99 Ford Escort - AC Blowing but not cold

[adrianaa03]

I have a 99 Ford Escort and the ac has stopped cooling. It blows air but it isn't cold. It doesn't need freon and I can hear the compressor and fan working. Also the silver tubes under the hood are really cold so I know the freon is there. Anyone know what the problem might be? Thanks for any help!

Adriana

[mightymoose_22]

I am not familiar with the 99's... but if you are certain you are not low on refrigerant and can feel it in the tubes.... I would wonder if somehow the vents are not operating correctly. Do you have a slider that moves from vent/floor/recirc etc? Can you tell a difference in each position?

I suppose what I am getting at is... if the control for the vents is stuck or broken, your cool air could possibly be coming out your defroster or floor vents rather than the dash.

[david-dimick]

When you say "Fan" are you sure its the cooling fan and not the blower you're hearing.... can you actually see the cooling fan spin? Does it blow cold at all, then hot?

[markwb]

Adriana, it really sounds as if you're low on the freon charge. The silver a/c lines under the hood may be cold, but that doesn't mean the evaporator is getting the flow of freon which cools the interior of the car.

[adrianaa03]

Well, my brother in-law was messing with some vaccum hoses (I think that's what they are called) He was tightening them and just moving them around and it started cooling again. It now has white smoky stuff coming out of the vents and it's not really really cold. Maybe freon?

Thanks for all your feedback!

[adrianaa03]

Well, my brother in-law was messing with some vaccum hoses (I think that's what they are called) He was tightening them and just moving them around and it started cooling again. It now has white smoky stuff coming out of the vents and it's not really really cold. Maybe freon?

Thanks for all your feedback!

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by adrianaa03

Well, my brother in-law was messing with some vaccum hoses (I think that's what they are called) He was tightening them and just moving them around and it started cooling again. It now has white smoky stuff coming out of the vents and it's not really really cold. Maybe freon?

Thanks for all your feedback!

Check that freon and say no to them death kits and tell your brother-inlaw to leave them vacume lines alone unless they are bad.
Post back pressure readings.

Wal Mart DEATH KITS

You cannot properly and safely recharge an air condition system with them.

The one side stop and go gauge does not tell you what your system is doing or is over charged or undercharged.
A overcharged or malfunction air condition system can reach over 500 lbs of pressure.
Enough to blow up that can or system and freeze you at first and the burn you or blind you and if any propane /butane in there blow and light you up.

The stop leak crap and who knows what kind of oil in the kits there will stop your system for sure.
Just like pouring super glue in it.
And some kits even contain freon with a butane mixer.
Good for a big blast.

If you are going to do it do it right and safe.
Here is what you need to start with.
http://www.ackits.com/merchant2/merc...uct_Code=66773

In the older days you could just throw in a can and go.
But over the years just adding freon is getting harder to do.
Newer systems have to have the correct amount of freon down to the ounces.
Most will need pumped down and vacuumed down and the right and amount of oil and a set amount freon charge installed to get the air to cool right and the system to last.
If an air condition is low there is usually a leak that needs fixed and also a lose of lubricating oil from system.
Also air and moisture enters a low system
If you are going to try to do it get the proper type air condition gauge set with the low and high side gauges.
Hook up the gauges and get a reading with compressor running at idle and at 2000 rpm on the high and low side.
Post back pressure reading and we can help you.
MT

[mightymoose_22]

Last time I charged mine I picked up a can at AutoZone that had a pressure gauge built in... worked pretty good. Only trick is to know what your system pressure is supposed to be, but I seem to remember a general guide to pressures included with the can.

You can get cheap pressure testers at the parts store... though the refrigerant is a little pricey. If you do it that way, just get one can (one with lubricant) and add it in, checking pressure as you go. If you need another, go back and get it.

I agree as above though... the refrigerant had to go somewhere.... you may have a leak in the system and the easiest way to find it is to get it to a shop. Probably o-rings on the compressor if anywhere.