98 Windstar blowing hot air in rear a/c

Does anyone know a cure for this? I did find a thread related to this but am confused on the part #. Ford shows the part #F68Z19986AA(selector switch) Ford Dealer said this is the fan switch. Anyone that can help?
This is easy and relatively cheap. If you can't get the cold air to blow out the roof and side vents and instead get only heat out of the floor vent even when you have the rear AC selected this will probably do the trick. (It did on mine.) Selector Switch in front control panel that controls rear heat and air is bad. EASY to install also. Takes 10 minutes. Pull out ashtray and remove the two screws that are now exposed. The entire trim panel will then pull lose with just a little effort, take it slow and easy and be patient. Next remove the four screws holding the HVAC control panel in place. Pull out control panel and remove one screw holding switch in place. Unplug wire harness and B/W vacuum lines. Install new switch and reverse procedure. Takes 20 minutes or less.

Order part #F68Z19986AA

hldurham---Just wanted to say Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. Exact same thing happened to my 97 Windstar last Saturday. I remembered seeing your post, ordered the part from Rockauto on Monday for $17.46 + $5.87 shipping, got it this afternoon, installed it just as you said and it worked. You might mention that ashtray is just pulled out as when using, not detached. And that you have to work around the trim panel since all the other switches are still attached. Again-a big Thanks.

My rear blows hot but also note that air would only go to defrost in front. After spending 3 hours looking for a vaccum leak, i pulled the control panel and then pulled the vaccum lines for the back control and plugged it. PRESTO--front air comes out of vents!!! Alittle duct tape on the lines til Monday when I can get a new switch. If it wasnt for this forum, I never would have figured it out and probably spent $$ at a shop. Thanks so much for all the good posts here!:grinyes: :)

Thanks Alot For Your Posting, I Have The Same Problem, I Called The Dealer And They Had 3 In Stock, For $28.00 Each, Please Let Me Know If I Can Get This Cheaper. Thanks Again

Thanks Alot For Your Posting, I Have The Same Problem, I Called The Dealer And They Had 3 In Stock, For $28.00 Each, Please Let Me Know If I Can Get This Cheaper. Thanks Again DID NOT GET A RESPONSE ON FINDING THE PART CHEAPER, BUT DID PICK ONE UP FROM THE DEALER AND IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM, THANKS FOR THE INFO EVERYBODY.

I too replaced the F68Z19986AA(selector switch) but I'm still getting hot air at the back AC (foot vents) although I have the selector on cold setting. I get cold air in front and hot air at the back on the same time.

On top of the mentioned switch is 2 vacuum lines. When I pulled it out, I noticed a blue sticky substance blocking one of the lines. I took a paper clip and removed the substance. Even so, hot air is still coming off the back foot vents. Any suggestions what else I could do?

I too replaced the F68Z19986AA(selector switch) but I'm still getting hot air at the back AC (foot vents) although I have the selector on cold setting. I get cold air in front and hot air at the back on the same time.

On top of the mentioned switch is 2 vacuum lines. When I pulled it out, I noticed a blue sticky substance blocking one of the lines. I took a paper clip and removed the substance. Even so, hot air is still coming off the back foot vents. Any suggestions what else I could do? I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE SWITCH FROM THE PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM, THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD INFO HERE. CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NOTHING STILL IN THE VACUUM LINE THAT YOU CLEARED, IF THATS GOOD YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK BEHIND THE PANEL NEXT TO YOUR BACK SEAT WHERE THE REAR AIR EXCHANGE IS, THEY MENTIONED ON THIS FORUM THAT SOMETIMES THE VACUUM LINES COME LOSE ARE BREAK OFF AT THAT POINT, BUT REPLACING YOUR SWITCH WAS A GOOD START BECAUSE IT WAS BAD. WISH I COULD GIVE YOU BETTER INFO, BUT THERE ARE A FEW ON THIS WINDSTAR FORUM, WHO COULD PROBABLY HELP YOU WITH THIS. GOOD LUCK

I had been living for 2 years with just hot air coming out the rear vents because I didn't think it would be simple or cheap to fix. Finally last week the front vents went into the defrost only default ( which I only learned about in thi forum ) position. Had to do something so I checked out this forum. I'm glad I checked out this thread!!!!

