AC pulling outside air

[MaNiAk]

2003 Focus ZTW

Basically I'm having the same kind of issue this guy is having.

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=202855

Except that my air does blow cold but its not engaging the air recycle properly. Easily noticeable if I'm driving by a swampy area or water treatment facility. With the recycle air button on it still acts like its off, for example I'll have had it on then turn off the blower and because I'm still driving the outside air is pushing the remaining cold air through the vents.

The vent selector works, switches the not working recycle off when it goes to defrost, heater door makes a thunk when switching fast from hot to cold, not to sure about cold to hot.

Its really starting to bother me since they're doing loads of construction and the tar and exhaust smells are making me sick. I've brought the car back to get it serviced for this but they just said it was working fine, drove it home and noticed too late that they didn't fix it. I want to exactly what is wrong so I can tell them to fix it, because I'm still under the 30 day warranty.

Also every time I start the car the recycle button is off, I'm pretty sure that't not a 'feature'.

[Sponsor]

[MaNiAk]

Here's a video of me playing with the knobs earlier today, posting this with my phone doesn't seem to let me edit my post http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b84L...e_gdata_player

[whynotthinkwhynot]

Probably the recirculating door actuator, but you should check to be sure that the evaporator drain is not clogged.

[MaNiAk]

I'll tell them to check for those things again, even though they had told me that everything was working fine.

[amc49]

When you switch to recycle you should be able to very easily tell the blower motor getting louder as the recycle door opens.

If not, pull glovebox out to let it flop on floor. Look in behind box, the recycle shaft is in there, the actual small motor that works it is to the left, look for wires going to it. Look in the little vents with a flashlight, you should be able to see the recycle door move one way or the other on/off, if not actuator motor is shot or the door where shaft goes into it is stripped. Mine stripped the door shaft hole, I am not going to yank the entire airbox to fix it. I simply made up a 6 inch long hook from coat hanger to go up in the slot and move the door forward or rearward as needed. One way is recycle, gets louder. The other way you need to get heater heat, you don't get it when recycle door is open. I can switch door by hand one way or the other in like 5 seconds.

[MaNiAk]

Originally Posted by amc49

When you switch to recycle you should be able to very easily tell the blower motor getting louder as the recycle door opens.

If not, pull glovebox out to let it flop on floor. Look in behind box, the recycle shaft is in there, the actual small motor that works it is to the left, look for wires going to it. Look in the little vents with a flashlight, you should be able to see the recycle door move one way or the other on/off, if not actuator motor is shot or the door where shaft goes into it is stripped. Mine stripped the door shaft hole, I am not going to yank the entire airbox to fix it. I simply made up a 6 inch long hook from coat hanger to go up in the slot and move the door forward or rearward as needed. One way is recycle, gets louder. The other way you need to get heater heat, you don't get it when recycle door is open. I can switch door by hand one way or the other in like 5 seconds.

http://youtu.be/FR0U6OURGO8

Just got home, I'll see tomorrow while I'm working if it lets horrible air in. I'll still make carmax fix this seeing as they literally wrote that these doors were working properly.

But seriously does that button really turn off when you turn the car off?

[whynotthinkwhynot]

Originally Posted by MaNiAk

But seriously does that button really turn off when you turn the car off?

You know... I don't know. I've been driving this car for 7 years and I can't recall if the recirc stays on overnight or not.

[amc49]

Yes, button turns off. Normal. As in normal stupid, I never liked it either. Both mine do it.

Kinda like Tempo, Contour, Focus, each car was the later replacement for the previous. I've got all 3. WHY on earth did they make the exterior doorlock unlock forward on one, then backward on the next, then forward again???? I have NEVER been able to memorize which way unlocks the doors. Irritating..........

[amc49]

Just looked at the video. Exactly.

You pull the actuator motor and then with it plugged in hit button to see if the motor is rotating as it should, if not the motor needs changing. If motor working then door itself is stripped out at the axle portion.

Motor is the upper yellow and white wires on left.

[MaNiAk]

Trip report, shoved some paper into the vent door to keep it open and keep the outside air from coming in. Air is super cold now. Still going to have them fix this.