01 Ranger ac not cooling fully

[Dlillie87]

I've had Firestone look at my truck twice in the last week. Last week they vacuumed and recharged the system with new freon and dye. Today they checked and said there no leaks that they can see. The air coming from the vents is barely cool, and the compressor isn't staying on more than 3-5 seconds. According to Firestone the system is charged properly and should be working. Anyone have some advice?

 

[Vindictus]

I would take it someplace else and have it checked. It sound like you are low of pressure.
You can also buy a set of gauges and check it yourself.
https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Resurrecting_Your_Ford_Ranger_Air_Conditioning.shtml This well tell you all you need to know about your a/c

 

[KayLynn]

Mine did the same thing, I have a 2001 also. This is what I found to do.

Find A/C compressor, right bottom side of serpentine belt. Get the plate off, takes some prying. There should be a washer behind plate. Remove it and reassemble the plate back on . Should help and have ice cold air always!

 

[RonD]

I've had Firestone look at my truck twice in the last week. Last week they vacuumed and recharged the system with new freon and dye. Today they checked and said there no leaks that they can see. The air coming from the vents is barely cool, and the compressor isn't staying on more than 3-5 seconds. According to Firestone the system is charged properly and should be working. Anyone have some advice?

Odd that Firestone didn't see this cycling?
Which is not normal with AC on

As said by Kaylynn the AC Clutch may need to be re-shimed
AC clutch works by making the "coil" behind it into an electro-magnet, this pulls in the metal clutch plate engaging the compressor
If the metal plate is too far away then magnetic field can't pull it in or can't hold it in, engaged

Easy test for this is to use a volt meter or 12v test light on the 12v wire at the compressor, the not black wire, lol
With engine running, and AC on, test the wire, while its still connected
If you see 12v and compressor cycles OFF then re-shimming may work
If the 12v goes OFF when compressor goes off then the system is shutting off the compressor, not a shim issue

There is an AC clutch relay in the engine fuse box
In 2001 the computer controls this relay
You can put your finger on this relay and if you feel it "clicking" when compressor cycles on and off then could be relay is "weak" or computer is cycling on and off the compressor for a reason

There are two pressure switches, high and low
These can wear out
High pressure switch prevents hoses from "blowing off" if pressure gets too high
Low pressure switch prevents compressor from burning out if fluid runs low, the fluid lubricates the compressor
Either switch is "hot swapable", meaning the switch can be removed and replacement installed without draining the system
Computer would shut off compressor if either switch "opens", then re-start compressor when it "closes" again

Heater
Heater is way more powerful than AC
It has 190degF coolant
AC has 40degF "coolant"
If you want cab temp to be 70degF heater has to be off, lol
The TEMP knob, on 1995 and up Rangers, controls an electric Blend Door
Blend Door directs air from the fan thru the heater core(HOT) or around the heater core(COLD) and anywhere in between hot and cold

This has no connection to AC Compressor cycling on and off, just an FYI
With AC OFF, if you can control TEMP by turning knob and air gets warmer and cooler then Blend door is working

AC has on ON or OFF, there is no temp control other than the Blend Door
MAX AC just closes the Fresh air vent, so fan pulls in air from the cab to re-cool it, versus hotter outside air
It also activates the Heater Bypass Valve in engine bay, has a grey vacuum line, shuts off coolant flow thru heater core in the cab

 

[55trucker]

On the clutch matter only, seeing as you live in Florida it wouldn't be out of place to take the position that you use the A/C on a regular basis.

The clutch surfaces do wear, if they cannot *mate* together cleanly then the clutch plate gap will open up & the clutch will not remain engaged.
one needs to remove the clutch to examine both mating surfaces to see if they are both flat & smooth.......

 

[Burnsy]

What was your outcome? Did you fix it?