max AC...what???

[jared ajlouny]

ok on my explorer with the dials for air and everything it says AC than max AC, what is max AC and why do they have it.

oh yea my air conditioning has a leak somewhere is there a way i can find out where the leak is my self by putting some colored liqid ina nd runnning it or do i have to let the shop do it?????

 

[Alec]

max a/c is the recirculating mode.

 

[mrboyle]

To further clarify Alec's answer, in normal A/C or vent position the A/C pulls fresh air from the cowl vent. When turned to Max A/C the blend air door closes the fresh air vent and recirculates the air inside the vehicle. This causes the A/C to cool the vehicle interior quicker and more efficiantly by contiually cooling the same air, and not trying to continusly cool the hotter fresh air.

 

[cybercreeper]

People like you is why i joined this site Thanx

It's people like u that make this site a good one. ur da'man Mrboyle

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Also Ford recommends you running the A/C on max air instead of recirculating air due to moisture. Your vehicle's drip pan will fill up fast in the summer when running A/C from outside air.

 

[jared ajlouny]

anyone know how i can fix it, other wise i will never be able to get to use the max ac

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Fix what. the compressor?

 

[jared ajlouny]

i had it hooked up to a machine and they said that there is a leak somewhere, i want to find where the leak is

 

[Bruce Rock]

Try this site:

http://www.imcool.com/articles/aircondition/corroded_accumulator.htm

It's where the leak was in my '94. A new accumulator is about $60.00. I checked mine by removing it, pressurizing it and checked for bubbles. Even if the leak isn't in the accumulator the accumulator should be replaced when you have a leak since the absorbent inside it gets full of moisture from the air that leaked in.

While you're at it, I would also remove the orfice (about $5.00 to $10.00-special tool required) since it has a screen to catch wear debries, so you can determine the condition of the compressor. Mine had two or three abnormal wear particles (cutting wear), not the quantity I would associate with a compressor disinagrating. It's still in use a year later.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

The owner's manual did not mention anything about leaving the Max A/C on all to time to prevent humidity buildup in the cabin. It only stated to leave the A/C on at all times. I believe that it's better leaving the Norm A/C on all the time to help prevent the growth of mold in the ducting system because of the moisture from the operation of Max A/C.

 

[jared ajlouny]

where is the acculilator located?

 

[Bruce Rock]

The accumulator is located in the engine compartment just ahead of the blower and heater core. It should have a sleeve on it that looks the ones used for keeping a can of beer cold.
The orfice tube is located just underneath the accumulator. It is best reached by taking off the front passenger side tire.

I suggest you go slow and ask plenty of questions.

 

[jared ajlouny]

oh, so this is gunna be a big project?

 

[jared ajlouny]

ok i found it, should i take it out and remove the sleave and start from there?

 

[Glacier991]

It's going to need a vacuum pump, at the least. If you have worries I'd take it to a pro.

 

[jared ajlouny]

what does the vacum pump do????

 

[Bruce Rock]

I agree with Glacier that it's going to need a vacuum pump, but I would work on finding the leak first. Based on my limited experience and what I've read of others', the first place I would look is the accumulator. Did you do a search on airconditioning?

 

[jared ajlouny]

yea, but i had to go to school so for like only 15 min

 

[jared ajlouny]

so should i take off that blanket and see if there is anything there????

 

[Bruce Rock]

You might be able to spot a leak that way, but for me, I had started to remove the airconditioning system (I had been told it was going to cost over $1,000 to fix and I figured why haul the extra weight around that only gets in the way when I need to work on the engine) when I spotted a funny looking spot on the inside of the blanket for the accumulator. I checked it with my blacklight, it was a leak indicator, I don't know who put it in. I wasn't sure if there was a hole or not so I rigged up an air line and put the accumulator in water. Sure enough, bubbles.

You may need a special tool to disconnect the lines to the accumulator and one to remove the orfice tube. They don't cost much. Auto zone I know lends the orfice tube remover.