rear a/c windstar 2000

[Lucianp]

Hi everyone. I'm new to the site. I'm not a mechanic but I don't mind getting my hands dirty if I know what I'm doing.

I will probably have several threads going as I have lots of probs with my 2000 Ford Windstar

My first problem is the rear cabin A/C does not work. Neither the air or the fan is working. When I try to select it either from the front control or the rear control panel, I hear a clicking noise at the back of the van.

Is this a relay? and would this be the cause of my problems?
How do I go about testing and replacing?

Any and all help is much appreciated.

I also have a similar problem with my driver window not opening. Same clicking noise, but from the door. If the two are not related and do not share a common point I will address the door in a separate thread.

Thanks in advance.

[Lucianp]

Does anyone know about a/c??

Any help will be a great help.

thanks.

[12Ounce]

The system is a bit difficult to explain. If the front ac is working, then the refrigerant is being pumped/compressed ... one ac compressor for both the front and back. Under the inner LH rear plastic quarter panel is a lot of "stuff": One heater coil, One cooling (expansion) ac coil, One temp electric blend-door actuator, One mode (up/down direction) vent electric blend-door actuator, Two fan speed selection relays, and One motor speed resistor assembly.

But before you open that up ... make sure the fuse #117 at the battery is OK, as well as fuse #23 and "aux blower relay" near your left foot are OK. (Just because a relay may "click" or move ... doesn't mean its working.) These fuses and relay are all that should be necessary to make the fan run single speed ... unless the resistor assembly is broken.

[Lucianp]

thanks for the reply 12Ounce.

make sure the fuse #117 at the battery is OK,

this is ok. I also checked all other fuses in this location

as well as fuse #23 and "aux blower relay" near your left foot

fuse #23 is ok. there are 6 relays marked as Relay 1 -Relay 6. There is no indication as to which relay does what.
How do I know which relay to check?
How do I check relays?

the inner LH rear plastic quarter panel

I need to figure out how to get into this. The grill at first glance looks like it should come off but when I tried, I think it's actually it's part of the inside panel. Do I remove the whole panel?

really do appreciate the help.
thanks

[Lucianp]

Does anyone know how to remove the inner LH rear plastic quarter panel ?

The manual shows the grill panel removed but on my van it appears as if the panel is part of the interior.

I've tried getting a thin blade in behind it but there doesn't seem to be a split to get into. I ran a blade round where I thought the split should be in case it was covered with hardened polish or something. No luck.

There's got to be an easy way to get this panel off without scratching the interior any more than I already have.

Any suggestions???

Thanks

[12Ounce]

#3 is for the front blower. #6 is for the rear blower. JUST THIS ONCE ... swap the two. (BTW, if you have the glove box manual .. this should be covered there.)

The whole panel has to come off. The grill is molded in, I believe.

[Lucianp]

12Ounce, you've cracked it.

I swapped them over and the rear A/C works. Man, I'm glad I didn't need to take that panel off. Now I need to go and buy a replacement.

No, I don't have a glovebox book. Unfortunately. If all this info is in the user handbook, it's a pity it's not in the Haynes.

Thanks 12Ounce. I appreciate your help.

Now for a new thread on my driver door window. Perhaps that's a relay too! Fingers crossed.

[mundy5]

hey hey Lucianp, that's great news! that's a very helpful tip 12Ounce. I didn't realize that the relays were interchangeable. I need to keep that for my own records for the future.

[12Ounce]

So I'm not the only guy who has bad relays!!! (Actually my knees are not so good either ... or my eyes ... or my ears ...etc,etc ...LOL!)


BTW, if you pry up the button control panel on the drivers door, open up the switch assembly ... clean and lubricate all the little switch contacts (tedious work) ... you'll probably be OK. If not, you may need a regulator-motor.

[Selectron]

Originally Posted by Lucianp

No, I don't have a glovebox book. Unfortunately. If all this info is in the user handbook, it's a pity it's not in the Haynes.

Hi, you can download a free copy of the glove box manual in PDF format from this Ford site. It will have diagrams for the fuse and relay layouts, and a list of the functions of each.