I was driving my 1997 mercury villager when the temperature gauge shot way up, the air conditioner started blowing very hot air and at the front of the engine it started smoking like something was burning. I had just serviced the van with at a shop where they put freon . help!

Turn your air conditioner OFF and turn your heater ON. Air conditioners were designed to blow out one temperature of air... COLD.

The driver door module check the plug and check for corrosion in it and the plug the module is on the driver door under the door panel also do you have keyless entry that keypad could be shot a lot of people punch there #S in using there key which puts a hole in it letting water and outside air come in which messes it up so you know not me

Personally I woulod get rid of any van,I wouldn't take
a brand new on for free

I think you have you know we can't guess at much & you
most like have the start of a head gasket issue

The transaxles on those are the worst ever made,the failure
rate is real bad

Have it diagnosed & don't get put any money into it

It's a van,15 years old,Ford Product with issues

You got nothing going there

your thermostat is stuck in the closed position, replace it, anytime a hose blows off, this is usually the case, remember when replacing it that the spring part of it goes towards the motor

I would check the thermometer in the front of the block. It is the regulator for the temperature of the antifreeze that gets shot into the block itself. With older vehicles and this time of year many people will be having these radiator/thermometer problems.

you could just be low on freon. Add 1 can & see what happens.
Usually the rear works but not the front. I'm assuming the blower works back there.

It could also be the rear control for hot/cold. You can get an assembly at slavage yard for $10.

i have an extra if you find that is the failure.

go here and our team will help for free.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/villagerquest/

you have air trapped in the heater cores, front and back. You need to burp system or take to a shop and have them flush cooling system and use their vacuum system to purge the air. Should cost $60. Make sure they have vacuum system.

Or go to our site and read file on how to burp air from cooling system.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/villagerquest/

Always check the fuses first. Its the easiest and cheapest fix...

Sounds like the thermostat may be sticking,Or the temp sensor is going out.Both very inexpensive.

you have air trapped in the engine. very common. park van uphill, fill radiator & reservoir, turn on heater, leave cap loose. wait for engine to warm up to burp air.
also see

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/villagerquest/