Trying to understand a/c system quirks

[Klutch9]

The a/c in my Focus is at times lacking, I should say. Example: on my way into work this morning it was mid 70's and very humid. The a/c blowing out of the vents was ice cold. Leaving work, it was low 90's and even more humid, and my car was sitting in the sun all day. All the way home, the a/c never really got cold. It got cool, but not really cold. At times it was even warm. I don't really understand this... if it blows ice cold sometimes, why does it not blow so cold other times? As of last summer, the pressure checked out good on the system, so the refrigerant level is where it should be. Do I need to clean the evaporator fins maybe? I don't know much at all about a/c systems honestly.

 

[Dakota1820]

oh buddy you should join the club!!!! my saturn is like that . what are your vent temps in both conditions? keep the variables the same to. if you tested on hi for when its hot outside do the same thing in the evening the speed of the blower has a significant role in vent temps.

 

[Dakota1820]

a digital meat thermometer is the best thing to test vent temps with.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Usually Ford AC systems are pretty ice cold. The one in my Focus can be really cold at some times and at others be pretty mediocre.

 

[AandPDan]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Usually Ford AC systems are pretty ice cold. The one in my Focus can be really cold at some times and at others be pretty mediocre.


As is the one in my Focus.

Remember, it was 20 degrees warmer when you left work. The car was heat soaked, probably about 120 or so inside. The a/c can only drop the temperature so much. The output air temperature is also warmer than what it was in the morning.

Running it on recirc can help. That way you're not trying to cool down the hot outside air.

 

[Klutch9]

I tried running it on recir for a little bit; didn't make too much of a difference. Maybe the fact that has car has black carpet and black/grey leather seats makes a difference too, in absorbing heat. Even 30 minutes later when I got home, the steering wheel and seat surfaces were very warm, and likely still radiating heat into the car. But my main concern was the air coming out of the vents themselves, as it was not always very cold.

 

[lexus114]

Maybe you`v got moisture in the system. I would find a good shop that specializes in a/c`s. And maybe have them evacuate the system real good. Check for pressure drops indicating a leak somewhere. And re fill with correct amount of freon. As op mentioned, Ford a/c is usually ice cold!

 

[Klutch9]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Maybe you`v got moisture in the system. I would find a good shop that specializes in a/c`s. And maybe have them evacuate the system real good. Check for pressure drops indicating a leak somewhere. And re fill with correct amount of freon. As op mentioned, Ford a/c is usually ice cold!


In my experience, For a/c usually isn't that impressive. GM in my experience is painfully cold! Anyhow, where we live we have wall-mounted a/c units. One of them never really blew cold air from the time we moved in. So we had the coils cleaned (not sure what that means) and it is currently blasting cold air on me as we speak... er, type

could that be the issue with my Focus?

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Originally Posted By: lexus114
Maybe you`v got moisture in the system. I would find a good shop that specializes in a/c`s. And maybe have them evacuate the system real good. Check for pressure drops indicating a leak somewhere. And re fill with correct amount of freon. As op mentioned, Ford a/c is usually ice cold!


In my experience, For a/c usually isn't that impressive. GM in my experience is painfully cold! Anyhow, where we live we have wall-mounted a/c units. One of them never really blew cold air from the time we moved in. So we had the coils cleaned (not sure what that means) and it is currently blasting cold air on me as we speak... er, type

could that be the issue with my Focus?



Sure it`s possible. I spray simple green on my condenser every year. let it sit on there a few minutes, then spray off. (gentle shower spray) the first time I did this, I saw a lot of dirt running off of it. It`s best if you can spray it from the motor side outward. But I dont have enough room with the two electric fans in the way, plus just overall a tight space. Maybe give this a try?

 

[Klutch9]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Originally Posted By: lexus114
Maybe you`v got moisture in the system. I would find a good shop that specializes in a/c`s. And maybe have them evacuate the system real good. Check for pressure drops indicating a leak somewhere. And re fill with correct amount of freon. As op mentioned, Ford a/c is usually ice cold!


In my experience, For a/c usually isn't that impressive. GM in my experience is painfully cold! Anyhow, where we live we have wall-mounted a/c units. One of them never really blew cold air from the time we moved in. So we had the coils cleaned (not sure what that means) and it is currently blasting cold air on me as we speak... er, type

could that be the issue with my Focus?



Sure it`s possible. I spray simple green on my condenser every year. let it sit on there a few minutes, then spray off. (gentle shower spray) the first time I did this, I saw a lot of dirt running off of it. It`s best if you can spray it from the motor side outward. But I dont have enough room with the two electric fans in the way, plus just overall a tight space. Maybe give this a try?


The condenser is by the coolant radiator right?

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Originally Posted By: lexus114
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Originally Posted By: lexus114
Maybe you`v got moisture in the system. I would find a good shop that specializes in a/c`s. And maybe have them evacuate the system real good. Check for pressure drops indicating a leak somewhere. And re fill with correct amount of freon. As op mentioned, Ford a/c is usually ice cold!


In my experience, For a/c usually isn't that impressive. GM in my experience is painfully cold! Anyhow, where we live we have wall-mounted a/c units. One of them never really blew cold air from the time we moved in. So we had the coils cleaned (not sure what that means) and it is currently blasting cold air on me as we speak... er, type

could that be the issue with my Focus?



Sure it`s possible. I spray simple green on my condenser every year. let it sit on there a few minutes, then spray off. (gentle shower spray) the first time I did this, I saw a lot of dirt running off of it. It`s best if you can spray it from the motor side outward. But I dont have enough room with the two electric fans in the way, plus just overall a tight space. Maybe give this a try?


The condenser is by the coolant radiator right?



Yes, it`s directly in front of the radiator.

 

[stranger706]

I have found that smaller cars do not have a lot of extra capacity built into the A/C system. My old Mazda 3 used to be just like your Focus. Driving through the city it would barely cool down. Not until I got on the interstate would the interior start to cool down. Got it checked out, everything was normal. The A/C system was just being overwhelmed driving through the city. It had black interior and would sit in the sun all day.

Both of our Ford A/C systems blow ice cold air all summer, sitting still or driving down the highway doesn't seem to matter. They both have a lot of extra capacity built into the system.

 

[lexus114]

Thank you for your service stranger706!

 

[mechtech2]

Klutch -
So the pressure was good a year ago?
C'mon now... think about what you just said!

 

[zzyzzx]

ON a really hot day when leaving work, expect the A/C to not work very good until you get on the highway. That and I suspect that your r134a level is kind of low.