I checked and it does run in floor mode but NOT panel mode. Turn it to floor mode and it will freeze your feet off after a few minutes.

As far as the mildew goes, I have nothing more than a guess on this one. When you have finished your trip and the AC was running there should be some moisture in the system. Now crank the heater for a few minutes to get that out of there.

If you already have mildew you may need to bring it to your dealer or a mechanic.

I did a bit of looking and came across this idea...

"Spray the very mild water/chlorine bleach mixture (2-3% bleach at most) in the air intake with your system fan on high and cycle it through the different modes. Mold/mildew can get into these area's and cause a bad smell every time you turn on the system."
http://www.dccarcare.com/tipowk/tipowk5.html

Hope this helps you out.

 

Back to the initial post, add a can of R134a or if under warranty, take it in. Domestic vehicle's A/C works better than most imports. F-150's are no exception. The A/C gets the cabin nipple hard cold in every condition I have encountered.

BTW, I don't think your coworkers would enjoy the back seat of a Tundra.

The compressor does not run in panel or floor alone modes.

 

We've had 90 degree high humidity days here in Santa Barbara last week, and getting into the supercab in the afternoon, I want the aircon to work well, but I've been underwhelmed. I have a one mile street route to the 101 freeway, and by the time I got to the freeway and it was still fairly warm in the cab, I checked to make sure it was on. Once rolling on the 101 it cooled down nicely, but as I said its initial performance cooling down a hot cab while doing stop and go isn't very impressive.

The truck is silver, has the Ford privacy tint, and I use a highly reflective folding windshield sun blocker.

I think all the aircon systems took a hit when they outlawed R12.

 

You need to get that hot air out first. Roll down the windows a bit and blast the Normal AC for a bit, get moving and after the air is a bit cooler inside roll up the windows and switch it to MAX AC.

I have the same AC as everyone else here and live in a very hot climate (When I am in East County San Diego) and I feel that the AC works great, much better than almost every other viechle I have been in.

 

There is more to cooling than the temp coming out of the vent.

Interior temps can reach 150* or more. It take time to cool down the interior surfaces.

 

A/C only runs on the floor/panel mode if the outside temp is above 60 degrees I think. But I am assuming that we are all still talking about it being 100 outside.

My truck cools me to the bone in about 10 minutes max on the number 3 setting. 4 just moves alot of air and doesn't give it enough time to cool off before coming out of the vent.

If I use my window shade all day and leave the windows cracked it cools me even quicker! Like three minutes or so.

--justin

 

I'm in the A/C is kind of weak camp. I live in interior S. Cal. and it seems to take a long, long time on Max A/C to really cool off the interior on hot days.

One other comment regarding the Toyota Tundra remarks made in this thread. It seems pretty common here to defend the F150 come hell or high water, and especially to badmouth imports as somehow less macho, less studly, less bad ***. Well, if that floats your junior high school boat then be my guest. But that attitude has been the continuing downfall of the US auto industry. Tundra is coming out with a SuperCrew variation for the 2004 year. Ford better take that competition more seriously than some of the people here do or they're going to get their grass cut.

My SuperCrew has lousier fit and finish, cheaper switches, and a more rattling interior after 12 months than my Honda Civic had after 15 years and 300,000+ miles. That's not a slam on my SuperCrew, it has been a great truck and has done everything I wanted it to do, but it is a comment on Ford and other US automakers. Trucks have been their cash cows, and they had a captive market for them. That is changing. Will they rise to the occasion and meet the competition head on with a superior product or will they sit back on their fat butts and delude themselves into thinking that only real Americans can build big, tough American trucks? Time will tell.

 

I was just ******* my S'Crew the other day- and the last 2-3 days it's been 100+ and the S'Crew has cooled the cabin off quite nicely.

Guage was reading a constant 103 on Saturday, just to test it, I didn't even roll the windows down, and I left it on MAX. Before I drove off the company premesis the cabin was comfortable, and by the time I got to the light- it was very nice. Now, I could still feel heat behind me, but after a few minutes, I stuck my arm back in the rear-seat area, and felt no real temp difference.