Followed the advice in this thread and bought the switch for $28.00 + tax at my Ford dealer, replaced the old one in about 20 minutes and was back in buiness. THANKS, THANKS, THANKS.

Just registered with you, not quite aware of everything however is there an easier way to install speed sensor on a 98 winstar rather than taking off all the exhaust peices?

:uhoh: Just registered with you, not quite aware of everything however is there an easier way to install speed sensor on a 98 winstar rather than taking off all the exhaust peices?

Does anyone know a cure for this? I did find a thread related to this but am confused on the part #. Ford shows the part #F68Z19986AA(selector switch) Ford Dealer said this is the fan switch. Anyone that can help?
This is easy and relatively cheap. If you can't get the cold air to blow out the roof and side vents and instead get only heat out of the floor vent even when you have the rear AC selected this will probably do the trick. (It did on mine.) Selector Switch in front control panel that controls rear heat and air is bad. EASY to install also. Takes 10 minutes. Pull out ashtray and remove the two screws that are now exposed. The entire trim panel will then pull lose with just a little effort, take it slow and easy and be patient. Next remove the four screws holding the HVAC control panel in place. Pull out control panel and remove one screw holding switch in place. Unplug wire harness and B/W vacuum lines. Install new switch and reverse procedure. Takes 20 minutes or less.

Order part #F68Z19986AA

I'm going to have to try this because I keep getting hot air from the back vents! Thanks for the heads up! :sunglasse

I have a 2001 and I have almost the same issue with the rear A/C, I replaced the switch the bled door switches to the roof vents when turned to A/C but only blows warm air. Front works normal. Any ideas??? Thank you!

Anyone???

I have a 2001 and I have almost the same issue with the rear A/C, I replaced the switch the bled door switches to the roof vents when turned to A/C but only blows warm air. Front works normal. Any ideas??? Thank you!


Look at my earlier post on this thread, post 6.

I gave up to soon. I initially thought the selector switch did not resolve the problem. Run the ac a bit longer to give the unit a chance clear or reset itself.

I am now getting cold air at the back vents as well as the fronts when I turn on the ac.

I let the vehicle run about an hour and the air blows out of the roof vent but it is not cold. Is there something else that could be stoping the air to be cold coming out of the roof vent??? The switch moves the air blowing from floor to roof vent but the air only blows warm from the roof vent. Thank you!!!

Chad, sorry. I am not much help from here. Perhaps someone else can help you out.

Thanks for all your help!!!

If the air is coming out the roof vent, the your problem is probably not caused by misdirected air flow.

The rear heat has a vacuum motor (controlled by the selector switch) that will direct air through a heater core or through an A/C evaporator. A spring in the vacuum motor forces the vents to direct the air through the heater when there is no vacuum applied. When the air is directed through the heater, it exits the floor vents. When vacuum is applied to the motor, the air flow changes so that it passes through the evaporator and exits from the ceiling vents. When the selector switch is set to vent (no A/C) the air also passes through the evaporator, but since the A/C is off, there is no cooling of that air. I don't believe there is any way to have some air pass through the heater core and some around it.

Since your air is coming from the ceiling vents, I suspect that your selector switch is fine, and the vacuum motor is working correctly. Since that air is not cold as it should be, my guess is that the problem is with your A/C unit. If the front vents are giving cold air, then my first guess is that expansion valve in the A/C evaporator is not working right.

You can make a quick check by feeling the pipes that bring refrigerant to the rear unit from underneath the van. With the van idling and the A/C on max, and the van safely in Park, the parking brake set, wheel choked to prevent any unexpected movement of the van (we don't want you be be run over!!), look just behind the driver seat from under the van and you will see two metal pipes. One will be hot and the other will be cold if your rear A/C is operating correctly. If both are hot, then the expansion valve is wide open. If they are neither hot or cold, the valve is probably totally closed (although I'm not sure that's possible).

If you are also not getting cold air from the front vents, then you've had a general failure of the A/C, which could be due to a number of causes from a leak to a failed compressor.

