99XLT A/C question

[TOMC]

I live in the desert. it is hot hot hot.
The AC on my Explorer is usually set on MAX which recirculates the air within the vehicle. Lately I have noticed that when I am accelerating hard, Or on a long steep uphill grade, The A/C quits blowing air out of the vents. I can still hear the fan running.

As soon as the load on the engine is over the A/C returns to normal.

I realize that this is a vacuum actuated damper problem. My explorer has 67,000 miles and the V6 SOHC engine runs strong. I have looked for vacuum leaks on the engine without finding anything. The power brakes are not affected. The engine vacuum is good, but I can't put enough load on the engine in my garage to make anything happen to the A/C.

I suspect that there is a small vacuum leak on the A/C control itself which only affects the A/C dampers when engine vacuum is down during open throttle situations.

Has anyone experienced this? Is there anything that I may have missed?

You have a great forum here, thanks

 

[jp450]

Its supposed to do that. When at WOT (Wide open throttle) the A/C will shut off to give you more power for accelerating ie getting on to highway etc....

 

[ultraclyde]

we're having the same problem on our 97 v8. Doesn't just do it at wot, either. Does it any time you come off a steady cruise, even a little. It works fine in the normal position, but max craps out. I suspect a vacuum leak, too. My theory is it may be in the switching mechanism in the dash, but I haven't had time to chase it. Too busy trying to do ball joints!

Hopefully somebody else has seen this and fixed it.