Dash AC not working.

[dutch99]

2016 thor vegas 24.1 Dash AC not working.
Should I take the RV to a ford dealer?
Car AC shop
or a RV service/ dealer?

Help

[code2e]

I would go to the car A/C shop myself. Many Ford dealerships won't even work on motorhomes. Many RV dealerships are so short staffed, they are backed up for months. Think you will get the best service at the best price from an A/C shop. Good luck.

[twinboat]

I wouldn't go to Ford . Most of the system isn't Ford.

I would find a independent A/C repair shop.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by twinboat

I wouldn't go to Ford . Most of the system isn't Ford.

I would find a independent A/C repair shop.

[THenne1713]

Truck shop

[Gary RVRoamer]

Truck shop that does /ac systems or an independent auto a/c shop. Rv dealers usually aren't great a/c specialists, plus they are expensive and really slow. Ford dealers only know about the Ford part, basically the a/c compressor. Everything else came from Thor and their a/c supplier (Denso?).

[THenne1713]

Ford auto dealers flat say they will not work on an RV, as do most other auto shops BECAUSE DOORS TOO SHORT, AND "INSURANCE prohibits work outside bays" and "floor jacks and lifts not rated for 11k-20k vehicles" and "mechanics NOT equipped with tools (sockets greater than 1-1/16" and Torque Wrenches rated for greater than 100-150#"?
Same story from most every dealer and private shop.

so you are left with TRUCK SHOPS.

[IcePyro]

There are some checks you can do yourself, you can borrow manifold gauges from many auto parts stores, find the low and high pressure ports and make sure they are within range

If pressures are good, then you can check to see if the compressor is cycling, if it is not there are very cheap and easy to replace low and high pressure sensors that do sometimes go bad, the low pressure sensor plug wire can be jumped with a paperclip (TEMPORARILY) to confirm that the sensor is bad, as this will activate the clutch on the AC pump

If the pressures are good, and you jumper the LP sensor wire, and the pump does not engage but you can see movement in the magnetic clutch, then the clutch itself may be worn, again this is an fairly easy fix to either replace (have to borrow a pulley puller) and replace, though if it activates but does not engage you can usually get more life out of the clutch itself without removing the pully by taking out a small washer that acts as a spacer, which allows the clutch head to move a tad further and continue to engage

AC work seems intimidating, but automotive AC isn't too bad unless you have a leak, which then becomes a problem of injecting dyes and blacklight searches to find WHERE



To note: a very common leak is around the high/low pressure ports, they have a schrader valve inside that has tiny little seals that wear out over time, you can usually tell pretty easily if they have leaked as there will be oil and/or UV dye (green) on the port/under the cap

[Ledawg]

I would also check connections. I had the same problem. Turned out to be a bad connection behind the kickpanel just in front of the passenger seat. Once I pulled it apart and put it back together it worked. So I cleaned connection and all was fine. I worked and worked on that system trying to find the problem. I wish I had checked the connections first.

[IcePyro]

Originally Posted by Ledawg

I would also check connections. I had the same problem. Turned out to be a bad connection behind the kickpanel just in front of the passenger seat. Once I pulled it apart and put it back together it worked. So I cleaned connection and all was fine. I worked and worked on that system trying to find the problem. I wish I had checked the connections first.

had that happen in my expedition, tearing apart potentiometers, center console, messing with blend doors and motors and worm gears trying to figure out my blend door problem

the knob was broken in the back, and the shaft was stiff enough that the knob FELT like it was turning and wasn't

not the first time the easiest thing solved it, but it being the last thing I checked lol

[SavnTheWales]

Any leaks near compressor? My pressure relief switch on the back of the compressor was leaking. Found oil drips on compressor. I fixed for $15 part. Had to recharge the system, but with the $$$ I saved I bought gauges and vacuum pump so now I can do any AC units.