Has Ford improved A/C reliability in the new Mustangs?

[NightmareMoon]

Welp, my AC just died in a squeal of glory. '16 GT Premium w/ PP, 25000 miles.

Dropped it off today, tech said he figured it was the evap core, and they'd need to pull the dash to replace it. Sounds familiar...

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[arghx7]

2015 Ecoboost 50 years (premium) checking in, early build date of September 2014.

ZERO problems with my Air Conditioning. I have 36K on it now, thankfully I got the extended warranty to 45k (it's a lease). And yes, I use it all the time.

Not to derail the topic but my question involves the a.c..

When I have the a.c. on periodically my vacuum pressure drops by 2. Example: sitting idling with the ac on the vacuum pressure drops from 20 to 18. When sitting in traffic it becomes annoying as I'm driving 5-10 mph modulating the throttle and then I loose some vacuum pressure and rpms slightly drop and car jerks slightly but then instantly recovers. I do not have a vacuum leak I'm aware of but I'm guessing every time the compressor kicks on it needs a little vacuum or something.

Can anyone tell me if this is a normal operation of the a.c. or possibly I have an issue? Thanks

This is normal operation. When the A/C kicks on, it takes torque from the engine to run it. To generate more torque, the throttle is opened. More throttle = less vacuum due to less restriction in the airflow.

 

[TomcatDriver]

Bmw has similar issue with leaky evap . I think they also have some japan ac. Someone at bmw forums expressed opinion with somecreasons that evap would last longer if always used.

Not sure whether that's true or some urban legend, but I remembered that. 'Cause I also barely used mine and it went bad.

The refrigerant also serves as a lubricant and conditions O-rings and seals. I don't have any empirical data, but I have also been told that prolonged non-use will cause seal failure. That's really not a problem with too many people since AC generally comes on with defog also, so it gets some use winter or summer.

 

[arghx7]

those of you who never use the A/C... I mean, why not? Do you live in a place that is cool and dry all year long? Do you like to suffer? Do you always have the windows down no matter what?

I don't get it. I run the A/C almost every time I drive the car, winter or summer. Even with the windows down I run it if it's stop and go traffic. In winter time it's just to keep the windows from fogging.

 

[jasonstang]

The refrigerant also serves as a lubricant and conditions O-rings and seals. I don't have any empirical data, but I have also been told that prolonged non-use will cause seal failure. That's really not a problem with too many people since AC generally comes on with defog also, so it gets some use winter or summer.

Actually you are correct on that. Use it or lose it.

 

[jasonstang]

those of you who never use the A/C... I mean, why not? Do you live in a place that is cool and dry all year long? Do you like to suffer? Do you always have the windows down no matter what?

I don't get it. I run the A/C almost every time I drive the car, winter or summer. Even with the windows down I run it if it's stop and go traffic. In winter time it's just to keep the windows from fogging.

I have people not use it in 100F weather.
I am like you sweating like a pig then go you go home take a shower. You are not saving any money by not using the AC merely redistributing it.
Plus you already paid $2000-3000 for the AC anyway.
Plus my interior stays clean longer.

 

[NightmareMoon]

Turns out my failure (post #47) was not the evap core in the cabin, the evap core was fine, the compressor itself kicked the bucket. Replaced by the dealer under warranty (took 3 days).

 

[shelbydave]

My compressor went out at 800 miles on my 16 performance pack gt.then I got a nice gouge in my front bumper from the techs belt buckle

 

[kapiteinlangzaam]

My AC has been out for the last month.

And because im in Europe, Ford literally has no idea how to fix it.

Ive told them its probably the condensor, but I think they are afraid to take the interior to pieces.

Doh.

 

[Bushranger]

My AC had work done to it today. The compressor unit was howling like a supercharger. The tech replaced the refrigerant and the noise stopped. The unit was allegedly under gassed from the factory. Time will tell as I had the car for a year and the noise just started the other day??
Anyhow I have had other brands of cars over the past 40 years and my friends have had all sorts of new vehicles and AC units fail in all of them eventually. Who makes the AC components in a Mustang??? Is it the same as who makes the AC components for other car brands??

 

[Maggneto]

I have people not use it in 100F weather.
I am like you sweating like a pig then go you go home take a shower. You are not saving any money by not using the AC merely redistributing it.
Plus you already paid $2000-3000 for the AC anyway.
Plus my interior stays clean longer.

In SC we have no inspection and half the cars on the road are spewing black shit out the tailpipes.

The last time I drove with the windows down was in April of 2012 when I drove my 12 year old Audi to a Hyundai dealer and traded it in for a Genesis Coupe because the AC stopped working. If there is one thing I hate it's driving around with the Windows down. If the AC fails in my Mustang it gets traded in and Ford is history.

Having said that, my Mustang has freezing cold AC and it is always on when I drive.

 

[jasonstang]

My Toyota manual even says turn on AC once a month in the winter to keep the system lubricated.

 

[ytechie]

How timely, it was warm the other day and I realized my AC doesn't work anymore. I have a convertible, so who knows how long this has been the case.

 

[arghx7]

How timely, it was warm the other day and I realized my AC doesn't work anymore. I have a convertible, so who knows how long this has been the case.

Serious question. When it is hot and maybe humid outside, and the sun is beating down on you as you sit at a stop light with the top down, why don't you turn on the air conditioning?

I don't get it. Do you sit there and sweat, and then go home and take a shower? Do you shower 2 or 3 times a day? Or do you just let yourself get sweaty?

These are the natural follow up questions for people who have A/C but choose not to use it. I just don't get it. If anything, convertibles are even worse than hard tops and need the A/C even more, because your whole body is exposed to the sun.

 

[ytechie]

I live in Seattle, it doesn't get humid, and it generally doesn't get too hot. Our summers average in the 70's with low humidity, which I find perfect. This actually ends up being one of the best places for a convertible in my opinion. I put down the windows if I need more airflow. I don't know how people in Florida and Texas do it... if I was there I would be maxing out the A/C.

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