A/C Rear Line Leak

[peterk9]

Hi All, I own a 2011 Explorer XLT AWD and 2016 Explorer Sport AWD and have had to replace the rear A/C lines in both vehicles $1600 expense. Is there any recall/TSB about this issue? Seems to me like a design flaw or something. Thanks for your time.

Welcome to the Forum.
Your thread was merged with this existing one. There is no Recall or TSB on this issue. Unless the vehicle is under warranty (OEM or ESP) there is nothing that Ford will do for you. Depending on where the leak is/was, several members have successfully done a DIY repair.

Peter

 

[goosegoodman]

What was the issue with them that was determined why the needed to be replaced?

They needed to be replaced for pinholes in the line, the way they rub on the car

 

[runningonfords]

They needed to be replaced for pinholes in the line, the way they rub on the car

Oh, it's definitely a design flaw, a beneficial one for service bays, and ANOTHER one that Ford will never acknowledge or pay out for. Can you say class action lawsuit? The 90 degree bends upwards to where the A/C lines enter the rear evaporator are either compromised during manufacture (bending) and/or break open because the thermal wrap traps sand and rocks and water/ice against the aluminum tubing which gets hit with road debris and ice.

This is a flavor of "planned obsolescence" that I quite rather despise.

 

[peterk9]

They needed to be replaced for pinholes in the line, the way they rub on the car

Depending on where those pinhole leaks were, they might have been fixable without having to replace the lines. As I've mentioned, I've fixed a pinhole leak with a piece of rubber and a hose clamp.

Peter

 

[TLeonard98]

Hey Guys,

My beloved 2016 Sport lost AC on my recent road trip to denver. When I got home, the dealer said that it is the rear AC line leaking, and quoted me $2400 to replace it.

Has anyone blocked off their rear AC lines? I'd rather do that for now so I can save up and do it right come spring. I've been having a hard time finding the location of the evaporator online. I'm starting to feel like I may be stuck shilling out for the whole line.

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum.
There are some posts here from members who have blocked off the rear A/C lines. Where is the leak on yours? Is it in a place that you might be able to fix yourself? Some have done a DIY repair.
See posts #89 and 146.

Peter

 

[mrsharkspoiler]

Add me as another victim.

I test drove and then bought the Ex in late 2017 and during the test drive the AC wasn't working. The dealer "repaired" the AC and so the purchase was made, including a Ford 1 year warranty. 1 week later there was a huge pool of green dye behind the rear driver side wheel. The dealer put it through as a claim with Ford Canada. (I suspect that was their shady plan all along rather than taking a loss before the sale). The entire lines were replaced in May 2018. No charge.

Fastforward 2+ years later. it's leaking again! Same spot. and corrosion under the sleeve seems to be the issue. I too got a quote for $2500 because the 2yr parts/labour warranty from the first repair in 2018 expired in May 2020. Dealing with the service manager hit a wall and Ford Canada simply told me the warranty was over. FML

Those AC lines shouldn't fail in 30 months.

 

[Satz]

Add me as another victim.

I test drove and then bought the Ex in late 2017 and during the test drive the AC wasn't working. The dealer "repaired" the AC and so the purchase was made, including a Ford 1 year warranty. 1 week later there was a huge pool of green dye behind the rear driver side wheel. The dealer put it through as a claim with Ford Canada. (I suspect that was their shady plan all along rather than taking a loss before the sale). The entire lines were replaced in May 2018. No charge.

Fastforward 2+ years later. it's leaking again! Same spot. and corrosion under the sleeve seems to be the issue. I too got a quote for $2500 because the 2yr parts/labour warranty from the first repair in 2018 expired in May 2020. Dealing with the service manager hit a wall and Ford Canada simply told me the warranty was over. FML

Those AC lines shouldn't fail in 30 months.

I brought a ebay block off kit for 30 bucks and had it installed and AC filled by a local mechanic. it worked all summer.

