ACE Dash Air

[sbrain]

We have a 2012 29.1 Thor Ace. Love and Hate it at the same time. This is our first MH with a steep learning curve. We are in Florida on Holidays traveling to Disney. Unfortunately our Dash air conditioning died. The fan and blowers work. I think the compressor is working based on the sound, but I'm not exactly sure where it is located as I can't see it from the outside engine compartment. I called Thor, our warranty, and our dealer. Thankfully we bought the extended warranty; however, this doesn't help now. No one seem to be able to diagnose and I don't have days to stop and leave the MH at a shop. At each campsite I call the local people but they have been too busy thus far. I checked all the treads without much luck. The Evans site which someone shared was the best however I'm not a mechanic (Evans Tempcon, Inc - Technical Support). It appears to cover lots of air conditioners.
I checked the dash wires for anything loose but didn't find anything. I inspected what I could in the engine compartment but didn't see anything obvious. I went to wallmart and purchased a can of r134 in my next quick fix attempt. Can anyone identify the low point where I'd add the refill? Is it #1 or #2 in the attached picture. I'm surprised by the rust in the area. Any other parts you can identify would be helpful for me and I'm sure others. Thanks Community! !

[Skip426]

Where to begin.
First and foremost , it is important to determine if the compressor is cycling on and off . If the compressor cuts in and stays engaged for a couple of mins. at a time , chances are the Freon level is ok. Over filling the system can lead to as many problems as under filling .
I can't keep the pictures up while typing so I'll post this and go and make notes while looking at the pictures. BRB

[Skip426]

OK, First picture.
Pressure ports, you have multiple parts suppliers, Ford and Evans, each has installed parts with pressure ports, because they don't know what the other has done or will do as far as parts is concerned.
High and low ports are a different size
My coach has 3 of each.
Second picture.
B is a pressure sensor, tells the compressor if there is enough charge of Freon in the system to safely run.
C is the receiver-dryer , kind of a system filter.
Third picture.
Circled possible evidence of a system leak. The Freon charge contains a lubricating oil for internal compressor components. There is an O ring inside that fitting that my be the problem, if in fact the Freon is low.
Goop is insulation around the firewall to seal the connection to the evaporator inside the coach , the part is called an H block and regulates the Freon flow into the evaporator. Gets very cold and frosty, when operating , can even freeze up causing issues.
Small box with probe tube is the evaporator temp sensor , tells the system if the evaporator is freezing up and stops the compressor cycling.
Forth picture.
Another pressure port.

DW, asks can you run the gen set and the roof air while on the road, we do.

Have someone push the A/C control while you stand in front of the coach , the operation of the compressor should be apparent by the loud click when the electromagnetic clutch engages, if it short cycles; cuts back out in a few seconds add the Freon.

[bdickson]

I just had the compressor replaced on my Challenger (same engine as ACE). The dealer said they replace a lot of them.

[sbrain]

Thanks very much. I do hear something engaging besides the blower which appears to be working. I can hear something while I'm inside and outside (kind of like a turbo turning on). Thanks also for the descriptions. Do you think that the low pressure port is likely #1 in picture one?
Shawn

[Skip426]

My coach has an Evans system too, I believe the caps are marked , H & L , too dark to check right now . It's been ages since I did A/C repair and for the life of me I can't remember if the smaller tube is high pressure or low .
Getting old sucks!

EDIT: Ok got online and refreshed my memory.
The smaller tube is the high pressure or , liquid , line. After the refrigerant leaves the compressor it is in a liquid state. As it goes through the evaporator it changes to a gas and returns to the compressor in the larger, low pressure or suction line.
The gas takes up more space that the liquid and requires larger tubing.
With out being there to trace all the tubes, I'd guess that they both could be low pressure. The can should only fit the one size. If you tae the plastic cap off the difference should be apparent.
A, in picture 4 , from the tube size should be high pressure.

[sanfordturbo]

Same problem in my ace a month ago. Put 2 cans of r134a in the MH to get it to blow cold. The low pressure side is easy to reach. It is not the same size as the high pressure side, so you can't get the wrong port. I still need to find the leak and add more cans, but for now, I have stopped sweating in the MH.

[joelee2]

I have 30.2 ACE. Had the same problem on a trip to Disney last month leaving from Arizona. I could not fix it myself so I just ran the generator while rolling to use the coach AC. Put 50 hrs on the generator but the kids stayed cool. Brining it in tomorrow for an appointment at a local Ford dealership the fix AC. All under factory warranty. Have fun in Disney.

[Towertime]

My 2012 29.1 also was low on Freon a month or so ago. After recharging (and adding a leak detector) seems as though there may be a leak at the front of the compressor. Taking mine in also to the Ford dealer this week.

[Bdhicks]

I have a 29.1 and ford replaced my compressor after it stopped. It was cold for a while, but does not freeze me out like my Jeep Wrangler. Good luck.

[Moonshine94]

Originally Posted by bdickson

I just had the compressor replaced on my Challenger (same engine as ACE). The dealer said they replace a lot of them.

+1. Had the compressor replaced last week on my ACE and learned that it's a common failure on the F53 chassis. You can't see the compressor from the front, but it's easily viewed if you crawl under the front of the coach. Look for evidence of compressor oil having leaked (light, honey colored oil dripping off bottom of compressor or collecting on front cross member).

[Towertime]

Ford Dealer confirmed that the compressor is leaking and needs to be replaced. Waiting on Ford to accept the warranty charges. For some reason they had a different start date on the warranty than the date I bought the RV so the dealer is trying to get that straightened out.

[dempen]

I just replaced my compressor on a 2011 Coachmen with Ford chassis, $1,100!!

[Towertime]

Hopefully the replacements last longer than the originals!