Question about Ford Cars & Trucks

1997 Ford Taurus front defrost not working

I have a 1997 Ford Taurus LX V6 3.0L. The climate control system will no longer switch over to blow air up onto the windshield. (Most of the similar problems I have read about involve systems being stuck on the defrost and not blowing out the front vents so my problem is the opposite.) All other air functions seem to be working normally. Can someone please advise what are the likely causes I should investigate for this problem?

Debbie Rendle Jul 09, 2017

Thanks for your answer. I haven't had this car since 2014, so I'm at a loss as to how this question has a posted date of July 9, 2017!

1 Answer

Jeff Armer

Level 3:

An expert who has achieved level 3 by getting 1000 points

Superstar:

An expert that got 20 achievements.

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.
Ford Master
15,575 Answers

. Air won't blow out of the floor or center vents just defrost ? Do you have manual or automatic climate control ?
Air Flow Control
Air flow control is accomplished in the following manner:

Primary control is through the function selector knob mounted on the A/C-heater function selector switch, which is part of the integrated control panel.
The function selector knob has the following positions: OFF, MAX A/C, A/C, PANEL, PANEL/FLOOR, FLOOR, FLOOR/DEFROST and DEFROST. The A/C-heater function selector switch combines a vacuum selector valve with an internal electrical switch.
The vacuum selector valve directs source vacuum to various vacuum control motors (18A318). Refer to the Vacuum Control Diagram , System Airflow Schematics and Vacuum Control Chart .
Two internal, single-pole electrical switches are also controlled by the A/C-heater function selector switch. The combination of these electrical switches controls the electrical supply to the A/C clutch and heater blower motor switch (18578).
The position of the function selector knob determines the manner in which the system will operate.
Each position of the function selector knob is detented for positive engagement.
Vacuum Control Motors The vacuum control motors (18A318):
- are located on the A/C evaporator housing, A/C recirculation air duct and heater air plenum chamber (18471).
- direct system airflow to the vehicle interior as determined by the remote climate control module or manual override.
- The five-passenger seating configuration has an additional vacuum control motor mounted on the heater air plenum chamber to control airflow to the rear seat A/C register (19893).

1997 Ford Taurus front defrost not working - vacuum control motor-i4bq0ig33y1522pr2d2rrkk3-2-0.gif

Posted on Jul 09, 2017

1 Related Answer

hans_bayer

1 Answer

SOURCE: 2008 ford taurus X climate control system not changing functions

I have the same car and just fixed the exact same problem you just described.
It is NOT a vacuum problem. The blend door is electronically controlled my a small motor under the dash, to the right of the steering column. The clicking is coming from a stripped gear in that small motor unit.
On my Taurus X, what caused the motor to fail was the blend doors (which open and close depending on what your vent setting is on) getting stuck. That caused the motor gears to strip out and make a clicking sound every time the automatic climate control tried to move the blend doors.
The fix required a substantial amount of the dashboard to be taken apart. The blend doors were re adjusted and the motor control unit replaced.
I had the Ford dealership do the repair and it cost me $450. (Ouch!)
To make sure that's your problem, you can follow the clicking sound. You'll have to get on your back and look under the dash on the drivers side. Have somebody press the defrost button to cause the clicking sound. Once you find the small unit you can actually feel the gears slipping when it makes the clicking sound. It's really tight under there though and you'll probably need a flashlight.

Posted on Nov 30, 2012

Add Your Answer

Upload

Upload an image from your computer

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

Loading...

Include an image. It's worth a thousand words.

prev next

Related Questions:

2 Answers

What is an ICP - RCC - Speedometer fuse for on a 1997 ford taurus dohc ICP - RCC?

Hey Brian ,
ICP - Integrated control panel
RCC - Remote Climate Control Module
Integrated Control Panel-Electronic Automatic Temperature Control
Control Assembly The Taurus, Sable vehicles group together the following systems into a single integrated control panel:

AM/FM stereo radio
clock
rear window defroster switch
electronic automatic temperature control (EATC)
full-logic cassette tape player
compact disc player control (optional)

The remote climate control module is mounted to the A/C evaporator housing behind the integrated control panel. The integrated control panel is connected to the remote climate control module with a dedicated two-wire communication link. The integrated control panel EATC features:

a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) for displaying set temperature, ambient temperature, function and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).
electro-luminescent backlighting for all buttons and graphics.
function override buttons.
temperature control and blower speed rocker switches.

Jun 08, 2015 | 1997 Ford Taurus

1 Answer

A/C climate control in car will constantly blow on the windshield instead of at occupants.

It will not be the ac as it is cooling
It will be a problem climate control module and vent control system.
might be a vacuum hose that was disturbed during the hose replacement.

Mar 08, 2015 | Cars & Trucks

1 Answer

Dual zone climate control blowing hot on driver cold on passenger

Blend doors control flow between hot and cold airflow . In a dual system both sides have their own separate blend doors . Possible bad switch, connection or wiring that need checking out .

Jan 08, 2018 | 2010 Ford Taurus SEL

2 Answers

1998 taurus windows keep fogging up. a/c blows cold then warm

make sure your heater core is in good condition this could be done with a compression test, if that is fine i would make sure the climate control switch is working proper and not shorting between cold and hot

Oct 15, 2012 | 1998 Ford Taurus

1 Answer

2000 Ford Taurus SEL ac/heat blows through floor and defrost vents only

There is no vacuum to the controls. Look for a vacuum hose that is no longer connected to the engine intake manifold and repair it.

Feb 15, 2018 | 2000 Ford Taurus

1 Answer

2008 ford taurus X climate control system not changing functions

Jan 06, 2012 | 2008 Ford Taurus X

1 Answer

Electronic climate control strange behaveure (sable 1997)

You will need to have a scanner put on it,and the issues Diagnosed,following a trouble chart for your veh

May 13, 2010 | 1997 Ford Taurus

2 Answers

2006 Ford Crown Victoria HVAC only blows thru windshield defrost

You have a vacuum leak. Defrost is the default postion(no Vacuum). Start by finding the small black vacuum line near the heater hoses at the fire wall under the hood.Trace it back, it should go to a square black reservoir . Not totally sure exactly where it is located on this model,shop manual doesn't show a very good pic, but it states to remove wiper arm and pivot shaft to remove it. You will see a second line going from here to intake manifold vacuum port. Make sure you don't have a leak there somewhere.

Mar 14, 2009 | 2006 Ford Crown Victoria

2 Answers

97 Ford Econoline air conditioning and vent settings blowing hot

I know from experience that if the coolant is to low ( not just the freon levels in the compresor but the antifreeze/coolant level as well) the AC system will not cool and will blow hot. Check the coolant Antifreeze and freon levels, even with the Coolant being a little low my 1998 Ford E150 Van will blow hot. After you have ruled out of these possibilities and the chance it is the thermostat most likely the problem is what Ford calls the "Flap" it controls the air flow through the vent system when you switch from Heat to AC. When the Flap is working it closes off one systems air flow so as to not interfere with the current climate selection.

Feb 21, 2009 | 1997 Ford Econoline

2 Answers