gets hot when you turn ac on

erick sanders · 07-04-2012, 10:53 AM

hello, everyone

i have a 94 super cab auto 4x4 4.0 .
i use this vehicle on a 80 mile mail route twice a week. i can't use the air at all and its killing me . i can use the air on the interstate but if i turn it on in town it starts to get hot. i back flushed the radiator changed the thermostat . i think the fan clutch is fine and the water pump maybe condensor i just don't know .
or could it be low on refrigerant keeping the compressor running and putting a heavy strain on the motor idk . i hate to just start changing parts that gets costly . so any help would be much appreciated.

killj0y · 07-04-2012, 12:12 PM

Sounds like a fan or coolant system issue. Low refrigerant will make it cycle or stay off so I doubt that's more work versus staying on properly

**adsm08** · 07-04-2012, 12:31 PM

Not to be a dick, but your post tells me that the only thing you really know about A/C is that it makes you cold.

Have a professional look at it.

erick sanders · 07-04-2012, 01:01 PM

NOT A "DICKISH" REPLY AT ALL. extremely helpful and has bounty of knowledge thanks.

martin · 07-04-2012, 07:41 PM

Are you sure it's not a Jeep you're driving as that seems to be a very common problem with them.

**adsm08** · 07-04-2012, 08:12 PM

Does it get hot hot or just not cold hot? You might have a small leak somewhere.

I will help anyone work through anything they want to try, but I will always tell people to take their A/C problems to a shop. There is just too much equipment you need to have to to the job right that the average person can't afford.

martin · 07-04-2012, 08:34 PM

The way I read the op. it sounds like the motor starts to overheat if you get stuck in traffic or just into a drive around town sort of thing. It seems a very common complaint with Jeeps and I've never found a solution. I've never heard of it being an issue with an rbv though.

vanguard · 07-10-2012, 09:58 PM

fan clutch

Hawk1339 · 07-24-2012, 03:01 PM

I've been having this same problem this summer. Never had it before this year. We have had an unusually hot summer so that doesn't help. Thermostat is new, cooling system is properly filled. Water pump is maybe 3 years old. AC clutch was new last year, freon is properly filled, system does get cold.

Whatever the outside temperature, the temp gauge holds exactly at the "OR" in "NORMAL" but as soon as the AC is turned on the temp creeps up to the "M" or even beyond.

Ranger SVO · 07-25-2012, 08:48 PM

Lets go with the fan clutch. At highway speeds you have enough air being rammed through the radiator and AC condenser, the fan is not even needed at highway speeds. But at slow speeds the fan is the only thing that draws air through the condenser and radiator.

Its fine at highway speeds but not at slower or stop and go driving tells me we have a problem with the fan.

Gacknar · 07-26-2012, 10:18 AM

How hot does the coolant actually get?

Have you put a mechanical gauge on it and checked the actual temp?

If you turn the A/C off does the temp go down to a reasonable level?

07-04-2012, 10:53 AM	#1
erick sanders New Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: kentucky Year: 1994 Make: Ford Model: Ranger 4x4 4.0L Engine: 4.0L OHV Class: 4x4 Used For: work and daily driver Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0 iTrader: (0)	gets hot when you turn ac on hello, everyone i have a 94 super cab auto 4x4 4.0 . i use this vehicle on a 80 mile mail route twice a week. i can't use the air at all and its killing me . i can use the air on the interstate but if i turn it on in town it starts to get hot. i back flushed the radiator changed the thermostat . i think the fan clutch is fine and the water pump maybe condensor i just don't know . or could it be low on refrigerant keeping the compressor running and putting a heavy strain on the motor idk . i hate to just start changing parts that gets costly . so any help would be much appreciated.
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07-04-2012, 12:12 PM	#2
killj0y Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Edinburg, TX Year: 1996 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT Standard Cab Engine: 2.3l 4 Banger Class: 2WD Used For: DD and light duty Posts: 1,264 Rep Power: 9 iTrader: (0)	Sounds like a fan or coolant system issue. Low refrigerant will make it cycle or stay off so I doubt that's more work versus staying on properly __________________ 96 Ranger 2.3l 2WD Manual 5 Speed Throttle Cable Mod Permanently Fixed Cigarette Lighter Snorkel Mod 4" Rough Country Lift
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07-04-2012, 01:01 PM	#4
erick sanders New Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: kentucky Year: 1994 Make: Ford Model: Ranger 4x4 4.0L Engine: 4.0L OHV Class: 4x4 Used For: work and daily driver Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0 iTrader: (0)	NOT A "DICKISH" REPLY AT ALL. extremely helpful and has bounty of knowledge thanks.
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07-04-2012, 07:41 PM	#5
martin Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: St Bruno, Quebec Year: 1984 1991 Make: ford Model: b2 explorer Posts: 2,777 Rep Power: 20 iTrader: (0)	Are you sure it's not a Jeep you're driving as that seems to be a very common problem with them.
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07-04-2012, 08:34 PM	#7
martin Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: St Bruno, Quebec Year: 1984 1991 Make: ford Model: b2 explorer Posts: 2,777 Rep Power: 20 iTrader: (0)	The way I read the op. it sounds like the motor starts to overheat if you get stuck in traffic or just into a drive around town sort of thing. It seems a very common complaint with Jeeps and I've never found a solution. I've never heard of it being an issue with an rbv though.
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07-10-2012, 09:58 PM	#8
vanguard New Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0 iTrader: (0)	fan clutch
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07-24-2012, 03:01 PM	#9
Hawk1339 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ohio Year: 93 Make: Ford Model: Ranger Engine: 3.0 Class: 2WD Posts: 133 Rep Power: 12 iTrader: (0)	I've been having this same problem this summer. Never had it before this year. We have had an unusually hot summer so that doesn't help. Thermostat is new, cooling system is properly filled. Water pump is maybe 3 years old. AC clutch was new last year, freon is properly filled, system does get cold. Whatever the outside temperature, the temp gauge holds exactly at the "OR" in "NORMAL" but as soon as the AC is turned on the temp creeps up to the "M" or even beyond.
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07-25-2012, 08:48 PM	#10
Ranger SVO Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Abilene Texas Year: 1993 Make: Ford Model: Ranger Engine: 2.3 Turbo Class: 2WD Street Posts: 314 Rep Power: 12 iTrader: (0)	Lets go with the fan clutch. At highway speeds you have enough air being rammed through the radiator and AC condenser, the fan is not even needed at highway speeds. But at slow speeds the fan is the only thing that draws air through the condenser and radiator. Its fine at highway speeds but not at slower or stop and go driving tells me we have a problem with the fan. __________________ The moving power of mathematical invention is not reasoning but imagination. Augustus de Morgan Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people. Giordano Bruno
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07-26-2012, 10:18 AM	#11
Gacknar Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Douglasville, Ga Year: 1989 Make: Ford Model: Ranger "STX High-Rider" Engine: 2.9L Used For: Daily Driver Posts: 102 Rep Power: 12 iTrader: (0)	How hot does the coolant actually get? Have you put a mechanical gauge on it and checked the actual temp? If you turn the A/C off does the temp go down to a reasonable level? __________________ 1989 Ranger "STX High-Rider" 2.9L/M5OD/BW1350 manual, 3.73:1 gears, 6" lift with 32x10.50R15 BFG Radial Mud terrains on 15x8" outlaw II's
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