Heating / Ventilation

[soh1964]

I have just purchased a Ford Explorer 96(R) XLT (I think it is an XLT) whatever it has a 4.0 litre petrol engine.

I am over the moon with except for one problem I can not get any reasonable heat from the blower even when on full blast and driving for an hour or more even worse I can't get it to go cold in fact it doesn't change.

Also MAX A/C and A/C do not seem to be able to adjust the tempreture either.

I have drained the radiator and topped up and had it bled for air and all hoses are hot although the bottom rad hose is still touchable. I have fitted a new thermostat just in case but to no avail.

Please could anyone help as here in the UK the explorer is a rare car and getting help from dealers is proving hard.

Thaks..

 

[Howard]

Hi

As another UK owner perhaps we can work it out.
First Does the temp gauge read in the middle after warm up?
Next do you get any air flow other than the screen vents?

Cheers
Howard

 

[soh1964]

Hi Howard,

In short I get air from everywhere when I re-direct it and the temp gauge takes a bout 5 mins to edge up to just under half way and then stays there regardless how hard I push it.

John

 

[Howard]

Ok John

Do you get any heat inside at all?
When you say everywhere does it control correctly. Screen/floor etc?

 

[soh1964]

Hi Howard,

Yep I get some heat but it is tepid bordering on cool certainly not enough to warm you up in this weather, but the direction thing works a treat can blast cold air all around the car..

 

[alphabets13]

sounds like the blend door problem. do a search, you'll find a ton of stuff on it. i hope for your sake it's not b/c it cost me $600 to get it fixed and thats a deal.

 

[Howard]

See if the pipes going trough the bulkhead are getting hot if not then it could be the heater valve is not opening fully. This is in the heater pipe going to the bulkhead and has a small vacuum pipe attached. Looks like a T connector inline with the pipe.

I hope it is not the blend door. Ours is different to the USA models because our heater unit is on the other side of the cabin and I don't think we suffer from the blend door problem but not 100% positive.

 

[soh1964]

Wow I got a blend door!

Not a clue what it is or where it is and sure not going to guess if it is working.

Pipes in and out of bulk head are piping hot and even the pipe leading back to the rad is pretty damn hot but I can just about keep my hand on it.

It wouldn't be as simple as the tempreture mixer dial not working would it.

 

[Howard]

No unfortunately not. There is a plastic door inside the heater cover that ,believe it or not blends warm air with cold air (blend door). This is well known to jamb and the control tab break off. Replacement is a PITA because you have to drop the entire dashboard to get at it. Some people have drilled holes and other things to get a temporary fix. Do a search on blend door and you'll see what I mean.

Just in case it's not that it must be worth checking that all the vacuum pipes are connected and not leaking, yes all the heater controls are run by vacuum pipes like in the 50's. Drop the glove box right down and you will see the backside of the heater box. There are serveral pipes conveniently colour coded unitl they go through the bulkhead where they all are grey or black!

I hope you find something simple if not as you've just got it is it under warranty? if so get them to fix it.

It could just be the pipe is off at the back of the hot/cold control. To get there you have to drop the radio cover off and then you will see four screws that hold the panel on.

All the best.

 

[soh1964]

Thanks Howard,

Will give all that a go in the morning and let you know how I get on.

No warranty (good deal and poor quality Mitsubishi Shogun trade in) I think the dealer got stiffed on this one.

 

[Howard]

If you get desperate your still covered by the sale of goods act. In that it has to be fit for the purpose and no heater is not fit!
Good luck