Intermittent a/c not cooling

[2006GrayXLT]

When first starting out driving weather the engine is cold or hot the a/c is not cold. It really does it at slow speeds. After a while it starts cooling off. The engine never gets above 206* and I never hear the engine fan running. Should the fan be running when the a/c is running? Even though the engine is not hot? Thanks

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Turn your AC on max and your fan to high, then pop your hood and find your AC pump, watch to see is the AC clutch is engaging and disengaging over the course of a minute. If it is starting and stopping there a good chance your system is low on R-134a refrigerant. Even if it is not starting and stopping there is still a good chance that the system is just running low on rerfrigerant.

 

[2006GrayXLT]

Will the fan come on with the a/c even if the engine is cool

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Because your fan is connected to the front of the engine versus an electric cooling fan that has a on/off switch the fan in your Explorer is always running to some degree. You have a "fan clutch" that will increase or decrease the speed of the cooling fan based on engine temperature. The hotter your engine is the faster the fan clutch allows the cooling fan to run and vice versa when the engine is cool. So it should not be running fast when you first start your car but it will still be running.

Now when you turn your A/C on your A/C clutch should kick in and start cycling your A/C pump, that might be the noise you are assuming is the fan. If you can locate your A/C pump on your belt accessories, on the front of the pump should be 4 bolts that are stationary when the A/C is turned off. When you turn the A/C on to Max AC and then turn you interior fan to maximum the A/C clutch should engage and those 4 bolts on the front of that pulley will now be spinning along with the pulley. Watch the front of that pulley to see if those bolts start spinning and then stop spinning and then start back up again. If your AC system is turned to high and your refrigerant is full then that AC clutch shouldn't stop running, if it does start and stop over a short period of time it means your refrigerant is low. You can buy a can of R-134a refrigerant plus the adapter from Walmart for like $18. The adapter has a gauge on it to let you know if your refrigerant is at a reasonable level. It's not extremely accurate but it will tell you if you're running low.

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Could also be a 3 bolt pattern on the front of the pulley, i might be confusing what the front of the pump looks like with my 97 Explorer's AC pump.

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Here is what the AC pump looks like, there's 3 bolts on the front I've circled in red, that's what I mean should be spinning when your AC is on:

 

[2006GrayXLT]

Thanks for the reply. The compressor is turning and not cycling on and off.

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Okay, so you could still be low refrigerant especially since you start to cool down at faster speeds and not at lower speeds. https://www.walmart.com/ip/IDQ-Arct...75035&wl11=online&wl12=16888790&wl13=&veh=sem

Purchase this and hook it up to the Low side on your A/C system. If you're looking at the front of your car it's right next to your air intake filter, it has a little black cap on it that unscrews. The adapter that comes with the can of r134a snaps right onto that service port. With your AC turned on max and fan turned on max look at the adapter gauge and see where the needle falls. Even if it's in the green (adequately full) it still could be a little low and you could add just a slight amount and see if your AC seems to cool off better. Otherwise you'd better take it to a shop and have them diagnose your system, a shop can test the pressures accurately on your high pressure and low pressure sides of your AC to see what's going on. The Can of R-134a and the adapter will be your most economical method of fixing your problem if it just needs a little refrigerant. Good luck!

 

[2006GrayXLT]

Could this just be the orifise tube?

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Could this just be the orifise tube?

Worth a check, see if it's plugged...

 

[2006GrayXLT]

Dont you have to discharge the system to check the orifise tube?

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

I was confusing the orifice tube with something else. I was thinking about a drainage tube that can get clogged but that doesn't stop the AC from working it mostly just makes your passenger carpet wet if it stays plugged to long. It sounds like you would need your system discharged after looking up the part you're talking about. If it were me and I confirmed it wasn't low on refrigerant I would take it in to have it diagnosed. I don't think there's much you can do to a charged system that might need parts replaced.