air conditioning not cooling properly

2017 FORD ESCAPE
108,282 MILES • 1.5L • 4 CYL • TURBO • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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CLOPEZ1975
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
A/C blows colder when driving highway speeds, does not blow as cold when stopped at a light. Had system checked at firestone and was told everything was normal, levels normal, pressure normal.
Apr 9, 2022 at 8:04 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 110,194 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Hi,

What you described can be considered normal. When the vehicle isn't moving, there is less airflow through the condenser at the front of the vehicle. The condenser looks like a radiator in front of the engine coolant radiator.

The purpose of the condenser is to cool the refrigerant in the system from a gas back into a liquid. If there is little to no cooling when not moving, confirm the condenser is not dirty and doesn't have anything blocking it. You can spray it off with water if needed. Additionally, confirm the engine cooling fan runs when you turn on the AC.

If you have the pressure readings found and let me know the approximately outside temperature when it was tested, I can let me know if anything seems off.

Let me know.

Joe

Apr 9, 2022 at 10:27 PM
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