Does the ambient air sensor control the A/C performance?
Asked by JamesStockstill Jun 23, 2015 at 10:49 AM about the 2000 Ford E-Series E-150 XL Club Wagon
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
The A/C in my E150 stopped working, took to a mechanic, said it was leaking, I found the leak, fixed the leak, now it doesn't get cold, it blows cool air just not cold like it used to. I tried having it flushed and recharged. Didn't work. The compressor is making a clicking noise but it always has, even when it was blowing cold. Could the compressor be out, or could it be the Ambient Air Sensor. My control switch isn't stripped out either, it is on cold. The system holds pressure also and isn't leaking anymore?
4 Answers
That sensor is just telling you what the outside air temp is and its displayed inside the cab. Did you put gauges on the system to see what the pressures are? the high side should be about 150 PSI and the low side should be about 25, depending on the outside air temp, but that's a good stating point to work with. You could just be low on refrigerant.
JamesStockstill answered 9 years ago
When it was around 105 outside the Highside was at around 155-160 and low was around 30. I had a mechanic reconcile, flush, and fill the system. Still no good. No I haven't added gauges, I just figured the sensor did something with the A/C to tell it how long it needs to stay on and so forth. The system does not leak at all. So it still has all the refrigerant in it from 6 months ago.
JamesStockstill answered 9 years ago
Is there some other sensor that tells the system to stop running hot water to the heater coil, or something to that effect. My buddy said that sometimes the heater and A/C are running at the same time and it makes it seem like the A/C isn't working but it's really working hard just to try to null out the heater. My van does have front and rear A/C. I took the Heater Core out of the back and installed a new A/C core because the old one was shot.