Hello everyone,

Have a 2012 E350 12 passenger van that as of a couple days ago was blowing cold up front and in the back. Today I noticed it was just cool and not cold upfront, so my mechanic suggested we evacuate the system and add new R134 so we can be sure it has the right amount in it. We did this and now the back is blowing cold (about 67 degrees) and the front is hot (100 degrees). He also replaced the orifice tube with a new one. Not really sure what to try next. As far as I know, it is one system that runs off the same compressor for front and back?, which is really strange that the front is hot and the back is cold.

I'm fairly limited with my knowledge of AC systems, so I'm hoping to get some advice on where I should start and how to proceed down the list. Up by the drier, the 2 silver AC pipes are both not cold whatsoever. I have another identical van and on that one, the AC pipes are ice cold up by the drier, so I know something is not right, I just don't know what, or where to begin the process of elimination of diagnosing the system. My mechanic has suggested replacing the compressor and drier, but I don't want to just throw parts at it and hope it fixes it. Could this be a vacuum and or blend door issue, or more likely a compressor/condenser/drier, etc issue?

I greatly appreciate your help! It's getting crazy hot here in Arizona and I transport kids and elderly people pretty regularly, so the AC in the vans has to be as cold as possible or it can get ugly really fast.

 

IF,,,,the pipes are getting cold as they are supposed to do when A/C is requested, the A/C system is functioning as required.

The problem could be with a blend door malfunctioning and directing the cooled air through the heater core..

Suggest your mechanic check for a blend door motor not responding. Common problem. Most times the little motor just needs to be replaced.

 

Thank you. The issue apparently is that the pipes are not getting cold. My mechanic is suggesting we replace the drier, he seems to think something is clogged inside the drier and thus blocking the line that lets cold air get to the front vents.

Cold air is blowing in back of van, but upfront is hot. Ideally not trying to rebuild the entire ac system, but don’t really know where to start….

 

Opening the system to replace the dryer of a system that is already cooling is a waste of time and $$.

Your mechanic needs to get under the dash inside the vehicle and make sure the electrically controlled door is working.

Second guessing is not smart, if after he replaces the dryer and you still have the same problem , will he absorb that cost ?

 

Update: he replaced the drier and still no improvement. The AC system is not really accepting the 134a. It's takes about 4.5 cans total for the entire system and he's gotten barely about 2 cans in, which has taken a lot longer than it should to add. He's going to give me a break on the labor, but I had to pay for the part. I'm not sure if he's checked this electrically controlled door under the dash or not, would it be in the area underneath the glove box approximately? At this point I'm not sure he's 100% qualified to be doing this repair from the sound of it. He's wanting to replace the compressor now because he thinks it's "weak" or possibly malfunctioning in some way. It's tough for me to weigh in on this because I don't really know what I'm doing and I'm more or less at his mercy, unless I take it to someone else. I just need the stupid thing fixed at this point.

Is there any chance this problem could be a bad compressor or is this like you said, sounding more like a blend door problem. I'm getting super frustrated not only wasting time, but also money and just feeling like I'm throwing parts at this thing and hoping it works. I appreciate your help.