Fred Harper

I have a 2003 Escape. It has a "feature" according to Ford of partially
shutting off the air conditioning when going up a steep hill or when the
ambient temperature is too low. It seems to me that if the ambient
temperature is below about 75 in the shade (even if I'm in the sun), the AC
doesn't cool.

I'm sick of this ambient temperature aspect. (The steep grade thing really
isn't too bad and I do understand the purpose). The Ford dealer says its a
"feature" and that they cannot do anything.

Anybody know of a way to adjust or bypass the ambient temperature issue?

SC Tom

I agree with CJB- I think you may have a low charge. I have a 2002 Escape,
and the manual says the AC will work in all modes (AC or defrost) as long as
the outside air is 43 degrees F. or more.
Good luck!
SC Tom


"CJB" <colonyparkwagon@excite.nospam> wrote in message
news:blone.17601$tv3.3465@trnddc06...
> I'd suspect that you have lost some refrigerant. AFAIK, the only thing
> that would shut off the A/C is the low pressure switch. Of course, the
> lower the temperature, the lower the pressure, and the switch cuts off the
> compressor to keep from damaging it.
>
> If you lose refrigerant, you have low pressure, too, but not from low
> temperatures, only from low volume of refrigerant.
>
> CJB
>
> "Fred Harper" <fred-c-harper@prodigy.net> wrote in message
> news:429d56e4$1@usenet01.boi.hp.com...
>>I have a 2003 Escape. It has a "feature" according to Ford of partially
>>shutting off the air conditioning when going up a steep hill or when the
>>ambient temperature is too low. It seems to me that if the ambient
>>temperature is below about 75 in the shade (even if I'm in the sun), the
>>AC doesn't cool.
>>
>> I'm sick of this ambient temperature aspect. (The steep grade thing
>> really isn't too bad and I do understand the purpose). The Ford dealer
>> says its a "feature" and that they cannot do anything.
>>
>> Anybody know of a way to adjust or bypass the ambient temperature issue?
>>
>
>

Andrew Rossmann

[This followup was posted to alt.autos.ford and a copy was sent to the
cited author.]

In article <429d56e4$1@usenet01.boi.hp.com>, fred-c-harper@prodigy.net
says...
> I have a 2003 Escape. It has a "feature" according to Ford of partially
> shutting off the air conditioning when going up a steep hill or when the
> ambient temperature is too low. It seems to me that if the ambient
> temperature is below about 75 in the shade (even if I'm in the sun), the AC
> doesn't cool.
>
> I'm sick of this ambient temperature aspect. (The steep grade thing really
> isn't too bad and I do understand the purpose). The Ford dealer says its a
> "feature" and that they cannot do anything.
>
> Anybody know of a way to adjust or bypass the ambient temperature issue?

Typically, it should only be shut off in temps below about 40-45F, or
near-full to full-throttle conditions. If it's not cooling during more
normal use, then either there is a low refrigerent problem, temperature
blend door issue, dirty cabin air filter (if it has one), plugged up
evaporator (what cools the air in the car), or condenser (in front of
the radiator.)

--
If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying!
All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
law!!
http://home.att.net/~andyross

C. E. White

Fred,

Your A/C not working at 75 degrees is a fault, not a
feature. The PCM shuts off the compressor when the load on
the engine is high (like going up a steep hill). The low
side pressure switch cuts off the compressor when the
ambient temperature is low - but 75 F is not "low" in this
application. Most likely you have a low refrigerant (Suva)
charge. When the A/C is properly charged you can't bypass
the ambient low ambient temperature "feature." It is the
nature of the refrigerant used that the AC won't be
effective at low temperatures. But 75 degrees is not low.

Fred Harper wrote:
>
> I have a 2003 Escape. It has a "feature" according to Ford of partially
> shutting off the air conditioning when going up a steep hill or when the
> ambient temperature is too low. It seems to me that if the ambient
> temperature is below about 75 in the shade (even if I'm in the sun), the AC
> doesn't cool.
>
> I'm sick of this ambient temperature aspect. (The steep grade thing really
> isn't too bad and I do understand the purpose). The Ford dealer says its a
> "feature" and that they cannot do anything.
>
> Anybody know of a way to adjust or bypass the ambient temperature issue?

Fred Harper

Most definitely not what the dealer says (and I checked with an
independent too). I'll get the charge checked.

Thanks,

Fred

SC Tom wrote:
> I agree with CJB- I think you may have a low charge. I have a 2002 Escape,
> and the manual says the AC will work in all modes (AC or defrost) as long as
> the outside air is 43 degrees F. or more.
> Good luck!
> SC Tom
>
>
> "CJB" <colonyparkwagon@excite.nospam> wrote in message
> news:blone.17601$tv3.3465@trnddc06...
>
>>I'd suspect that you have lost some refrigerant. AFAIK, the only thing
>>that would shut off the A/C is the low pressure switch. Of course, the
>>lower the temperature, the lower the pressure, and the switch cuts off the
>>compressor to keep from damaging it.
>>
>>If you lose refrigerant, you have low pressure, too, but not from low
>>temperatures, only from low volume of refrigerant.
>>
>>CJB
>>
>>"Fred Harper" <fred-c-harper@prodigy.net> wrote in message
>>news:429d56e4$1@usenet01.boi.hp.com...
>>
>>>I have a 2003 Escape. It has a "feature" according to Ford of partially
>>>shutting off the air conditioning when going up a steep hill or when the
>>>ambient temperature is too low. It seems to me that if the ambient
>>>temperature is below about 75 in the shade (even if I'm in the sun), the
>>>AC doesn't cool.
>>>
>>>I'm sick of this ambient temperature aspect. (The steep grade thing
>>>really isn't too bad and I do understand the purpose). The Ford dealer
>>>says its a "feature" and that they cannot do anything.
>>>
>>>Anybody know of a way to adjust or bypass the ambient temperature issue?
>>>
>>
>>
>
>