Air Conditioning

I have a 99 Windstar 3.8. The AC works but the air isn't 'cold' it is cooler than the air in the car and the air outside. Normally, the are is cold. Does it just need some freon? If so what is the average cost for it to be done? I talked to our garage where we take our car they said they do it for about $75-$100. Sometimes our garage is a little spendy just wondering if that is a normal price range. Why do these things pop up when you getting ready for a road trip? grrr.

You can do it your self for around 20.00 bucks advance and auto zone sell 134a with gauge and easy to use instructions. Keep in mind there may be a slow leak but if it will last you throught the summer you can post pone the leak fix. Thats about the norm for what the shop told you. But its always good to shop around. Talk to your friends about good honest shops around your area. If you are up to it do it your self. They also sell kits that have leak find and once you found the leak , it comes with freon to fill it after the the fix. They run from 30-40 dollars complete kit.

You can do it your self for around 20.00 bucks advance and auto zone sell 134a with gauge and easy to use instructions. Keep in mind there may be a slow leak but if it will last you throught the summer you can post pone the leak fix. Thats about the norm for what the shop told you. But its always good to shop around. Talk to your friends about good honest shops around your area. If you are up to it do it your self. They also sell kits that have leak find and once you found the leak , it comes with freon to fill it after the the fix. They run from 30-40 dollars complete kit.

What is the likely hood of there being a leak? Here is a weird question but it shows I don't know a whole lot about the mechanics of a car....We had the infamous TSB (isolator bolts) done last Oct. being as our A/C worked fine up til than (actually not much need to use a/c at that time so I don't recall if we had a problem with a/c than or not) could something in that tsb job caused a problem with our a/c? Just curious. While my car know longer has the cel light on it has never been the same in many ways. Still dealing with an annoying ping and occasional gutless acceleration. After dealing with the TSB AND the steering system being replace (within months of each other) we have been too tapped out of funds to deal with much else.

You can gain a lot by just observing the ac clutch "air gap" ... that 1/16", or so, of gap (just outside the belt) that you can see when you look down on the compressor.

With engine idling and with the doors open, have someone turn the ac on to MAX (and coldest temp setting), while you observe the clutch gap. The gap disappears when/if the clutch engages.

1. Does the clutch engage?
2. Does the clutch stay engaged ... or does it disengage guickly? If this process repeats, use your watch's second hand and take note of the on-off periods.

3. Do both radiator fans run while ac is on?

I dont think the isolator bolt work may have caused your problem. I can't see where the tec would have needed do move around the AC lines or hoses to cause a leak.But anything can happen. I would check 120nces ideas though as well. If all that checks out you may just have a slow line leak. Freon does not evaporate so there would have to be a slow leak. One other thing is you may have a blend door problem move the cold and hot slides to make sure there is a change in temp your actuator could be going bad as well.Im talking about your temp control slides on your console inside.I had to fix mine would not allow the AC to get cold. Stayed on heat. Also keep your transmission fluid changed every 20,000 miles or less may keep you from having problems later on. change your power steering fluid every two years to keep you from having the problem you had earlier from happening again.

Just got back from the mechanics. Just needed freon, no leaks were found. The cost $58, better than the 75-100 dollar estimate that I got over the phone from them. Anyway, the cold air is COLD, now if only summer would arrive. Here in the pacific northwest it has been cool but have promises of hot weather coming. We will see.