Odd problem with climate control

[Ian Sharpe]

Hi guys,

I havent posted here for a couple of years since I bought my EDGhia. Had to re register

Anyway got rid of that & have bought an EL Fairmont Wagon.

Have a really odd problem with the Climate Control. ( I have done search).
Problem is with the heating side.

It works great & in fact will almost burn my feet off UNTIL the vehicle gets up to operating temp. Then it gradually gets colder (even though I have heating cranked right up) until its stone cold (almost like on 16deg). Makes no difference if in auto or manual mode, either.

Diagnosis test reveals no codes. I replaced thermostat but didnt make any diff. I also replaced the coolant temperature sensor.

Ford tech reckons its the blend door motor & as you all know , big bucks for repair & labour. I'm not convinced though .

I reckon its related to coolant temperature or eng temp. 2 reasons why.

1. Works great until coolant or engine gets to a certain temp.

2. Tested on a big long (1k) steep incline near my place. heat mode Works OK at start, I gun it up the incline so that the temp rises (near mid way level), heater goes cool but comes back again when temp needle drops back .

Tell me thats not related to temp.

Ford guy reckons just coincidence.

Could it be any other sensors etc??

I know this subject has been done to death, but I want to be sure before I give them the go ahead for a new blend door motor.

cheers

[Aaron_EF8]

Did you do a diagnostic test, or reset by holding 'Mode' and 'Off' buttons?? Give the following test a go - http://www.fordmods.com/forums/documents.php?doc=9

If you do that test, you will be able to see if the blend door is opening/closing, and if the heater tap is doing its job, among other things. It doesn't really sound like the blend door motor, because you say it still gets hot, and doing the system reset will almost always pick up a faulty blend door motor (code E2), even when its working fine.

Just out of curiousity, how much did Ford quote to fit the blend door motor? The part itself is $170 or so.

[Ian Sharpe]

HI,

YEAH,

I've done that reset test, didnt show any codes, & didnt fix problem.

Ford guy said it was about 5 hrs labour plus parts, so I am guessing at least $500-600 bucks.

But I may have to bite the bullet unless someone can come up with an alternative

cheers

[raiki]

I would check the engine temp sensor and it's connections. If it goes open circuit (or high resistance) with the heat, the air con will go into low fan cold air only (called cold engine lockout).

Can you here the blend door move when you do a diagnostic check. If you can then I'd say there is nothing wrong with that.

[XR Martin]

Replace the heater tap (i dont think the self test actually checks that) also check the vacuum lines related to it.

[efgiar]

raiki sounds spot on the money there, itll be a sensor or a bad connection somwere, well thats what it sounds like from what you have described

[dansince86]

hey huys, i also have problems with my climate control, the self diagnose told me "E3" which is a cabin sensor problem, can anyone tell me where i can find the cabin sensor, i have little to no knolage on working with A/c

Cheers Dan

[NZ]

its behind the panel where the trip computer is. you'll see a small grill with a few gaps in it. right behind that.

[Ian Sharpe]

Ok I solved the problem.

I soon worked out that the standard Ford thermostat has the tail bit on it to block off the flow to the heater in the event that the motor overheats. Ford reckons they have done that so all of the coolant is available in an overheat situation, rather than have some flowing to the heater core.

SO I replaced the Ford type thermostat with one that didnt have the tail bit on it. result it works great now at all times becasue there is no bit that stops the flow to the heater core.

Obviously Ford reckon that when the needle gets to 1/2 way mode then its running too hot.!!

maybe I have uncovered another problem now , in that the radiator needs attention.

What do others reckon?? Is it normal for the needle to get to 1/2 way on the guage??

cheers

[XR Martin]

Id say you've got other problems though, and the thermostat is just masking the problem.

No properly running Falcon should sit on half way, the temp they should sit on is normally around 1/4 and a 1/3. Unless its 40C+ out and you're running the A/C, but even then it shouldnt go over half.

[Ian Sharpe]

yeah , methinks too,

thanks