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My AC worked fine yesterday but suddenly the blower doesn't work on any speed. The AC engages and it sure sounds like the fan is one but no air comes out of the vents. What is the likely cause?
Country: United StatesMake: FordModel: E-150 EconolineYear: 1997
Hello, My name isXXXXX will do my best to assist you. little tough to understand as I am not thereI understand the blower no blowing at any speed but you say you think you hear itSo,, with engine off, key on, controlling blower only through the speeds, do you hear the blower? speed up? speed down?if so,, is is possibly coming out defrost vents. maybe floor vents even if you have set on dash
I can hear the blower speed up and slow down on settings 2, 3, & 4 (don't really hear anything on speed 1).And yes, I just discovered that air is blowing out of the defrost vents (and no where else) whether I have it set on floor, defrost, mixed, or regular.
engine size?
4.2
Ok, Its not possible for me to say where the problem is, but i can educate you on why you are having the problem and what to checkthe mode doors for defrost, dash etc are vcauum controlledWhen there is a loss of vacuum, the default will always be defrost./ You just will not be able to switch it.So the way its setup. You have a vacuum hose runnuing from engine, through the firewall,, the the vacuum tank then to the control panel insideI suspect the vacuum hose between engine and firewall had broken or cracked. Its a small plastic vacuum lineYou need to locate the small plastic vacuum line under hood, going through firewall, usually over near passenger side. Once found. slowly follow that line back, inch by inch looking at it real close for breaks or cracks.if you find one, a parts store will have rubber vacuum hose you can slip over to mend the break, kind of splicing itNow,, there is a vacuum tank under dash. They can go bad an leak but rare. To get to it is 6.2 hour job as entire dash is removed. I really lean to bad vacuum line from firewall to engine. Look for that line going through firewall and follow it back
Is this something I'm going to likely be able to see without taking off the engine cover inside the van?
yes,, has nothing at this time about inside cover, You are working under hood, looking for the plastic vacuum line going through the firewall.Then follow it looking fior breaks in the plastic. Its a common problem due to age etc
This sounds like a totally reasonable answer and I do see the vacuum line going through the firewall. I also see where it connects up behind the air filter. The portions I can see seem like they are in good condition, unfortunately, I can't reach a lot of it.I haven't ranked your answer yet because I can't verify it (and am trying to establish if I can change answer later if necessary). I'm likely going to have to take this to a shop as I can't think of anyone I know who has ability and patience to get in there and check it out.Can vacuum line be of any length? What if I bought a long line and threaded it through the hole in firewall and then reconnected it? Does the length, or path it takes, matter?If I can't figure it out on my own in a day or 2, I'll be forced to take it to a shop. Any suggestions on what I might say to them so that I might benefit from your knowledge without offending them?
any shop should know excatly what I speak ofGo to parts store, get a length of rubber vacuum hose that will slip on the plastic line. Cut the plastci at the firewall and at the engine. Swap out with the rubber bypassing any problem that may be with the plastic lineIf the proble presists? The the control head coul be bad or the vacuum tank leakingNo way for me to sayI am directing you to the DIY repair. Any shop will say the same, its a vacuum supply problem
Experience: 35 years ASE Master Tech, Diagnostic , Electrical Specialist
I replaced the vacuum hose but that didn't fix the problem. The tube I replaced doesn't appear to have any cracks in it.What next? A new development is that the vent/blowers in the back of the van are working and seem to be on "high" even when I've got the fan set on low. (I never noticed this previously, never even heard them blowing before.)
what line? where did it run to and from ? the one you replaced?
It started on passenger side, under the dash, where it was connected to a splitter. I replaced the line that went from there, through the firewall, and ended up connecting right behind the air filter.When that didn't work, we tried to follow the vacuum line on other side of the splitter -- took off trim and such and passenger side of dash -- put it disappeared up behind it where we couldn't see or reach.I figured out the blower in the back thing, there was just a switch I didn't notice that got turned on.
I replaced the line that went from under the dash on passenger side (hooked to a splitter) out through the firewall. It connected behind the air filter. It made no difference.
Note, the line that I replaced did not appear to have any cracks in it.When that didn't work, we tried to follow the vacuum line on other side of the splitter -- took off trim and such and passenger side of dash -- put it disappeared up behind it where we couldn't see or reach.
sorry for the dealy. I am out of townthe other line goes to the vacuum tank. It can only be changed/checked by pulling the whole evaporoator housingIf you see the check valve as shown, it could be bad or,, after you did the line, do you have strong vacuum at tjhe end of line under the dashi do not know if we are going to control problem just yetLMk your findings, i will be back online later today. Thanks
I do not know what you are asking me. Please explain as if I know nothing.
The line I replaced goes to splitter/connector under the dash. The other line going into the splitter disappears up behind the dash. There is also a line running into the back of this connector that goes into a silver colored cylinder. I'm guessing that is the check valve??
Your note says "as shown". Is there a picture somewhere that I'm supposed to be able to see?
You ask if I have strong vacuum. I don't have any idea how to check that. Please explain.
ok, I am back in town nowok, you did the line running from engine to under dash. I need to know if you have vacuum on that line under dash, before you even connect it. Engine running, do you have vacuum on the line you did?second,there is a splitter, one line goes to a vacuum storage tank the other to the back of the control unitthere is also a check valve..This is a difficult repair not being there and not familiar with HVAc vacuum controls. Try to exoplain agian, whet lines go where under dashthe picture below, at the top left shows the vacuum line from engine, to the split then to tank and controls
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I don't know how to check that. Do I need a special tool?
Which end do I check?
ok, sorry for the delay.you said you ran a new line from engine to behind dash. What did you connect that line to behind dash? a T or check valve?in either case, unhook that line behind dash, whatevery you connected it to.Start engine. let idle, use your finger or even your tongue to see if you feel a strong vacuum on the end of the vacuum line.