Air Conditioner Problem Fixed FINALLY

[Jb14]

Hi Folks I am posting this in hopes that it can help you all not to have to go through what I had to for a year with and air conditioning issue with my 2005 Expedition.

Issue:
My A/C started to not be cold so I took it to a trusted mechanic who diagnosed my issue as needing a Freon charge. When the $125.00 service was done the trusted mechanic said that my A/C compressor was week and needed to be replaced (after charge blowing coldish) So I purchased a complete kit (not from ford but a good kit anyways) and had it replaced (parts and labor $1200)

Issue 2:
After job was complete the system ran cool but not cold like I expected then in a month and a half the system was blowing hot again. Many trip back to the not anymore trusted mechanic produced no resolution and the same blowing coldish to hot air (and ALLOT OF FRUSTRATION)

Now to the year later when he finally took my Expy to a friend mechanic of his who diagnosed my issue as a bad condenser and clutch fan.

Now down to the real bend me over solution. I had the not trusted mechanic repair the parts that was the issue and he only replaced the clutch fan and not the condenser>>> Guess what with only the clutch fan replaced my A/C works just as good as it did before all the issues.

Long story short replacing the $100 clutch fan solved my issue I ended up spending close to 2k for in parts, time, gas and agony when it was just the clutch fan.

Hope this helps someone out there!!

REVISION; Finally fix part 2

Cautionary tale of bad mechanics Ive never had this much trouble before. But my Fixed A/C stopped working again I took it to a new mechanic who after alot of trouble shooting found the problem.

Which was again the Clutch Fan that was replace 10 days ago by the bad mechanic. Turns out Expy's on certain parts do not like aftermarket part which is what the bad mechanic installed (Auto Zone part) so after another $700 and a factory ford clutch fan It seems to be working properly.

So if an issue pop for the Ford part.

 

[FordGate]

Sad. Most mechanics are just parts replacement monkeys nowadays. No one knows how to troubleshoot anymore. I blame it on video games.

 

[Stoned06]

That sux, but I just had my AC recharged with 10 oz of freon today, and when the mechanic was inspecting it after the charge, realized that the fan clutch was going out too. Ford wants $375 to replace it, but I found the clutch online for $100 and am considering doing it myself.

 

[FordandPolaris]

That sux, but I just had my AC recharged with 10 oz of freon today, and when the mechanic was inspecting it after the charge, realized that the fan clutch was going out too. Ford wants $375 to replace it, but I found the clutch online for $100 and am considering doing it myself.

Personally I would too. Or look into electric fans. Then you can remove it all together.

 

[Jb14]

The new clutch fan that was installed (by that mechanic) really robs the truck of power so pick wisely

 

[chubbadunes]

I really hope this works. I have dumped $1000 in labor and parts replacing my compressor with an Autozone kit, 2 months later it was blowing hot again. So replaced it again 3 weeks ago and here I am again sweating my ass off in Phoenix, az 110 degrees out, I'm so pissed. I'm glad I decided to look online and found this post, we'll see if replacing the clutch fan and condenser works.

 

[stamp11127]

What is really sad is that with a little knowledge on how auto ac works the fan clutch failing shows up as higher pressure on the high side. To test whether the fan is moving enough air through the condenser all you have to do is put a shop fan blowing into the condenser when the system is running. If the pressure drops into range, you have found a problem.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

Sad. Most mechanics are just parts replacement monkeys nowadays. No one knows how to troubleshoot anymore. I blame it on video games.

You'd be surprised how much videogames can actually teach you! My brother wants to be a mechanic so he's playing Car mechanic simulator 2018, and wow that game is pretty darn in-depth

 

[stamp11127]

You'll be amazed at how much you learn by reading and comprehending books. There is a difference between video games, computer based training (cbt) and books. Videos are usually the abridged version of a book.

 

[Plati]

Not everyone learns the same way. Some people can read a book and learn, others are more visual. Hands on is the best method for many. Each has to find what works for yourself. Some of the most successful people I know were near failures in the formal education they attempted. Myself, I learn by making mistakes .. thats why I dont own a sailboat!

https://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/

 

[stamp11127]

That is what they push, I say BS. I grew up in the 60's, parents were involved nightly with the assigned homework / reading, so I was prepared for the next day. If you slacked you caught hell the next day. But it was a motivational talking to.
I will also add it was an off base, mostly Navy neighborhood. We didn't have an option, "You will do...." started every sentence.
Parents use smart phones as pacifiers instead of spending time with their children now. I see the result of that with the students I attempt to teach basic electrical. Their text book & software costs close to $400. Most can't comprehend the material and give up. Sadly, the material isn't at the collegiate level.

