1996 Ford WIndstar rear A/C Problems

[addhwill]

I have a 1996 Ford Windstar that has rear a/c problems. I have checked the fuses, feron, and a/c low pressure switch. The compresser is kicking in, but hot air is blowing in the rear and the top vents are not blowing at all. The lower fan on the bottom left side is the one blowing hot air. Do anyone have any suggestions?

[busboy4]

Hi
I think you may have a vacuum or actuator problem. The rear system is slave to the selection on the front panel. I assume your front A/C operations are normal? The flow of air to top or bottom and/or through the heater core/ A/C condenser on the rear unit is dependent on the front selection. There is a vacuum actuator that opens/closes the heater core door on the rear. If the air is directed through the heater core it comes out the bottom, if through the A/C condenser it goes to the top. The actuator is mounted on the side of the rear fan unit and based on the diagram looks like a canister with vacuum lines running in and out. Of course this is all behind the rear trim. So, if you can get at it, I would check the security of the vacuum lines in and out of the actuator, listen for leaks etc and check that the linkage from the actuator to the heater door is intact.

Hope that gets you somewhere. Let us know.

[busboy4]

Hi
A little more info. First, the actuator does not have vacuum lines in and out, just in on one end and the door actuator comes out the other. You can get at all this fairly easily. Pull your middle row of seats, then pull out the three "push pin" connectors that hold the rear air access panel trim on (they are along the bottom of the panel). The panel should pull out, then up. You should then be looking square at the vacuum actuator, fan motor, heater door etc.

[psanche]

Also, check first your rear A/C control switch by the passenger side sliding door. The thermostat maybe set on the red(heater) end.

When I bought my '99 I was wondering why it was just blowing hot air at the base by the rear seat(nothing from the top vents too) while I was running it cold from the front. Turns out that one of my kids was quick to play with the thermostat at the back...duh!

Hopefully that's the only problem you're having.

[miniatar]

Hello!

Can you tell me what part number for the rear a\c actuator on windstar 1998?

Thanks!

[ruggratt]

Originally Posted by addhwill

I have a 1996 Ford Windstar that has rear a/c problems. I have checked the fuses, feron, and a/c low pressure switch. The compresser is kicking in, but hot air is blowing in the rear and the top vents are not blowing at all. The lower fan on the bottom left side is the one blowing hot air. Do anyone have any suggestions?

You need to replace the dashboard switch that controls the rear air. This would be the far right switch. I had the same problem as you, bought the switch for $25 from my Ford dealer, took 15 minutes to install it and now my rear ac works fine. The switch is a combination electric/vacuum switch, and the vacuum component goes bad so your rear ac will not switch from heat to ac. I bet changing this will fix your problem. Let us know how it goes.

Just so we are clear, it is not the switch in the 2nd row of seating, it is the far right climate control switch on the dashboard, the one that either selects the heater/ac rear fan speed or allows the rear seat passengers to control it themselves.