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  #1  
Old 03-21-2011, 10:36 AM
dmrodriguez5 dmrodriguez5 is offline
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Default vacuum leak?

how do i trace where a vacuum leak is? my a/c is coming out through the defrost still after i just replaced the vacuum reservoir.
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1998 Ford Ranger Ext. Cab 4.0 4x4 automatic, 199,000 miles with a 60,000 mile engine in and a re-built transmission. 3 inch lift. Thats it for now, just got it.
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  #2  
Old 03-21-2011, 11:48 AM
Badmotorfinger1 Badmotorfinger1 is offline
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Default Re: vacuum leak?

Did you try flipping the lines at the reservoir? If they're installed backwards it will default to the defroster.
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  #3  
Old 03-21-2011, 11:59 AM
dmrodriguez5 dmrodriguez5 is offline
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Default Re: vacuum leak?

No not yet, I'll try that...it's like they're backwards and defrost will work through the vents?? Would 4x4 still engage if they're backwards?
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  #4  
Old 03-21-2011, 03:27 PM
Badmotorfinger1 Badmotorfinger1 is offline
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Default Re: vacuum leak?

I don't know if the vacuum hubs run through the reservoir, but my in-laws discovered their A/C blowing through the defroster months after getting the truck back from the body shop (it was winter when the truck was wrecked). I did some quick troubleshooting and discovered the vac lines were swapped at the res, ran the truck for a few minutes and it fixed the problem.
Since then I've been their favorite son-in-law.
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  #5  
Old 03-21-2011, 05:34 PM
97StepSide 97StepSide is offline
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Default Re: vacuum leak?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Badmotorfinger1 View Post
I don't know if the vacuum hubs run through the reservoir, but my in-laws discovered their A/C blowing through the defroster months after getting the truck back from the body shop (it was winter when the truck was wrecked). I did some quick troubleshooting and discovered the vac lines were swapped at the res, ran the truck for a few minutes and it fixed the problem.
Since then I've been their favorite son-in-law.
I'm having the same problem but I don't have an A/C. Should I have a shop do it because I'm not good with that stuff. Or is it pretty easy?
Could you put steps please...
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  #6  
Old 03-22-2011, 07:06 AM
Badmotorfinger1 Badmotorfinger1 is offline
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Default Re: vacuum leak?

On my 2000 OHV and my in-laws '02 SOHC there is a black cylinder about 2.5" in diameter near the passenger front wheel well. I'm sure this location is pretty common in Rangers.

IIRC, there are two small vac lines running from the firewall into the cylinder. There also may be a larger single vac line running into the cylinder from the front, but don't quote me on this as it's been a few years since I looked at it.

Try swapping positions with the two smaller vac lines and see if this helps fix the issue.

Now for the disclaimer... if no one touched the vac res in the 1st place and re-installed the lines backwards (like in my in-laws case a body shop), then this is not your issue. My guess would be this issue is a solenoid has failed behind the dash.
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  #7  
Old 03-22-2011, 07:27 AM
dmrodriguez5 dmrodriguez5 is offline
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Default Re: vacuum leak?

i tried switching the lines, turned it on and gave it some gas and still no fix. i guess im just gonna take it into the shop today.
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1998 Ford Ranger Ext. Cab 4.0 4x4 automatic, 199,000 miles with a 60,000 mile engine in and a re-built transmission. 3 inch lift. Thats it for now, just got it.
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  #8  
Old 03-22-2011, 11:45 AM
97StepSide 97StepSide is offline
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Default Re: vacuum leak?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmrodriguez5 View Post
i tried switching the lines, turned it on and gave it some gas and still no fix. i guess im just gonna take it into the shop today.
I talked to the people I bought my truck from and they have no idea how it could have happened. When the shop tells you, could you please let me know what they say?
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  #9  
Old 03-24-2011, 01:42 PM
dmrodriguez5 dmrodriguez5 is offline
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Default Re: vacuum leak?

well the shop definitely thinks it's a vacuum leak, cracked tube or something. 97stepside, so your problem is that you have no a/c at all? like nothing comes out of the vents or defrost??
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  #10  
Old 03-25-2011, 12:06 AM
97StepSide 97StepSide is offline
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Default Re: vacuum leak?

I don't have an A/C at all. I have a base model.
The air only comes out of the defroster. But I tried flipping the two small lines that came out of this black spherical shaped thing on the passenger side thinking that was the problem. The people who owned it had the heater core foxed so something went wrong during that process.
I know the knob doesn't have problems because it turns off when it's on the "off" part.
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  #11  
Old 03-25-2011, 04:35 PM
dmrodriguez5 dmrodriguez5 is offline
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Default Re: vacuum leak?

when you have it on cold does the air that comes out of the defrost cold?
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