An additional FYI, My 98 also blew hot air in the back. I found that the vacuum line was deteriorated and and not able to pull a vacuum on the valve. I bought a new hose at Advance Auto for a few bucks and spliced in the new line. The line in directly under the selector area on the outside bottom of the van.

is that vaccuum line going to the back??? My rear unit looks like it is all electronic with no vaccuum lines in the back, I'll double check. Thank you!

If i remember correctly the floor vent in the second row seats is for the rear heat if you have that option. I have both the rear a/c and heat and when i put on the heat in the winter it comes out the floor vent. When i put the rear a/c in the summer it comes out the roof and side vents in the second row where there is also a fan speed control.

In the '96 (with the rear A/C option) there is a green vacuum hose that enters the rear unit (just behind the driver seat) that originates in the dash at the heater controls.

Thank you!!! I will try this when I get some time...

Thanks to everyone for their help on this subject. Back seats are now chillin' since changing the blower switch in the front a/c console in about 30 minutes.

For anyone else that stumbles across this posting with this problem and is looking for OE or aftermarket replacement blower switch in front, below is a list of part numbers I found in my research, along with their quoted retail price.

Ford/Motorcraft (http://c2c.activant.com/ctoc/index.jsp?ID=bEz1rACw.PnNgPVN9CU8KfWFDUxoff1UNUXQf ): F68H19A642AA, YH1465, & F68Z19986AA $53.98
NAPA (http://www.napaonline.com/NOLPPSE/(S(eyy1c255rdkbdr45mskhw5fr))/Detail.aspx?R=TEM207993_0191918905#): TEM 207993 $31.87 (Napa cross referenced this from Ford no. photo does not look exactly correct so be sure to double check this when buying)
Autozone (http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/parts/partsProduct.jsp?displayName=Blower+Control+Switch&itemId=1030-0&navValue=15201030&parentId=52-0&productId=536954&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=536954_0_0_&filterByKeyWord=sw3320&categoryNValue=15299999&isSearchByPartNumber=true&categoryDisplayName=ClimateControl&store=1655&skuDescription=Duralast/BlowerControlSwitch&fromWhere=&searchText=sw3320&_requestid=88336): SW3320 $40.99
Carquest: 53-12136 $28.00

I ordered from Carquest, had it in 2 days, and was the exact same switch as the one that was removed, even down to the Motorcraft number stamped into it. Item was special order at all above local locations, so may have to pay freight if is the same situation in your area. I did not try the Ford Dealer in WA that is mentioned in the above thread, so that also remains a possibility. Hope this helps!

One last thing - never forget your local salvage yards either - most have plenty of late 90's Windstars to choose from. :banghead:

hldurham ref your post 06-01-2007, 09:19 AM - I had the same issue and found your post to be very helpful. Thanks.



eciessau ref your post 06-10-2007, 04:49 PM -this tip really helped me troubleshoot and BTW all I did was gently pull the plug from the rear switch; the one with the black and white vacuum hoses. Than I plugged the black line with a small nail and like you wrote "PRESTO--front air comes out of vents!!!" I just installed the new switch and both are working fine now.

Thanks :-)

Having somewhat of a different problem. 2003 Windstar. No air coming out of the dashboard vents, but blows out of the defroster vents and floor vents, hot air when heater is on, cold when a/c. Is problem with this same switch?

The front air is controlled only by the switch that selects the heating mode, and by the hot/cold adjustment.

The hot/cold adjustment controls a servo motor that allows some air to pass through the heater core after it has gone through the evaporator. The mode selector control another motor that directs it to the desired exit point, (i.e defrost ports, dash board vents, or floor vents). Hot air that's coming from the expected vents implies that there is a problem with the hot/cold adjustment control, either at the knob or at the servo motor.

Something to check:

I had this problem, changed the dash selector switch and it didn't fix it. I followed the vacuum lines from the switch and low and behold...

there is a big white connector behind the dash, it had come undone, someone's foot must have gotten caught on it. It can be reached from underneath the dash.

Make sure you're getting a good vacuum from the engine, too.