 

[Satz]

Welcome to the Forum.
There are some posts here from members who have blocked off the rear A/C lines. Where is the leak on yours? Is it in a place that you might be able to fix yourself? Some have done a DIY repair.
See posts #89 and 146.

Peter

Hey Guys,

My beloved 2016 Sport lost AC on my recent road trip to denver. When I got home, the dealer said that it is the rear AC line leaking, and quoted me $2400 to replace it.

Has anyone blocked off their rear AC lines? I'd rather do that for now so I can save up and do it right come spring. I've been having a hard time finding the location of the evaporator online. I'm starting to feel like I may be stuck shilling out for the whole line.

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

I brought a ebay block off kit for 50 bucks and had it installed and AC filled by a local mechanic.Paid 150. it worked all summer. He gave 1 year warranty and free refills. But did not need it.

In Ebay mine was listed with this

Rear A/C BLOCK OFF KIT 2011-16 FORD EXPLORER with Female Suction Rear Lines​

 

[mrsharkspoiler]

I brought a ebay block off kit for 50 bucks and had it installed and AC filled by a local mechanic.Paid 150. it worked all summer. He gave 1 year warranty and free refills. But did not need it.

In Ebay mine was listed with this

Rear A/C BLOCK OFF KIT 2011-16 FORD EXPLORER with Female Suction Rear Lines​

Where are these 2 blocks installed? I looked for the installation instructions online but unable to find..

 

[Satz]

Where are these 2 blocks installed? I looked for the installation instructions online but unable to find..

In mine its under the driver side foot panel and hard to reach. I removed the bolt and tried some PB ;blaster and could not separate so just took it in

 

[MuellerAndrewRay]

Add me as another victim.

I test drove and then bought the Ex in late 2017 and during the test drive the AC wasn't working. The dealer "repaired" the AC and so the purchase was made, including a Ford 1 year warranty. 1 week later there was a huge pool of green dye behind the rear driver side wheel. The dealer put it through as a claim with Ford Canada. (I suspect that was their shady plan all along rather than taking a loss before the sale). The entire lines were replaced in May 2018. No charge.

Fastforward 2+ years later. it's leaking again! Same spot. and corrosion under the sleeve seems to be the issue. I too got a quote for $2500 because the 2yr parts/labour warranty from the first repair in 2018 expired in May 2020. Dealing with the service manager hit a wall and Ford Canada simply told me the warranty was over. FML

Those AC lines shouldn't fail in 30 months.

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As a result of my incident with the AC Lines, I ended up going with a local repair shop. So - instead of the $2400 quote I got from a Ford dealer, I got it done for $400.

Additionally, my serpentine belt broke during that time. Another Ford dealership charged me $250 because "it took 2 hours", but I watched them - it took 45 minutes to get the part, 30-45 minutes to replace, and the rest of the time they spent running it through a car wash that I didn't ask for.

I called a Ford dealership when I wanted to get a transmission cooler put on and they wanted a LOT of money for that and I got it done at a local shop for probably around 1/4th the cost (can't recall details at the moment).

So - now I don't even call Ford for repairs. It's not worth it. I feel they overcharge and lie.

Anyway... Take the vehicle to a repair shop. My AC worked great all summer.

 

[peterk9]

Many repairs are charged by the time that is laid down in their manuals, not the actual time it takes to do the job and parts carry a 2 year parts/labour warranty. My vehicle is always washed every time I take it in for service. Many dealerships do that and that time is not added to the bill. It's part of their customer service.

Peter

 

[runningonfords]

Many repairs are charged by the time that is laid down in their manuals, not the actual time it takes to do the job and parts carry a 2 year parts/labour warranty. My vehicle is always washed every time I take it in for service. Many dealerships do that and that time is not added to the bill. It's part of their customer service.

