Air Conditioning

Hi folks, I'm new to this site and glad to be here. I have a 1999 B3000 which I bought last December. It had 37k when I bought it, which I thought was pretty low miles. Anyway, the weather in Juneau, Alaska today is exceptionally hot (record highs) so I have been using my air conditioner on occasion. This evening I decided that I had enough of the air conditioner and turned the knob to outside air. I thought to myself that, given it was pretty warm out, the air blowing out of the vents would be a bit warmer than when I had the AC on. It wasn't. I went back and forth between the AC and the outside air several times and I couldn't tell the difference, temperature wise, between the two. Also, I noticed that when the knob is turned to outside air, there is an occasional "click" noise like something is being turned on, and then it clicks off. I don't think this is normal for outside air and would be normal if it was the AC going on and off. Is it possible that I am using AC even when the AC is not turned on?

A side note ... my gas mileage is terrible! In the winter, I was averaging about 13-14 MPG. This summer I am averaging about 16 MPG. I think it is because the AC is always on.

Help!

Thanks,

Jeff

i've noticed that too. even when you do not have the 'ac' selected the compressor is still running, and that likely is your click your hearing... the compressor engaging and disengaging. the last 3 vehicles we've got all seem to have the AC running all the time except when the heater is on. our superduty leaves a BIG ass puddle from the condensation from the ac lines, but our 08 speed3 did it too and 04 ranger too.

do you notice the ac compressor running or clicking when the heater is on or the temp selector is near the middle between hot and cold?

Yes, I have noticed that the compressor is on almost constantly. Didn't think about it until today when it was pretty hot for us. I think I'll take out the AC Relay fuse and see what happens ... or are there other suggestions? We don't need AC but for two or three days per year.

Jeff

a lot of cars if you have it set to defroster will have the ac compressor run because it dries the air/removes moisture so it does a better job of drfosting and defoging your windows. not sure where you had your selector switch but it is one thing to check

those trucks (well...most fords in general) have a problem with the recirc to fresh air controller switch which is behind the knob..we've changed countless numbers of the heater control units (THEY SEEM TO BE ALL ONE PIECE!!) because of this problem...the knob connects to a potentionometer that likes to burn out ALOT...pull the heater control unit and check the plugs..sometimes they show alittle burnmark in the plug area..that would be a dead giveaway!

Thanks for the feedback. The selector knob is rarely on defroster in the summer up here, so that wouldn't the problem. Sounds like it's the switch. I'll try that and see.

I don't think I've ever owned a vehicle with AC before. We don't need it up here. Does anyone think that my lousy MPG could be because the darn compressor is working all of the time? Would it make that much difference? I get about 14 MPG in the winter, and so far this summer I get about 16 MPG. I think that is pretty low considering my previous truck, a 1989 Ford Ranger 4x4 (no AC) got about 19-20 MPG during both winter and summer.

Thanks for your comments.

Jeff

my compressor in the my mazda doesnt run all the time. it only runs when the button is pushed. in fact if im driving i can hit the button and feel it instantly in lack of power. and then i can click it off and feel a jump in power instantly. it shouldnt be running all the time. and its funny you guys mention the defroster because i didnt know about that till just the other day when a friend of mine was telling me about it.






-justin

he has a b3000 ie new body style so it doesnt have a switch like the old trucks


and yeah the compressor running can hurt your gas milage its just taking extra power away. if messing with the switch doesnt work you could look by the compresor and unplug it to stop it from running, if that doesnt work the clutch might be bad and that might be the whole problem.

Thanks for your help with this problem. I took out the AC relay and it doesn't come on all the time. I'll take a closer look at the clutch and other suggestions. Gas is around $2.52 - $2.70 per gallon here so I hope this makes a difference!

You can use an one and off switch for the compressor,clutch I done it to a Toyota