A/C question

[Cool Runnin']

OK gang. I had that problem and the peeps at Maroone fixed it about a year ago. According to Brian Stahl, they replaced the "clutch on the a/c", whatever that means. Anyway, it was exactly the sound you all are describing and it went away. The bad news is the noise is back as of last month LOL so I'm having them check it out while the car is in for it's 2500 mile oil change. I'll let you know what happens.

 

[SFLGT]

The clutch is on the a/c compressor that is belt driven from the engine. The compresor is mounted low on the side of the engine. The mode door and blend door motors are on the evaporator case behind the dash. You may have had a compressor clutch damaged causing a noise not related to the case door motors. The clutches on the compressors do some times have problems either with the bolt holding the clutch on coming loose and the clutch moving out from the compressor or will sometimes warp slightly causing a scraping noise. Not uncommon.

 

[kumar]

yep mine does it too

 

[Cool Runnin']

So can we surmise they all do it out of the box and it's a design flaw? Or does the clutch actually fail?

 

[SFLGT]

Well, It doesn't fail but some times the clutch will just distort alittle causing it to rub on the compresor pully when the clutch is not engaged. As far as the GT goes it seams the evaporator door motors making noise are more of a common problem.

 

[Cool Runnin']

Thanks SFLGT. So the evaporator door motors could cause that clicking every 8-10 seconds? My car's at Maroone now and want to let them know to check that out... Last year they said they thought it was the clutch.

 

[timcantwell]

I know exactly what you are talking about. One of my GTs has made that noise when the A/C is on since it was new. It definitely sounds like a solenoid or something, though it does cycle independent of the compressor. Haven't really paid it much attention lately. Maybe the Heffner exhaust has something to do with that. :lol

I also had a similar (but different) issue. Believe it or not the tech at the Ford dealer found that the fuel line was not secured properly (they missed a clip when installing it behind the driver in the engine bay at the factory) and everytime the compressor kicked on, it would rattle like crazy. So it had nothing to do with the A/C. Once they secured the line, everthing was fine again.

 

[SFLGT]

The motors could be it. Can't say 100% of course without hearing it, but it could be. It seems the more GT owners i talk to say they have some evap. motor noise. Some noise from the case is normal. Not to confuse the clicking/grinding noise from the evap motors with the sound of the expansion valve which can be loud at times. The expansion valve noise is more of a gas/air rushing sound that lasts about 5 seconds.

 

[abolfaz]

SFLGT, how many GT's have you worked on and whats the most extensive repair you've done to a gt to date?

 

[SFLGT]

Don't have an exact number for you, but quite a few of them. We sold a lot at our dealership and have a lot of local owners. I also love these cars and really enjoy working on them and tried to stay on top of new problems with them. The most extensive was probably the a/c door motor repair i just did. replaced all 3 front motors on the evaporator case which involves removing center console, complete dash board, a/c evaporator case and the car also had some wiring issues the needed to be worked out. Not that the dash is the most difficult to remove and work on, but must be done very delicately. The car it was on was also number 4 built so some of the wiring and info on the car with that early of production were not what they were supposed to be as far diagrams so had to work out lot of wiring without the aid of evtm.

 

[abolfaz]

My car just came back from a South Florida dealer who took out my center console to try to repair a misaligned radio cluster (the part of the console that surrounds the radio?), when I got my car back the center console and radio bezel were full of scratches (which the dealer admitted responsibility for) but they also scratched up my upper dash which they say was impossible during the removal of my center console! All this from a tech that was supposedly an expert on the FGT, I have several other issues with my car that I will post later.

 

[SFLGT]

Sorry to hear about that. You have to be so careful with the consoles especially around the radio. They scratch very easily. There are special radio tools needed for the mac. radio to remove it witch hopefully the tech. had and didn't try to use something else to remove it. Even with using he radio tools i will still tape of the area around it to have a little extra protection. Unfortunately the dash, leather and fasteners, and the metal around the radio bezel are fragile.

 

[BlackICE]

...when I got my car back the center console and radio bezel were full of scratches (which the dealer admitted responsibility for) but they also scratched up my upper dash which they say was impossible during the removal of my center console!.

Didn't the dealer offer to make it right by replacing the scratched parts? I have learned from Shadowman to use lots of blue tape! Accidents can happen to anyone (I know), but with careful planning the effects can be minimized.

 

[FlorIdaho Chris]

My car just came back from a South Florida dealer who took out my center console to try to repair a misaligned radio cluster (the part of the console that surrounds the radio?), when I got my car back the center console and radio bezel were full of scratches (which the dealer admitted responsibility for) but they also scratched up my upper dash which they say was impossible during the removal of my center console! All this from a tech that was supposedly an expert on the FGT, I have several other issues with my car that I will post later.

Would you mind sharing the dealer's name?

 

[B O N Y]

Moderators note
==========
PLEASE share negative info as PM's or emails only.
KUDOS can be shared.

Your opening yourself up to legal exposure when discussing negatives. Forum members have been attacked by dealers for sharing negatives.

 

[abolfaz]

Would you mind sharing the dealer's name?

Chris, remember the alignment issue I showed you on my center console? The dealer I took the car to last said that thats the way all GTs are?!