Condenser Overheats?

[FoRan08]

Hello!

I have a 2008 Ranger Sport,3.0 engine,2 wheel-drive,automatic,with "air".

When I bought it I noticed the splash guard in the front wheel-well on the driver's side was not there. Was told Ford leaves them off at the factory now because they had problems with the a/c condenser overheating (not enough airflow?).

I bought the item anyway. I figured since I live in Canada, where the outside temp is not much more than 40 degrees F all winter (and does drop considerably colder in Dec-Jan-Feb) that it would be o.k. to use the splashguard in these months to keep rain and wet snow out of the inner engine compartment. I'd be doing mostly highway driving and not idling at intersections too much.

I'd only turn the air on about every two weeks for half an hour to keep the ducts fresh and things working etc. while on the highway.

However I am also aware that the heating system in this vehicle, on a couple of settings like "defrost" and "defrost plus cab-flow" uses the condenser somewhat.

So....what do you think?....will I fry the condenser doing what I have mentioned?

I'm wondering if most of the problems Ford experienced with this were from hotter southern climates in bigger cities where a guy would be doing a lot of idling at intersections with the air on and no engine compartment airflow to
speak of?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i cant believe ford is selling a vehicle without an inner fender...thats sheer idiocy.

i would install it. your worst case scenario will be slightly degraded a/c performance.

 

[FoRan08]

The inside of the fender is there....the little rubber splash guard is an item that "buttons" onto it right at the back to fill the void where the steering shaft and stuff like that is exposed.

If you take this little rubber panel off there is a hole created there that would let more cooling air through for the engine compartment.

That is why Ford leaves the driver's side one off...to get more engine comp airflow, which is supposed to cool the condenser more.

Another fix would be to get louvres installed the hood....but that might cool the engine comp off too much in the winter. And then there's the expense...


I guess many Rangers have been sold this way since 2005 (rubber splash guard off on driver's side) and no-one's had any problem.

It's just one of those little things in life that annoy me..I don't want those exposed parts to get all rusted and corroded prematurely (there's some exposed wiring there too without the guard in place).

Prior to this I had a 2000 Mazda B-4000 with air which had both guards in place and I never had a condenser problem for all the time I owned it.

But in 2005 Ford apparently changed something and since then they've made the Ranger with one guard missing for better air flow(at least up here in Canuck-land).

Mazda and Ranger are built in the same plant by Ford, and many of the parts are identical.

 

[racinranger]

i just looked at my 08 FX4 with a 4.0L air and EVERY option including leather interior. I dont have the damn splash gaurd either. My green 98 4.0L 4x4 and my 94 4.0L 4x4 have them. Im definitly going to buy one for a 98 and install it. the inner fender has the pin holes in it already. That just seems assinine. and the Passenger side has a smaller one than my 98 does. Im thinkin im hitting the J-yard for some fender splash gaurds this weekend.

 

[racinranger]

UPPPPP DAAAATTTEEE ! i just went to parts in my dealership....lol im on at work (dont tell my boss) and i ordered an inner splash sheild for a 98 4x4 4.0L ext cab and it cost me 12$ from the dealership and 4$ for the 6 push puns that hold it in. I can post part numbers if anyone wants me to. If you dont have easy access to a dealer i can get them for you and you could Paypal me the money. i'd think like 20$ would get it shipped to you all toll. Pm me if you want a sheild and the pins there 1 day out from order.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

ah ok i know what you guys are talking about. the little rubber flapper that (on my 93 anyway) hangs down near the coil bucket.

another option (ive seen this from the factory on some mini-vans and such) would be to louver the inner fenders. this way the air can go out, but water and mud cant come in.

i wouldnt worry about over-cooling the engine compartment. the cooller you run your belt driven accessories and under-hood electronics, the longer they'll last.

 

[racinranger]

i'll post up some pics tommorow after i get my sheild and such. with the part numbers. it looks like it will be push tab'd right in. i hope the holes line up.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't really know about the newer trucks and where this hole is on the inner fender, but isn't the condensor located in the front near the radiator (usually in front? How would it care about the presence or absance of a part on the inner fender?

The engine compartment air hits the firewall and is directed down, not out of a hole in the center of the inner fender (intentionally).

 

[racinranger]

air is a funny mistress isnt it. it would much rather be "plowed up against the firewall and then slide off to the side" then be slammed into the firewall and then have to work its way down through a relativly high pressure area between the trans and body. the air moving past the underside of the truck is causing a high pressure area that is "pushing" up between the body and the firewall creating a vorticies (sp?) the circulating motion will heat up the air further. so ford decides to remove the fender liner for "hot climates" but to save money all the rangers loose them. Mine on the other had will have both gaurds just like my 98 did and all rangers before that. i am going to take air temp readins before and after with my probe and with a lazer pyrometer to see if the firewall is hotter or colder before and after