2007 Escape XLS 2.3L AC Issue

[badtlc]

My 2007 Escape isn't cooling adequately in hot weather and both my shop and the dealer can't seem to figure out why. They say it cools fine in their shops with a 40F temp drop across the coil. The issue is when it is hot outside, the temp drop is only about 20-25F. The refrigerant levels are good. There are no leaks. Compressor is OEM and replaced 2 years ago.

The dealer thought it might be the heat blending door since it wouldn't fully close but I got that wedged fully shut but no change in output temperatures.

When I'm testing I use the following:
- Fresh air intake
- Fan setting 3 of 4
- 7" temp probe inserted in middle dash vent and adjusted to make sure it isn't touching the sides of the vent ducting
- Escape has been sitting in garage for at least 2 hours
- test in the evening when no direct sun is present

I tested another escape at the dealer and it was hitting 40-45F using my testing methods, easy, even in full sun.

any guesses on what else it could be?

 

[michaelluscher]

Condenser fan coming on and off as it should?

Condenser clean?

Cabin filter clean?

Run ForSCAN on it and see if the evap temp sensor is throwing a code

 

[Delta]

Try running on recirculate and a lower fan setting. In testing temperature in my own vehicles it always is cooler on a lower fan setting and using the Max AC setting which normally defaults into the recirculate position.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: michaelluscher
Condenser fan coming on and off as it should?

Condenser clean?

Cabin filter clean?

Run ForSCAN on it and see if the evap temp sensor is throwing a code


Compressor stays on and does not cycle

condenser coil appears fine

cabin filter fine

I don't have access to ForSCAN, unfortunately.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: Delta
Try running on recirculate and a lower fan setting. In testing temperature in my own vehicles it always is cooler on a lower fan setting and using the Max AC setting which normally defaults into the recirculate position.


That would be for normal operation, that isn't useful for troubleshooting.

Recirc doesn't help enough to cool the cabin adequately. Interior temps still stay above 80F.

 

[michaelluscher]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
Originally Posted By: michaelluscher
Condenser fan coming on and off as it should?

Condenser clean?

Cabin filter clean?

Run ForSCAN on it and see if the evap temp sensor is throwing a code


Compressor stays on and does not cycle

condenser coil appears fine

cabin filter fine

I don't have access to ForSCAN, unfortunately.


Then you should work on getting access to it

Short of finding someone with a IDS, it's the best source of diagnostic info

I'm thinking maybe the cooling fan isn't going full blast when the compressor comes on?

Is it manual HVAC, or EATC?

 

[14Accent]

Poor moisture removal from the receiver/dryer? Should be easy enough to replace and pretty cheap. Spent desiccant = moisture in system = poor cooling.

Just spitballing, though.

*EDIT* Never mind, forgot the Escape uses an orifice tube setup. Accumulator should be fine, maybe replace the orifice tube?

 

[gabriel9766]

Fans kicking on like thay should high and low speed? Ive done a few rad fans on the first gen escapes at work for them intermittently going out. For instance had a first gen escape prob a month ago come in for ac inop. Found fans would not kick on, tried to command it on with the ids and would not work. Smacked the fan it came on and would only cool to 60 and would only work on low, not high fan speed. Put in a new fan and fan worked on high and low and cooled to 42F.

 

[Warstud]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
the temp drop is only about 20-25F.

How cold do you need it?

 

[clinebarger]

I know you "pinned" the temp blend door to the cold position, But you can't see inside the evaporator box.......Clamp off the heater hoses & recheck.

A/C pressures, High & Low side?

The Accumulator should be ICE COLD, Gives a good idea of the actual evaporator temp.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: 14Accent
Poor moisture removal from the receiver/dryer? Should be easy enough to replace and pretty cheap. Spent desiccant = moisture in system = poor cooling.

Just spitballing, though.

*EDIT* Never mind, forgot the Escape uses an orifice tube setup. Accumulator should be fine, maybe replace the orifice tube?


The orifice tube was replaced 2 years ago, too. I don't think that is it. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: clinebarger
I know you "pinned" the temp blend door to the cold position, But you can't see inside the evaporator box.......Clamp off the heater hoses & recheck.

A/C pressures, High & Low side?

The Accumulator should be ICE COLD, Gives a good idea of the actual evaporator temp.


The ford dealer just said pressures were good. I don't know what they were, sorry.

I'll look into clamping the heater hoses and check the accumulator.

Thank you.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: Warstud
Originally Posted By: badtlc
the temp drop is only about 20-25F.

How cold do you need it?


Well, the temp drop is supposed to be ~40F.

I'd like it to be cold enough to keep the cabin in the low to mid 70F range. Right now, it can only hold it to about 82 on max settings.