Explorer A/C Issue, seems slightly different them most.

[firefighterjosh]

So I have searched and have found many A/C issues but nothing with both of the issues I have.
2004
I have dual climate control

Last summer
A/C did not work at all
put 2 bottles in it
Passenger side worked
Took it to a shop and they recharged it with a dye.
No leaks, worked perfect.

worked great since last summer

Yesterday
Only the passenger side worked
Driver side blows luke warm air
10 mins of driving drivers side is now cold

With that said early that morning I could hear a " click click click" that sounded like it was coming from the back of the explorer. Im assuming it was blend door. Im also assuming that was just the echo and its not actually located at the back.

So I am not sure if I should replace the blend door or if I have others issues?

I had a hard time finding someone with A/C that only worked part time.

 

[firefighterjosh]

no one?

 

[firefighterjosh]

bump

 

[BigRondo]

I have moved your thread to the Stock 3rd Gen Sub Forum for better exposure.

Good luck getting it sorted.

Please keep us posted as feedback helps others reading this post looking for a fix to the same or similar issue!

 

[cross6]

Sounds like blend door to me.

But driver side (farthest side from evap) cooling down while driving sounds like it could maybe also be poor airflow over the condenser either from it being clogged or you need a new fan clutch. Quick way to check is to hit your condenser with mist from your garden hose and see if it suddenly cools down.

Blend door will definitely make the tapping/knocking, though. Check this out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BERmZRDfqPw

 

[BigRondo]

How To: Replace Blend Door Actuator in 3rd Gen Ex

 

[icepickjazz]

Do you have rear A/C? If so, clicking from the rear could be failure of the rear door blend actuator.

 

[firefighterjosh]

Do you have rear A/C? If so, clicking from the rear could be failure of the rear door blend actuator.

Yes I do have rear A/C.

Thats what I was thinking but that will cause the driver side front to not work as well?

 

[firefighterjosh]

Sounds like blend door to me.

But driver side (farthest side from evap) cooling down while driving sounds like it could maybe also be poor airflow over the condenser either from it being clogged or you need a new fan clutch. Quick way to check is to hit your condenser with mist from your garden hose and see if it suddenly cools down.

Blend door will definitely make the tapping/knocking, though. Check this out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BERmZRDfqPw

Thank you, I will check out what you posted

 

[firefighterjosh]

How To: Replace Blend Door Actuator in 3rd Gen Ex

Thanks, doesnt seem too bad, just a lot of crap to take off.

 

[icepickjazz]

Yes I do have rear A/C.

Thats what I was thinking but that will cause the driver side front to not work as well?

It's possible you have multiple issues. I currently have 4 separate issues with my hvac. 1) front blend door actuator broken, 2) broken fresh air recirculation door, 3) broken actuator for controlling air flow between dash, floor, & defrost, and 4) rear whooping noise.

I just replaced the front blend door actuator this week on mine. The noise is distinctive and easy to tell if it was coming from the front or rear. As long as you aren't driving you should be able to localize the clicking noise pretty quickly to the front or the rear.

 

[firefighterjosh]

It's possible you have multiple issues. I currently have 4 separate issues with my hvac. 1) front blend door actuator broken, 2) broken fresh air recirculation door, 3) broken actuator for controlling air flow between dash, floor, & defrost, and 4) rear whooping noise.

I just replaced the front blend door actuator this week on mine. The noise is distinctive and easy to tell if it was coming from the front or rear. As long as you aren't driving you should be able to localize the clicking noise pretty quickly to the front or the rear.

ok then its is the rear for sure.

Any write up or where its located on that?

 

[icepickjazz]

ok then its is the rear for sure.

Any write up or where its located on that?

These might be helpful:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205370
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206180

Conceptually this video below the same and I can post one more later tonight for actual explorer tear down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zawTxm1GrV0

 

[icepickjazz]

Here another post on rear replacement:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199644
And another video on how to disassemble:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h7Fmjw9ghQ

 

[firefighterjosh]

Thank you Jazz...if there was a rep button I would rep you haha

 

[pet575]

Josh I have the same clicking in the back. It has nothing to do with your lack of cold air up front. You are chasing a ghost.

With the dual control setup, more than likely you are low in coolant or you have the condenser/fan clutch issue outlined above. Start with coolant, move on to the other.

If you got two bottles in it last summer then it has a leak, even if it did not show up last summer. Could be an incredibly slow leak. You don't just lose coolant without a leak.

I had exactly the same trouble and adding in a couple bottles of coolant fixed the problem and it has not returned. I used the stuff that claims it can stop small leaks and I'm guessing my leak was so small that it actually worked.

 

[firefighterjosh]

Josh I have the same clicking in the back. It has nothing to do with your lack of cold air up front. You are chasing a ghost.

With the dual control setup, more than likely you are low in coolant or you have the condenser/fan clutch issue outlined above. Start with coolant, move on to the other.

If you got two bottles in it last summer then it has a leak, even if it did not show up last summer. Could be an incredibly slow leak. You don't just lose coolant without a leak.

I had exactly the same trouble and adding in a couple bottles of coolant fixed the problem and it has not returned. I used the stuff that claims it can stop small leaks and I'm guessing my leak was so small that it actually worked.

thanks I will check that out.

We put dye in the system last time so I will check for leaks again.

 

[pet575]

I believe you that it didn't leak when you did that last time. Just saying it is entirely possible that it slow-leaked out on you during the winter when not in use.

 

[cross6]

Josh I have the same clicking in the back. It has nothing to do with your lack of cold air up front. You are chasing a ghost.

With the dual control setup, more than likely you are low in coolant or you have the condenser/fan clutch issue outlined above. Start with coolant, move on to the other.

If you got two bottles in it last summer then it has a leak, even if it did not show up last summer. Could be an incredibly slow leak. You don't just lose coolant without a leak.

I had exactly the same trouble and adding in a couple bottles of coolant fixed the problem and it has not returned. I used the stuff that claims it can stop small leaks and I'm guessing my leak was so small that it actually worked.

Yep after reading more I agree with this. You probably have some combo of rear blend door + slow leak + possible cooling issue.

I think you can rent gauges from autozone. I'd check the pressures before investing any money. It will show you under/over charge, compressor/orifice/expansion valve problems (Explorers with Aux heat & cool have an orifice tube for front evap and expansion valve on rear evap), or condenser/clutch fan issues.

I can post the details if you rent them.

 

[firefighterjosh]

The place i took it to be filled with coolant says he will check it out for free again.