Another failed AC. 39k miles. 2019

[SilverSlugger]

Well there it goes. Heat on the drivers side only no adjustments. The passenger side works as it should. Really hating Ford and this pos right now. Prolly looking at a 2k bill for the holidays, nice.

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[kendive]

Probably just a blend door actuator easy to replace. I had to replace one on the F150 with one hand. Took about an hour and good to go.

 

[GhostStrykre]

Exact same symptoms as my 2019.

Repair was 11 hours due to full dash removal, and with parts and labor it ran up to $3,600.

I called the Ford corporate customer service line, told em the price I got quoted, admitted I was out of warranty but felt this was such a common issue that I should check and see if they might help me out.

They covered nearly $3k and gave me a 60k maintenance plan under the goodwill program

Others have tried this and it has worked. Others haven’t had the luck. It’s worth trying tho.

Good luck!

 

[Frenchy]

Probably just a blend door actuator easy to replace. I had to replace one on the F150 with one hand. Took about an hour and good to go.

Perhaps you forgot about the HVAC Distribution Box warping? There is a bulletin on it and my 2019 Ranger did it.

 

[Frenchy]

Talk to your local dealership and hope for the best. If you have an Extended warranty that would be the best thing for you. As a thought you could go through Granger if not already and not state any issues of sorts and wait a week or so then be set to get it done!!

 

[Msfitoy]

Probably just a blend door actuator easy to replace. I had to replace one on the F150 with one hand. Took about an hour and good to go.

Exact same symptoms as my 2019.

Repair was 11 hours due to full dash removal, and with parts and labor it ran up to $3,600.

I called the Ford corporate customer service line, told em the price I got quoted, admitted I was out of warranty but felt this was such a common issue that I should check and see if they might help me out.

They covered nearly $3k and gave me a 60k maintenance plan under the goodwill program

Others have tried this and it has worked. Others haven’t had the luck. It’s worth trying tho.

Good luck!

11 hours is easy to replace?

 

[GhostStrykre]

11 hours is easy to replace?

I think he’s talking about the actuator only. Someone on another thread recently tried this and the replaced actuator only lasted like 6 months. So probably the box, as you noted, should’ve been replaced as well.

Actuator only replacement sounds like it can be done without pulling the dash out (saving considerably time and cost). If you’re doing the whole box and assembly then the dash has to come out (and 11 hours of labor to do so).

 

[Msfitoy]

I think he’s talking about the actuator only. Someone on another thread recently tried this and the replaced actuator only lasted like 6 months. So probably the box, as you noted, should’ve been replaced as well.

Actuator only replacement sounds like it can be done without pulling the dash out (saving considerably time and cost). If you’re doing the whole box and assembly then the dash has to come out (and 11 hours of labor to do so).

God help someone's (like me) who's out warranty...$2,000 labor for a $20 part...ooof....

 

[GhostStrykre]

Yeah it’s a design I can’t quite understand. Couldn’t the dash be modular in some way to allow access? Perhaps they’re worried about rattles.
it’s not just ford tho. Lots of brands have crazy dash pull requirements for climate control stuff.

 

[NotBudule]

Wonder what the % of 2019's have had this issue ? ? sounds like all of them if you read this forum...

 

[Peter949]

2019 don't have the problem yet.

 

[kendive]

11 hours is easy to replace?

That because you had the dealer do it. They always do things the hard way. LOL I stay away from the dealers as much as possible.

 

[MountainGoat]

Put everything on a credit card and then do a chargeback.

 

[GhostStrykre]

That because you had the dealer do it. They always do things the hard way. LOL I stay away from the dealers as much as possible.

That isn’t entirely accurate. I called multiple private shops and all of them landed in the same price range as the dealer. I asked if 11 hours was reasonable and they said that “sounded about right.” There’s one particular private shop I take my cars to because they do great work. The manager straight up told me he advised me to go to the dealer because his price wasn’t going to be substantially better. They’re just leery of dash pulls. I don’t blame em.

Ultimately, the job took two work days, but IIRC the tech was wrapping up a little earlier than 11 hours.

Some of you have had nightmare experiences with dealer. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones because my dealer has always treated me really well.

 

[Motorpsychology]

11 hours is easy to replace?

I think the design is different in an F-150. I had my whole plenum replaced under warranty; yes it's an all day-er on a Ranger.
The plenum under the dash gets warped because there is hot coolant running through it at all times. This causes the actuator(s) to bind or break, preventing the blend doors from moving. so if they get stuck open, you have 195ºF heat only.

Apparently this is cheaper than having put a ball valve with a step motor on the inlet hose in the first place, so there isn't coolant running through the heater core all the time.

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