Maybe the truck was just too hot on Friday- I don't know. But, even though the A/C seems to be working better- there's no question or doubt in my Military-Mind, that the S'Crew's A/C can't hold a candle to my Expy's A/C. The Limo tint I added over Ford's factory tint in the Expy helps too. I added 20% over Ford Privacy on my S'Crew....

 

In regards to the Tundra, you have to realize that the Tundra cabin is miniscule when compared to our SuperCrews. That has to account for something.

If you have an issue with the lack of cooling power in your truck, you should take it back to the dealer to have it checked out, considering there are a lot of us with no complaints. I know they test these trucks in the deserts during the summer so if you're not comfortable during high 90 and low 100 degree weather, something might be wrong.

In my case, even in 93 degree weather with sun blazing down and humidity running close to 70%, my a/c cools down the inside of my truck within a couple of blocks. In about 5 minutes, I'm lowering the fan speed from 4 to 3. Due to the humidity, I always have the a/c on MAX.

 

I don't have a screw, but I know that in my '02 supercab, when i remote start it (with ac on max and on the 4 setting) after 5 minutes, when i get in, i turn the **** to the 1 or 2 setting its so cold already, and that is with 95 degree weather and almost 80% humidity. In all my ford trucks, a '02 expedition, an '03 e-250, and a '90 f-150 I have never had any problems with the a/c, it has always been perfect and freezing when i need it to be (which is practically year round here in s. fla) and warm when needed (rarely). I would definately bring it back to the dealer!


Joe

 

As mentioned earlier, the A/C is "okay" riding solo, but to satisfy five or more full sized, heavy breathing, heat emitting adults is a TOTALLY different story. The A/C just doesn't cut it, especially during light city driving.

 

i never use the a/c button, that brings in hot outside air, i use the max a/c button. that should definately do it! I have a full cab a lot, 4 - 5 adults, and the max a/c cools everyone off fine, usually on the one or 2 button. whenever i use the a/c button, it barely cools me alone off, even on 4.

 

How is the A/C in that Civic?

I own a Lexus and the A/C is not as strong as either of my F-150's. It is better than other Japanese vehicles I have owned, though. I almost bought a new Civic EX back in 98 and the A/C was weak during the test drives that hot summer.

My 99 F-150 had 69k miles whne I sold it to my in-laws. Despite my feelings about the crappy build quality of domestic cars, their trucks are still top notch. Still as solid with no squeeks/rattles as it was new. So far, my 03 feels just as solid. I have owned domestic cars that felt crappier new than my old F-150 or my 155k mile 85 Mazda. I still think domestic trucks are at the top.

 

Forgot to mention about rattles and squeeks. I have a '01 that's still as quiet and rattle and squeek free as it was when new.

Everytime I hear something strange, it's usually something on the radio. Some of these songs and station programs make me thing there's a thumping or some other mechanical problem in my truck. I'm constantly muting the radio to see if it's the truck or the station.

I am very happy with the build quality of a first year model. It's even better than more mature model runs of other manufacturers. I've had first year model run Japanese cars in the past and they have been bad experiences. My '97 first year model run was perfect. My '99 first year for 4 doors was near perfect and the dealer fixed whatever wasn't. My '01 first year model run SuperCrew is still perfect. Never been back to the dealer for warranty service.

 

I live in the Dallas Area and I am beginning to think that the AC on my 2001 Screw (black) is not as strong as it was when new - but its hard to say for sure. I have noticed that my AC does not blow really cold air until I get it over about 35 mph. I don't think that it's an engine rpm thing - I think it is a matter of getting some air flowing over the AC condensor. As long as I am puttering around in the residential streets it's hard to get the cab cold. As soon as get moving on a feeder road it cools down very quickly.

If your dash vents were pointing up and over the front seat and you were traveling over 35, your passengers should have been cool in 4 or 5 minutes - tops.