 

[Jb14]

Hard to believe I posted this 5 years ago thinking all my A/C issues were resolved at that time. Well being this post has resurfaced here is an update. As of 4 months ago and another $1800 I can say that my A/C is now working and has been happily for these past months and going strong. As I mentioned before it was an original bad diagnosis by a mechanic that started the whole cycle of events. I do a lot of work on my truck but I also know my lane and the A/C system is not in my wheelhouse to combine that with a divorce, move to another state, loss of tools, and I travel on business 75% of the month, felt it best to seek a professional (so-called professional) I recently moved back to California and as normal researched the heck out of different A/C shops and found one in high regard and took another chance and this one worked. The unfortunate thing for this post is that I cannot pinpoint the exact fix (At this point I just didn't care wanted it fixed) all I can say is that I know they put in OEM parts, made sure all was tight and I did a bunch of other things to make it work. I did have them install an electric fan in front of the condenser that keeps the A/C cooling while sitting stationary at lights etc that works tremendously (still have clutch fan of course) So if I were to give one last bit of advice is our Fords on particular items are very picky to OEM parts from what I have experienced so unless your positive of the aftermarket part don't listen to your mechanic that the alternative to the OEM is better and insist on the OEM part, More expensive up front yes but less expensive down the road plus choose mechnic wisely. This truck will be handed down to my son as his first vehicle next year so important to me that it works.

 

[Ed_Strong]

What is really sad is that with a little knowledge on how auto ac works the fan clutch failing shows up as higher pressure on the high side. To test whether the fan is moving enough air through the condenser all you have to do is put a shop fan blowing into the condenser when the system is running. If the pressure drops into range, you have found a problem.

In the absence of a of a shop fan, you can always use your regular garden hose! Just make sure you're spraying cold water directly at the condenser coils. Works the same as stamp11127 mentioned above!

 

[1955moose]

Wow Jb your still around 5 years later! All of the so called veteran mechanics like myself keep beating this Oem drum week after week, but all the cheapskates seem to know better. When I used to do repairs for my livelihood years back, the last thing I needed was comebacks. I used dealer or top shelf parts all the time. I remember something as simple as a fan switch for a girlfriends Toyota. It took 3 Standard brand ones to get one that worked. If I would have gone to Toyota, it would have worked right out of the gate. Bottom line, spend the bucks upfront, or don't bother.

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[Trainmaster]

The problem with aftermarket parts is that they are getting crappier. Here in the Northeast, the only demand for aftermarket is from the Illegals who work on their own cars and they'll do a job over three times if the part is cheap. Just about anyone else leases new cars around here. So there's a huge demand for CHEAP parts. China fills that demand. And their stuff is junk.

Unless I can find a brand like Moog for suspension parts or an American-made Timken bearing, I stick with OEM, and I only have to do the job once.

 

[1955moose]

Amen to that! Wonder when those 2 are going the way of all the others. Growing up in the 60's, 70's, I saw quality Electronics like Sony, Sansui, Yamaha, etc. Cars were the only thing that started to slip in the 70's. Companies like Toyota, Datsun, and Honda blew away American companies on the 4 and 6 cylinder market. You had to buy a v8 Ford or Chevy, to have anything quality. But the good news back then was aftermarket parts, except for the cheapest worked fine, and lasted. When Rents go up, production costs go up, and large companies have to compete. Sadly most individuals look at price, and can't see why they should pay 2-3 times the price on say a clutch fan for a expedition. Well they find out soon enough. Imagine the poor slob that buys the cheapest fuel pump from Rock Auto because $50.00 looks better than Fords version at $270.00. Well 2 months later when they gotta drop that full of gas tank, when the bargain pump, went south, they finally hopefully get it.

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[Jb14]

Wow Jb your still around 5 years later! All of the so called veteran mechanics like myself keep beating this Oem drum week after week, but all the cheapskates seem to know better. When I used to do repairs for my livelihood years back, the last thing I needed was comebacks. I used dealer or top shelf parts all the time. I remember something as simple as a fan switch for a girlfriends Toyota. It took 3 Standard brand ones to get one that worked. If I would have gone to Toyota, it would have worked right out of the gate. Bottom line, spend the bucks upfront, or don't bother.

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Yep still here not sure about beating the Oem Drum just stating my experience with this vehicle. Love the truck but very similar to a 98 land Rover I owned that certain aftermarket they just chew up. I am an aftermarket fan coming from mostly GM owned vehicles where aftermarket parts just worked, so going aftermarket on the Ford seemed like no big deal, which I have found out is a big deal. So yes I now spend the big bucks up front.

 

[1955moose]

What's weird is how can a certain company make a part for a Chevy that works, but not a Ford. Don't even get me started on British cars/trucks. The Brits have such a old fashioned idea of it was good enough in year 2000, then its OK for 2018. They've gotten so much better over the past 20 years. But back in the 60's through 80's, their technology was something horrific. In Britain, I guess their used to it, but carrying a full set of wrenches/sockets everytime I go out for a putt, is not my idea of a good time!

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[Terence S Maguire]

1955Moose, I know that those Lucas electrical systems on Triumphs were so bad, they got the nickname "Prince of Darkness", because if you were riding at night, there was a good chance it would be without any lights.

 

[Jb14]

I don't understand either, in the past it did seem like aftermarket manufactures had something to prove now they seem to be same parts with a different name stamped on them. But I know now for Form OEM