Wow, this little truck of mine never ceases to keep me on my toes! Its latest trick? For weeks now, I’ve been getting the following sequence of events:
-driving along smoothly or idling at a street corner
-TICK!
-engine revs and truck jerks
-repeat about every 30 seconds
Yesterday, I finally figured out that this has been happening only when it’s hot out, which gave me a clue as to where I should start my diagnosing.
I went out this morning, popped the hood, idled the truck, and played with climate control knob.
As it turns out, the AC clutch wheel thingy that hasn’t been turning to provide me with cold air has suddenly decided to TRY to turn. It will click, spin part of the way, rev the engine, jerk the truck, and then quit. This will happen in all climate control positions except off.
I’m detecting a theme here. Except for the first problem caused by low oil, every issue with this truck has had to do with the climate control system. I must have known deep down in my bones that I was having another issue in this area because it hasn’t caused me to worry much about the truck and I haven’t hesitated to take it out. Now, I know to roll down the windows and leave the air OFF.
I found a great Ford forum with really helpful folks and they are helping me work through this. I’ll troubleshoot as far as I can on my own, then go to a pro… once I’ve had the brakes done. That’s not urgent, but it really does need to get done before I get back to SK and start doing long hauls with the truck.
It’s a shame it’s so nasty cold and windy out today even though we got the promised sun. I was going to take Moya out for a much deserved wash and wax. 🙁
Nasty cold? So says our tough Canadian RVer. lol. 61 degrees. You are so going to miss this “cold” weather once you start heading north. Sorry about the wind but at least the sun is shining on those solar panels.
LOL This winter has made me soft, hasn’t it? LOL
Rae, our old Coleman Mach I shroud was attached at just four points on the top. I replaced the original machine screws with slightly larger manifold studs, i.e. threaded from both ends. This allowed me to use rubber washers under the shroud, composite sandwich (ss washer, rubber followed by another ss washer) washers and nyl-lock nuts on the top side of the shroud. Originally done to mount a small, fixed pv panel to the top of the AC. Then I discovered the sides rattling in the wind! Because I wanted to mount screening to discourage wasps from building nests under the shroud, showering us with pieces of dead wasp when the air was turned on, I ended up gluing wood blocks to the shroud (JB Weld) and using door stops with rubber bumpers screwed to the block amidships hold screening in place without having it actually screwed to the A/C frame. Voila! No more rattling in the wind, the shroud mount for the solar panel reduced easy theft with the Nylock nuts and I’d eliminated the annoying shroud rattle. I hope whatever you choose to do is as effective for you.
Wil, you’re not going to be in Texas and up to doing some shroud surgery anytime soon, are you? 😀 I’m hoping I can fix that rattle a tad more easily than that. *all appendages crossed*