the air cleaner box. There is an easily seen/accessible, small, round vacuum reservoir with two connected tubes, one tube had come off, I re-attached it and now enjoy frosty A/C again.

In the engine compartment? I don't see anything there.