Intermittent AC - at the dealer for a few weeks (after compressor replacement)

[Captdistraction]

Long story short, our "BS"-OB Had exhibited some bad vibration and AC functionality wasn't great, sometimes it would work, sometimes it would stop. We took it in 8/13 to our local dealer and they ended up replacing the compressor, some underbody components, and completed a recall.

Once we received the vehicle back, immediately the AC was intermittent again - it was a hot day in Phoenix, and my wife came home from work drenched in sweat. She advised that the AC was in and out. So I grabbed some IR and instant-read thermometers and hopped in the car. I started it and it blew ice cold air ( >40 degree delta to the 122 degree interior temperature). I put the car in gear and before I could even move a car length the air went from cold to warmer than ambient (126-128 coming out of the vents). I drove around the neighborhood and it did cool some but when i came to a stop it went back to hot. I popped the hood to check for compressor operation and it was indeed working, high speed fans were running. Took it on the highway and it cooled some but on the way back it stopped again.

So on 8/28 it went back to the dealer just days after getting the bronco back, and has been there since. We went on a trip to Colorado (which we had hoped to use the bronco for, instead took our gen1 raptor which is a bit of a gas hog), but no word until I called today and found that they have not been able to replicate the issue. So I'm getting the car back tomorrow, but I don't know what to do next. the B2B warranty will soon end (the car has 344xx miles) - and I'm so fed up with Fords (as our previous escape, 16 shelby gt350, 16 mustang GT, and 11 mustang GT before that) all had repeated issues and extended stays with the dealer (the mustangs were all similar AC issues but you could "trick" the system into working by unplugging and plugging the AC pressure sensor near the LP port - not an ideal situation). I have mechanical breakdown coverage from geico which has a $200 deductible, but before I waste time with other dealers or 3rd party shops, has anyone else had a similar issue with their Bronco/1.5?

The dealer reports no codes, levels look good (I didn't put my meter set on it to validate, but will once I get it back), and so far its been cool. They drove it to the point of needing gas so its sat since. I'm confused as I was able to immediately recreate the issue by hopping in it in my driveway (and the following day when we dropped it off it did the same). The service advisor says he believes me, but they've been unable to reproduce. I would love to avoid the wrath of my wife once we get this thing back.

Included a picture of the AC port caps laying on the cowl (as I found them there after the first service).

 

[Bucko]

What I would do:

You drive, and have the service advisor in the passenger seat. Wait until mid afternoon to do this, when the afternoon heat is at its greatest.

 

[NMhunter]

I lived in Tucson for 2 years with a car that didn't have A/C. Once I got a car with A/C, I felt like such a fool for putting up with it for so long. Tucson is cool compared to Phoenix. Modern cars are so complicated that it isn't unusual to have an issue they can't figure out.

Might be worth buying a scan tool that will read your codes so you can see if it throws codes in real time.​

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Hope you get it worked out soon.​

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My 1995 F-250 was the best truck I ever owned, so I expected my new Ford to be the same. So far, so good with 15,000 miles on it.​

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[Ford Motor Company]

Long story short, our "BS"-OB Had exhibited some bad vibration and AC functionality wasn't great, sometimes it would work, sometimes it would stop. We took it in 8/13 to our local dealer and they ended up replacing the compressor, some underbody components, and completed a recall.

Once we received the vehicle back, immediately the AC was intermittent again - it was a hot day in Phoenix, and my wife came home from work drenched in sweat. She advised that the AC was in and out. So I grabbed some IR and instant-read thermometers and hopped in the car. I started it and it blew ice cold air ( >40 degree delta to the 122 degree interior temperature). I put the car in gear and before I could even move a car length the air went from cold to warmer than ambient (126-128 coming out of the vents). I drove around the neighborhood and it did cool some but when i came to a stop it went back to hot. I popped the hood to check for compressor operation and it was indeed working, high speed fans were running. Took it on the highway and it cooled some but on the way back it stopped again.

So on 8/28 it went back to the dealer just days after getting the bronco back, and has been there since. We went on a trip to Colorado (which we had hoped to use the bronco for, instead took our gen1 raptor which is a bit of a gas hog), but no word until I called today and found that they have not been able to replicate the issue. So I'm getting the car back tomorrow, but I don't know what to do next. the B2B warranty will soon end (the car has 344xx miles) - and I'm so fed up with Fords (as our previous escape, 16 shelby gt350, 16 mustang GT, and 11 mustang GT before that) all had repeated issues and extended stays with the dealer (the mustangs were all similar AC issues but you could "trick" the system into working by unplugging and plugging the AC pressure sensor near the LP port - not an ideal situation). I have mechanical breakdown coverage from geico which has a $200 deductible, but before I waste time with other dealers or 3rd party shops, has anyone else had a similar issue with their Bronco/1.5?

The dealer reports no codes, levels look good (I didn't put my meter set on it to validate, but will once I get it back), and so far its been cool. They drove it to the point of needing gas so its sat since. I'm confused as I was able to immediately recreate the issue by hopping in it in my driveway (and the following day when we dropped it off it did the same). The service advisor says he believes me, but they've been unable to reproduce. I would love to avoid the wrath of my wife once we get this thing back.

Included a picture of the AC port caps laying on the cowl (as I found them there after the first service).

Good afternoon. I would like to take a closer look at your AC concerns on my end. To get started, could you please send over a message with your VIN and the name/location of your local Ford dealer?

 

[Sandman]

Good afternoon. I would like to take a closer look at your AC concerns on my end. To get started, could you please send over a message with your VIN and the name/location of your local Ford dealer?

I have been dealing with the same issue since August 2023. On my 21 FE at 14,000 miles air went out. My dealer warranty replaced the compressor. A few weeks later it was an unusually hot day when completing the same trip. The AC blew warm air at the LO setting. The cabin of the BS was 98 degrees. Me and my German Shepard roasted. VIN 3FMCR9F95MRA50536 Dealership; Dean Arbour Ford 55 W M-55 Tawas City, MI 48763 To date they claim they cannot diagnose or recreate to issue.

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