1997 Mercury Villager A/C flow not always directed into CAB

DWAYNEEARL

MEMBER
1997 MERCURY VILLAGER
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
120,000 MILES

Here's a weird one. On two long trips the cooled air flow would stop coming out the vents. We could hear the blower going and the dash neat the vents would get cold. We could feel a small amount of air seeping from the vents. This seemed to happen either in auto mode or in manual mode, but only on longer trips. When we returned home, it worked fine in the city AND when we tried to recreate the problem on the freeway here at home. The first time this happened was in May of this year, and didn't happen again all summer until last weekend on another trip. Again, when we got home it works fine. Our mechanic says he really can't fix it if he doesn't see a problem. Can you help?

Don Sandberg, Memphis TN

3 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

Try the self diagnostic for retrieval of any stored trouble codes:
SELF-DIAGNOSTIC TEST Entering Self-Diagnostics Ensure air temperature inside vehicle is 65-85 °F (18-29 °C). If temperature is not as specified, system will falsely indicate faulty in-car temperature sensor. Turn ignition on. Simultaneously press OFF and floor symbol buttons, and then within 2 seconds, press AUTOMATIC button. Self-diagnostic test may take 30-60 seconds (during this time, there will be a pulse tracer going around center of display window). 1. If display is blank for more than 30-60 seconds, go to TEST A . If no codes are present and system is not operating properly, go to SYMPTOM DIAGNOSIS . If codes are displayed, record code and repair in the order displayed. See SELF-DIAGNOSTIC CODE DIRECTORY . 2. CAUTION: Before turning ignition off, exit self-diagnostics. Exiting Self-Diagnostics To exit self-diagnostics without clearing codes, press down arrow on TEMP button. To exit self- diagnostics and clear codes, press defrost symbol button. Display window will show Code 88 and mode symbols for one second. Intermittent codes are deleted 80 ignition cycles after code first appeared. Upon exiting self- diagnostics, EATC should return to off mode. SELF-DIAGNOSTIC CODE DIRECTORY