I believe the "acceptable" range according to Uncle Henry is something like 42-57 degrees on MAX with the fan speed on high at highway speeds.

40-50 degrees at MAX is what I like to shoot for. I rechecked my pressures one more time today too, 30-32 psi at idle on the low side, 200-210ish on the high side with ambient temps at around 100 with no outside airflow over the condenser. I'm heading to Texas next weekend, so I'll get to put my A/C to good use.

 

i took my little digital thermo in my room, and stuck the outside temp probe at my vent. I got 45 Degrees at the vent on max a/c at idle. I have a 97 tbird 4.6, is that any good? BTW the ambient temp was 92-93F outside, but it was at nite, and a little humid.

 

I'm cold here in my 01...We don't have the heat you all have...20-29 degrees C...I find if running the A/C to long that my eyes get dried out as the inside air is dry from the A/C....Whenever I stop and park the water runs out under the truck..alot of it...Compare the 2001 Truck to my Windstar Van the truck is colder...and the Van is newer...2002

 

What is the ETAC that people keep talking about?

 

Quote:

What is the ETAC that people keep talking about?

The ETAC is actually the EATC and stands for the "Electronic Automatic Temperature Control" that is found only in the Lariat.

 

Same here. When I first got my truck, the A/C was downright horrible. Even on Max A/C. It never felt really cold. Now after 5200 miles, it seems to be much better now. I've been using it on and off for the past week and it seems much cooler now than when I first got the truck. Maybe a break in period? I'm just glad I don't live in the humidity belt ;-)

 

i dunno if this is good or not, but here are my findings for my tbird. I made 2 trips, i went for lunch at about noon, Outside temp about 90F, humidity about 20-25%. The temp at the vents varied from 39-44F. I went and got my car serviced today. The shop temp was bout 105F. The temp at the vents were bout in the 50s, but starting dropping as i was moving down the road. Eventually settled around 40-42F, at outside temp was about 98F. Is this good, bad? decent? BTW, my tbird does have EATC. The blower was set at about 3/4 speed, on max a/c. Speeds were around 40-55 mph.

 

Same here.

Except when I put that lil gas peddle thingy all the way down as far as it will go.

While crusing it's great, while speeding, its not.

 

Wilson sez...

That's excellent. Generally speaking, anything lower than 40 degrees at the vent runs the risk of freezing the evaporator up, so if you're seeing 40-50 degrees at the vents, you're golden.

 

Previously, I've posted that the A/C is only mediocre, but with 100+ record temps today in Oregon either the A/C is improving and/or I'm learning how to get better cooling.

When first entering the truck after it's been sitting in the sun and cab temps are higher than ambient, I exit the hot air on the standard setting for a few minutes and then go to max (recirculate) for rapid cool-down with the precooled cab air. Works like a charm albeit not as well as previous Fords.

 

No, No and No, the A/C on the 2004 F150s does NOT work as well as prior years. I would always FREZEE running the MAX A/C on my 01. Ditto for the '00 F150 I drive for work. I'm sick of getting out of that truck and into the $35,000.00 blast funace.

As for the break-in periord on an A/C system, that's hogwash. If anything, it should work at its peak when brand new, since small leaks, etc. can develope over time.

Finally, no one has answered the question of where the waters goes. Although at 34 I've only owned six vehicles, I've NEVER, EVER had one that didn't puddle underneath.

 

I thought the same thing you guys were, if u just use the a/c w/o the rercirculation mode on, its **** poor, but if u just run it with that mode on, its night and day difference, just give it a try (if u already havent) cuz i used to sweat profusely in my 04, til i did this. and i have noticed the puddle on my pickup. which is a good sign

 

I have the same observation about my AC but I just spent a week in AZ and cannot remember a time that I thought the AC was weak. I don't get the expected blast when I first turn it on but the cab chills out quick enough. I wasn't asked to chill out the truck before boarding. I thought since this is the first large cab I have owned, I remember my fathers Ford Club Wagon and thought Ford just couldn't chill.

 

If you’re A/C isn’t freezing you out, have your dealership check it. A PCM re-flash might be needed to fix the problem. This 04 F150 is my 14th vehicle (cars & trucks of assorted manufacturers) and the A/C in this truck is just as cold as any I can remember.

 

I live in Texas also and when you start the truck and just sitting there the air conditioner stinks. I wish it would get much colder. You have to drive many miles for it start cooling off. I just hope in the winter I don't have to freeze my butt off before heats up