automatic climate control

[Eric00zx12r]

Hi all.
I just found this site and have a question for you guys.

My father has a 97 EB edition Explorer. It has the automatic climate control in it. Problem is, when he set's it to MAX AC, it blows cold air (I don't know if it is just blowing enough cold air to over take the hot air that it's putting out or if it is actually shutting the heat off).

When he sets it to Automatic it blows out hot air no matter what. Even when he turns the temp all the way down to 60, it still blows hot air. It will adjust the air direction out the vent or out the floor if you tell it to so that portion works.


It's like the damn thing is confused. Is there any way to "reset" the automatic system so that it will shut the heat off when the temp goes below what the ambient (sp?) temp is.

Could it be that there is a bad sensor that is causing this problem.
I would think that there is a sensor that would tell the system what the current air temp is so the system knows to put out either hot or cold air.

Any ideas?

I've got a 2002 Supercrew with the automatic climate control so I'm a little familure with how it's "supposed" to work.

Hope someone can help.

 

[Robert]

Do a search for "blend door" and unfortunately for your Dad it will turn out to be a $1000 repair. The '95-'98 Explorers had a problem with incorrect blend doors being installed and the plastic that Ford used to use breaking. Ford now uses nylon to make the door so they aren't as prone to cracking. Hopefully they figured out how to insall the correct door as well. Depending on which mode the door is in when it breaks will determine if your A/C is all hot or all cool. The reason his will blow cool air in Max is when he switches it to Max, it shuts off the radiator coolant flow to the heater. The entire dash has to come out to replace the door. Most of the charge is for labor, the part costs less than $150. I have seen prices range from $700 to $1300.

 

[Eric00zx12r]

Bummer.
Thanks for the info Robert. I'll look into this more.
If the part is fairly cheap...I can do the repair without any problems.