2003 town car A/C problems

[rodneyw1]

I have a 2003 Town Car. Last year as we entered my first summer with it I found at higher speeds, 50 and above, the car would not cool. I took it to the dealer and was told it was an engineering problem, they were working on it, and would contact me when a fix was available. A few weeks later they called and said they were installing a new, smaller orifice which would increase pressure. It was installed at the end of summer so I had no warm weather to test it. This past week we hit the warm weather. I drove from Fresno to SF area, a three hour drive. The outside temp was 95. I drove without stopping and the car never got under 76 inside. It would put out air from 54-59 degrees at 70MPH. If I drop to 50mph or below it would put out 40-45 degree air. The local dealer is giving me the run-around. Any suggestions on what I should do, or where I can go next. Is anyone else having this problem. I am new to all this and don't have a clue.

Thanks in advance for any direction you may give me. Other than this problem, I love the car!

Rodney

[ltdltc]

I would suggest contacting a Ford warranty office and explian your problem and demand them to resolve the problem. In the back of your owner manual there should be something to the effect of contacting a Ford Corperate office and or resolving a warranty issue. I have never bought a new car but if they were telling they were working on it, that answer would not suffice with me.

You probably spent a pretty penny for the car, and to not having cool the car down is unacceptable. Let them know that you are unsatified with your product and that you may not consider purchasing any more Ford products.

[rodneyw1]

Thanks Richard. I'll get my manual and start there.

Rodney

[megaQ]

Surly you have by now resolved your A/C problems. I had the exact same problem with my 2003 Cartier. After replacing just about everthing related to the A/C including the compressor and still having the problem the tech called the ford hotline and explained the situation and what had been done. Ford told him that it was the orfice or the high pressure switch and advised that the "new improved" one was yellow (i think), anyway they sent the new ones, they were installed and no problem since. Hope this helps, David

[rodneyw1]

Originally Posted by megaQ

Surly you have by now resolved your A/C problems. I had the exact same problem with my 2003 Cartier. After replacing just about everthing related to the A/C including the compressor and still having the problem the tech called the ford hotline and explained the situation and what had been done. Ford told him that it was the orfice or the high pressure switch and advised that the "new improved" one was yellow (i think), anyway they sent the new ones, they were installed and no problem since. Hope this helps, David

I have not resolved the problem. They did replace an orifice way back, don't know if it was yellow or not. That did help the problem but did not take care of it. The last time I had it in was the end of summer and the dealer told me Lincoln told him not to do any more work on it until Lincoln could come up with a fix. I will soon have had the car for two years and plan to get rid of it and go back to Cadillac. My last three cars were cadillacs. I think that's a shame becasue I really do like the car other than the A/C.

[megaQ]

I'm sorry that you have not been able to get the AC repaired. I bought mine in Dec 2002. It is the thired Town Car that I have owned and I am sorry to say it is also the sorriest of the three. The only reason that I have not invoked the lemon law is that I have never been without the car overnight. I have learned that getting the proper service from Lincoln is first finding a good reputable service center. Many times that is NOT the dealer from whom you purchased the vehicle. At least you have decided to continue buying American. I have about decided that my next car will be totally assembled in Europe or Japan or maybe Sweden.
Here is the information from the last work order on my A/C fix: (sorry but I don't have a scanner)

"Customer states A/C not cooling at road speed. Called hot line, referred to SSM 17353. Replaced LOW PSI SWITCH WITH UPDATED LOW CYCLE SWITCH."
Parts: 1ea F5UZ - 19D990 - AB ORFC - A/ 978680
1ea 4W1Z - 19E561 - AA SW ASY - 034615

No assurance of course but you might take the above to the svc center and get some help.
That DID fix my problem. Good Luck. David

[megaQ]

Rodney: After pushing the send button I realized that it might be beneficial to you if you had this additional information. The first attempt at fixing my A/C:

"Customer states VEH A/C blows cool while idling but not while driving down the road. ATC DIAG-P.P TEST. PERFORMANCE TEST. LOW SIDE PRESSURE TO LOW (18) HIGH SIDE TO HIGH (300-325) AND FLUXUATES. COMPRESSOR MAKING NOISE. REPLACED COMPRESSOR, FRYER AND ORIFICE TUBE, FLUSHED SYSTEM, DRAINED, EVACUATED AND RECHARGED SYSTEM.

PARTS: 1 1L2Z-19703-DA KIT-A 865477
1 F5DZ-19D990-AB ORFC-A/965022
1 3W7Z-19C836-CA ACUM & 737240
1 OIL R134 OIL
38 R134
3 1W1Z-19E889-JB 0/RG A/894661
6 -391305-S100 SEAL-11 593264
1 02561 A/C EVAP CLEANER
(notice that the part # for ORFC is the same on both jobs but the number is different in the discription.
May be more than you want but then again maybe it will help, if not maybe someone else. David

[rodneyw1]

David,

Thank you so much for all the information. I will pull my records and compare them to parts replaced on yours.

Thanks again,
Rodney