- Joined
- May 13, 2000
- Messages
- 4,644
- Reaction score
- 106
- City, State
- Cape Girardeau, MO
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 94 Sport 4x4
I fixed it. For any of you who have this problem in the future, I'll explain a little.
The problem was a tiny switch in the control panel, which has a metal actuator hat on top of it. In my case, the switch wasn't bad...only the metal hat on top of it was stuck in the down position. When you move the a/c function control lever (91-94's only) the lever physically runs into this little hat on the switch, pushing it down and thereby activating the a/c when you select defrost. Evidently this little metal hat on the switch got stuck in the pushed down position, so the a/c ran all the time. That switch bypasses the main a/c pushbutton control so that's why I couldn't turn the a/c off with that button. IMO its a real caveman setup, Ford using flimsy cheap little switches and easily-moved (read: easy to get knocked out of place) plastic cams for a system that gets used a lot (the a/c/heater controls).
Anyway I pulled it all apart and cleaned everything up, and lubed the control cable and other parts with some silicone and put it all together, and now moving the lever to defrost and back to off turns the a/c off and on like it's supposed to.
Unfortunately, the haynes never said to do this, but if you have the JBL premium sound package on your Explorer (fitted on some 91-94s, 94 Limiteds, etc.) you must remove the radio/cassette BEFORE you pull the dash bezel because the JBL radio fits over the bezel. If not you'll crack the cheap plastic clips that hold the radio/cass in place like I did. Now I got the radio hanging by its power cord. At least it still works. I fix one thing and break another. haha
The haynes just says to remove the ashtray.
The problem was a tiny switch in the control panel, which has a metal actuator hat on top of it. In my case, the switch wasn't bad...only the metal hat on top of it was stuck in the down position. When you move the a/c function control lever (91-94's only) the lever physically runs into this little hat on the switch, pushing it down and thereby activating the a/c when you select defrost. Evidently this little metal hat on the switch got stuck in the pushed down position, so the a/c ran all the time. That switch bypasses the main a/c pushbutton control so that's why I couldn't turn the a/c off with that button. IMO its a real caveman setup, Ford using flimsy cheap little switches and easily-moved (read: easy to get knocked out of place) plastic cams for a system that gets used a lot (the a/c/heater controls).
Anyway I pulled it all apart and cleaned everything up, and lubed the control cable and other parts with some silicone and put it all together, and now moving the lever to defrost and back to off turns the a/c off and on like it's supposed to.
Unfortunately, the haynes never said to do this, but if you have the JBL premium sound package on your Explorer (fitted on some 91-94s, 94 Limiteds, etc.) you must remove the radio/cassette BEFORE you pull the dash bezel because the JBL radio fits over the bezel. If not you'll crack the cheap plastic clips that hold the radio/cass in place like I did. Now I got the radio hanging by its power cord. At least it still works. I fix one thing and break another. haha
The haynes just says to remove the ashtray.
