AC issue

[cande9]

I have a 2001 AWD Mercury Mountaineer. When running Max AC, Vent or Heat after anywhere from 5-20 minutes the damper shuts and it begins blowing out HOT air. Prior to it closing the Max AC will put out only moderately cold air and the heat is lukewarm at best.

I am not mechanically inclined at all so if anyone has any ideas I would really appreciate putting it in 'cars for dummies' speak!

Thanks

 

[Explodr94]

A possible culprit could be your orfice tube. I would have the system serviced.

 

[Chikar]

Your problem sounds to me like a common problem with the blend door in the box behind/below the glove compartment not working properly. It's usually caused by a vacuum leak but not always. The vacuum leak usually causes the door to switch to full heat position no matter what you've selected on the control panel.

Doing a search for blend door fix should point you in the right direction.

 

[dcdyd]

For 'moderately cold air', it could be blend door or could be low in freon.