Here's one for you Ford Techs

[Jim Oaks]

My 2012 Ford Expedition EL has around 30,000 miles on it, and in the last 1,000 miles I've replaced (2) A/C compressors.

In December, the truck went in because the A/C clutch seized up and started smoking. Last week I took it back because it was howling when the engine was cold (when it was in the 30's outside), and then went away and made some whining under load before the truck shifted. But it wasn't making noise when I took it in because it was over 50 degrees outside. They kept it because it was going to get back down in to the 30's and ended up replacing the A/C compressor and belt again.

I think it's really odd that the second one went bad within a month. Could it be an alignment issue with the brackets/pulley causing the belt to pull at a slight angle on the compressor and cause premature wear?

I asked the service department at the Ford dealer who's fixing it. They think I just got a bad A/C compressor. I think it has to be more than that.

 

[PanamaExpat]

Well Jim you know in modern manufacturing quality control is a yesterday idea. Wouldn't surprise me if the Service Manager called it right.

 

[straycat]

Most likley it was just a bad part, Jim. Hope this is fixed now for you guys!!!

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Either that or there is a bunch of debris floating around the system and it killed the new compressor in short order.

 

[adsm08]

Either that or there is a bunch of debris floating around the system and it killed the new compressor in short order.

It sounds like the second failure was an external.

If I am wrong about that then I agree, the system was not properly flushed out the first time.


For compressor failures I usually flush the lines, replace the orifice tube, 2 hours on vacuum to get the juice out, charge it, run it for 90 min to 2 hours, suck it down and change out the orifice tube again. It is a filter and the stupid things are only about $2.

 

[Twister]

Hmm, my moms 04 E350 has a howl, i wonder if it could be the A/C compressor as the A/C does not work as good as it use to .

I hope you get it figured out, kind of crappy to have such a new vehicle with things already broken on it, Good Luck

 

[adsm08]

Hmm, my moms 04 E350 has a howl, i wonder if it could be the A/C compressor as the A/C does not work as good as it use to .

I hope you get it figured out, kind of crappy to have such a new vehicle with things already broken on it, Good Luck

Well does the howl follow the compressor kicking on and off?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

So the first time was a clutch failure, second was a compressor failure?

Was just the clutch replaced the first time? Or the entire unit.

 

[Twister]

Well does the howl follow the compressor kicking on and off?

It hollows regardless, but not when its cold outside, i've looked into the howl and cant figure it out.

 

[4x4junkie]

Either that or there is a bunch of debris floating around the system and it killed the new compressor in short order.

I'll 3rd this as well.
If the system contaminated with debris from a failed compressor, the condenser coil should be replaced (in addition to everything else being thoroughly flushed). If there's any 'mufflers' in the system, those should be replaced as well.
It's virtually impossible to get all the debris from the nooks and crannies in modern serpentine-flow condensers by flushing, and it only takes a tiny amount to do in a new compressor.