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Ford Escape A/C Only Works Intermittently
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Sam82
New User
Jun 30, 2012, 7:07 PM
Post #1 of 4
(28091 views)
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Ford Escape A/C Only Works Intermittently
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I own a 2010 Ford Escape Limited, AWD, V6 with approximately 51,500 miles, and I will start by saying that I know virtually nothing about reparing cars. The crux of my problem is this -- sometimes the a/c works, sometimes it doesn't. If it's cool out -- when I don't particularly need the a/c -- it works fine. When it is moderately warm to hot out (say, 75+ degrees) it blows only hot air 95% of the time. The a/c worked fine last summer, and then the temperature cooled off, and I didn't need it. I first realized I had a problem on an unusually hot day in November, when I turned on the a/c and noticed it was only blowing lukewarm air instead of cold air. I had my mind made up to take it to a mechanic, but when I tested it later, it seemed to be working normally (of course, it was cool out), so I brushed it off as just a quirk, which, in retrospect, I probably shouldn't have done. When I began needing the a/c again around early May, I realized I had the same problem -- the a/c works when the temperature is cool out, but not when it's hot. Only now it doesn't simply blow lukewarm air -- it blows really hot air most of the time. Every now and then, after it has been blasting hot air for a while, it will start working again (briefly); I can usually tell when this is going to happen because I can hear a very low whistling noise coming from the vents on the dash, and then I get a blast of cold air. That may last five to ten minutes, if that long, and then it goes back to blowing out only hot air again (and this does not happen every time I drive it, just occasionally and entirely randomly). Normally in the mornings, when it is relatively cool, I can make it all the way to work -- a one hour commute -- with normally functioning a/c. But in the evenings, when it is typically 90+ degrees, it functions just as I described -- mostly blowing out hot air, sometimes (briefly) working normally.
Back in May, I took the car to a very reputable mechanic in my neighborhood. I didn't have an appointment (I dropped in on the same day I realized the a/c wasn't working properly and that it was probably more than just a one-time quirk, since it was doing the same thing it had done in November), so he didn't have a lot of time to spend checking it out, but he told me the system was overcharged. He did whatever he had to do to correct that, and the a/c worked fine for about six weeks, but now it is doing the same thing it was doing before -- functioning properly when it's cool outside, and rarely if at all when it's hot out. I can tell that the air compressor is engaging when I turn the car on, but have no idea if it is consistently working properly. I don't intend to try to repair the car myself because I can see 1,000 ways that could turn out very badly, but I would like to get some sort of idea about what the problem could be and what's likely going to be involved in repairing it. I have an appointment with the same mechanic at the end of next week, and while I know he is very reputable, I'm at a disadvantage because I know very little about fixing cars and have a fear of being charged for repairs that I don't really need. I realize it's difficult to diagnose a a problem without actually being able to look at the car in question, but if anybody has any suggestions for what the problem could be, I'd like to know before I take it in to be repaired.
(This post was edited by Sam82 on Jun 30, 2012, 7:09 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 30, 2012, 11:37 PM
Post #2 of 4
(28016 views)
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Re: Ford Escape A/C Only Works Intermittently
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If overcharged and verified on a 2010 vehicle do you know the history of why it was touched from new? If it works properly with a known correct charge and now doesn't but still tries it probably has a leak to be found and fixed.
Check warranty as some will cover A/C even if over miles but under the time period of a new car warranty but if played with could void that,
T
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Sam82
New User
Jul 1, 2012, 8:46 AM
Post #3 of 4
(28000 views)
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Re: Ford Escape A/C Only Works Intermittently
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Thanks for the reply. I don't intend to touch the car myself because frankly, I don't even know where to begin and wouldn't want to try. I know the mechanic I am taking it to is reputable (and he specializes in a/c repair) -- I made sure of that -- but I also realize my ignorance when it comes to car repairs puts me at a disadvantage. I know it's virtually impossible to legitimately diagnose a problem like this without even seeing the car, but I mainly wanted to gather some ideas of what the problem COULD be before taking the car in for repairs. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. I don't want to be told I could use/should pay for a whole system overhaul if it's a relatively minor leak.
As for the history of why it was possibly overcharged, I have absolutely no idea, though it is possible someone fooled with the A/C before I bought the car. Prior to my purchase, the car was owned by a national rental agency; I bought it used with less than 10,000 miles. That being said, the Carfax report checked out fine and the a/c worked fine the entire summer after I bought the car in January of 2011. It wasn't until November of 2011 that I first noticed the problem (which at the time didn't seem to be such a big problem because every time I randomly tested the a/c after that, it worked as it should . . . of course, the outside temperature was cool). The first time I had ever had anyone look at the a/c system was when I took it to the mechanic in May; up until then, at least on my end of ownership, it was just routine maintenance.
I know the car has a problem, and I'm ready to let someone who knows what they are doing take care of it the way it needs to be taken care of, as long as they don't try to take advantage of my ignorance. As I said before, I know the mechanic I am using is reputable, and I know his company specializes in a/c repair, but I realize I'm fairly naive when it comes to car repairs, too. I got burned badly on repairs by a very reputable Ford dealership's service department several years ago, and pretty much decided then that just because someone's technically quite good at their job doesn't necessarily mean they're always honest, particulary if the customer isn't reasonably well-versed in what's going on. I'm certainly not saying all mechanics are that way . . . I'm an attorney and I know we've got a reputation, too . . . but I know human nature, and I know the possibility is there when you're dealing with some people. That's why I want as much information as possible going in. I know this guy's reputation as far as the quality of his work; I don't, however, know how likely he is to size me up as someone who knows nothing about cars and thus as someone who would be likely to pay for repairs I don't necessarily need.
So, bottom line -- given that it is probably a leak (extensiveness to be determined, though as I said, the a/c worked fine for about 6-weeks after it was recharged, if that tells you anything), and given the fact that the a/c still works normally sometimes, IF the repair shop tries to convince me I need a major overhaul of some sort, should I get a second opinion? This guy is supposedly the best a/c man in town, and I'll pay what is neccassary to properly correct the problem, but I'm not all about paying more money than I need to.
Also, it's good to know there is a possibility it may still be covered under warranty if it is a major a/c issue; I'll certainly check that.
Again, thanks for the reply.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 1, 2012, 9:00 AM
Post #4 of 4
(27994 views)
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Re: Ford Escape A/C Only Works Intermittently
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Awesome that you have a trusted A/C tech. It's so easy to try something yourself and make it many times more expensive for what might be relatively easy.
#1 reason is a leak but not always. It may have been low before you got it and just to limp it thru the rental time just got boosted but shouldn't have been overcharged?! Vehicles really want the right amount - no games.
It lasted for 6 weeks so it's a fairly slow leak but not so slow that it shouldn't be found. Anything can leak that is containing the gas in the system. Could be a dollar O ring or who knows?
Allow your trusted A/C person to determine what and where with you refreshing the history can only help. Good luck and hope it's just something silly but will probably require the vacuum and recharge again unless there's a bag covering up the condenser or something real silly like that
T
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