2003 Ford Explorer no A/C out the front vent

PHRANQUE

MEMBER
2003 FORD EXPLORER
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
110,000 MILES

The air blows out the back but doesn't divert to the front unless I brake. It comes out the front vent while braking but once I stop, the venting returns to the back. How do I access and fix that venting baffle?

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 AT 11:46 AM

3 Replies

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

What do you mean by "back and front"?

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Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 AT 1:24 PM

PHRANQUE

MEMBER
2 POSTS

There seems to be some 'baffle' that adjusts air direction between coming out of the floor in the front, coming out the front vents and directing to the vents pointing at the passengers (behind the front seats). When the vehicle is going through the negative G force of braking (everthing leans forward), there is a sudden rush of air blowing through the front vents. When that inertia stops and the vehicle is stopped, the 'baffle' finds its quiescent spot and most of the air is diverted again to the passenger vents behind the front seats. Does that make sense?

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Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 AT 1:45 PM

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

The mode selection is done through a series of air doors that are operated by vacuum. When there is either a partial or total loss of vacuum, the system will default to either defrost or on some vehicles, heat. Acceleration can also have an effect on the doors for the same reason.

Look under the hood for a small black plastic hose coming through the firewall. Follow it to the vacuum source looking for any breaks, cracks or leaks. Also follow any other lines that branch off because they may go to a vacuum reservoir (storage tank) and a leak there will cause the same problem. Using a vacuum gauge to determine if you have full vacuum at any given point is the best way to find it. You can cut into the line anywhere and splice it back together with a piece of vacuum hose. Find the broken line, you found your problem.

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Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 AT 1:49 PM