Peter

Seriously, I don't believe, based on amount of posts (look for yourself, does an individual account post this much, this often), and general tilt towards Ford favor (oh it wasn't their fault), that peterk9 is a single individual, retired in Canada, etc. I firmly believe "his" account is what remains of Ford's interaction with this forum after they pulled out of online interactions in 2017, or whatnot. I'm sure he'll deny it to the world's end, but no doubt he's bought. This forum sort of sucks in that regard, but dude posting above you is receiving a bunch of cash to play the forum poster role, must be nice.

 

[MuellerAndrewRay]

Many repairs are charged by the time that is laid down in their manuals, not the actual time it takes to do the job and parts carry a 2 year parts/labour warranty. My vehicle is always washed every time I take it in for service. Many dealerships do that and that time is not added to the bill. It's part of their customer service.

Peter

That could be true in some cases, but look up the time it takes to change a serpentine belt lol. It has been a while since this happened now, but I recall considering doing it myself and watching multiple videos - it is easy. Plus I recall them telling me they had to completely remove the tensioner (as I recall, again, been a while and I'm not a mechanic) - when I told them that wasn't true based upon all that I've seen, they backed off and said something like "no, you are right, it was something else". Either way - honesty doesn't seem to happen much and I don't see ever returning to a Ford dealership for repairs.

 

[MuellerAndrewRay]

..., but dude posting above you is receiving a bunch of cash to play the forum poster role, must be nice.

I hope that isn't me, because it seems like I'm the one posting above him. lol. I promise you I'm no shill and receive no cash.

 

[mrsharkspoiler]

Additionally, my serpentine belt broke during that time. Another Ford dealership charged me $250 because "it took 2 hours", but I watched them - it took 45 minutes to get the part, 30-45 minutes to replace, and the rest of the time they spent running it through a car wash that I didn't ask for.

Funny you mention that, im on my 3rd serpentine belt. the last one shredded in half lengthwise so while it was still spinning around the pulleys, it was acting like a whip and tore through the front High Pressure AC line - which at that exact location is rubber..
New belt was $40, new hose was $110, and AC recharge was$250 ( I did the belt and hose myself)

 

[MuellerAndrewRay]

Funny you mention that, im on my 3rd serpentine belt. the last one shredded in half lengthwise so while it was still spinning around the pulleys, it was acting like a whip and tore through the front High Pressure AC line - which at that exact location is rubber..
New belt was $40, new hose was $110, and AC recharge was$250 ( I did the belt and hose myself)

Yep, that is exactly what was happening... my AC didn't work already, but that belt was whipping around like crazy. I had left my vehicle running when I went in to a bike store to grab my son's new bike. By the time I came out it sounded like rocks were hitting the inside of the vehicle.

 

[peterk9]

Seriously, I don't believe, based on amount of posts (look for yourself, does an individual account post this much, this often), and general tilt towards Ford favor (oh it wasn't their fault), that peterk9 is a single individual, retired in Canada, etc. I firmly believe "his" account is what remains of Ford's interaction with this forum after they pulled out of online interactions in 2017, or whatnot. I'm sure he'll deny it to the world's end, but no doubt he's bought. This forum sort of sucks in that regard, but dude posting above you is receiving a bunch of cash to play the forum poster role, must be nice.

Everything I mentioned in that post is true. Many dealers charge book time not actual time. I'm surprised you weren't aware of that. As for the number of posts, that is over a 10 year span and I am by no means a leader in posts. I also get notifications about every new post in the 5th & 6th gen forums. I have mentioned several times before that I am not nor have I ever been associated with Ford. I perhaps just look at things more realistically and as one who has had very few issues with my vehicles and a 100% positive experience with my dealership over the past 10 years. Also, being retired provides me with a lot of time to devote to this forum in an attempt to help others.

Peter

 

[Biohazrus]

WOW, so they FINALLY got all the parts to fix mine, just took 3 months with all those BO.
Anyway, dropped my car yesterday morning at the dealer, they called for a 1-day fix...
At the end of the day, they gave an update: Your model is special/different than anticipated, it is a 3-day fix, need to move the gas tank!!!
Thank god I took the extended warranty!
And they also looked again, at my airbag plug for the second-row seat, but that is another topic...