I know there's an A/C thread, but this is a bit odd and thought I'd do my own thread.

So I got the oil changed at a JiffyLube (never again) a couple months ago. The oil change there was more than at the dealership, but that's another discussion, lol.

They checked a lot of things including the A/C, and told me it was low. They tried to sell me a $150 flush and re-charge, which I passed on. The A/C was working ok, btw.

So, 2 weeks ago with the FL summer, I figured I should top off the R134a coolant myself. Went to AuzoZone and got a can of the stuff, the guy there even helped. It made it worse. When it's middle of the day, it doesn't cool much at all.

What is odd, is I hear a fan noise that I hadn't heard before. I had thought it was the compressor, maybe adding new coolant stirred up gook and was clogging something to make the compressor run harder.

I went to the dealership today, no XF techs in on Sat, but one of the service managers looked at it. It's not the compressor, but the cooling fan (for the radiator) running a lot faster than it should be, maybe 2-4 times faster. He was worried I could damage the fan.

Any ideas why adding A/C coolant would make the main engine cooling fan run harder? I'm scheduled to take it back to the dealership Mon, but there's an M/B mechanic I might take it to instead.

Tried to be brief and thanks!

 

If they checked it, and are telling the truth - then then opened the system to measure the charge. BAD IDEA on a working system.

I have no comment you want to read.

Well, we KNOW that they apparently screwed the system up, so anything is possible. I sure dont understand why you cant see where the noise is coming from. UNPLUG THE FAN - if the noise goes away, you know where it is coming from. (DONT LEAVE IT DISCONNECTED LONG, OF COURSE).

So you went to a dealership. Yea, this will turn out economical and good.

Fan motors are easy to replace, and with my -10C fan mod, mine runs most of the time. Big deal.

No. But with these car's electronic controls - who knows? We can almost assume that Jiffy Lube has compromised the system, who knows what has been done.

The whole thing is simple:

With a cool engine, the fan does NOT run, unless the A/C is on, then it runs at low speed to provide airflow for the A/C condenser at slow speed and stops. If the engine warms up beyond 218F, then it is sped up to help the radiator dissipate engine heat. The ECM/PTCM monitors engine temperature and whether or not the A/C is on can commands the Fan Control Module to run the fan at the speed the ECM/PTCM deems nessesary. In the -10C mod, the ECM/PTCM starts the fan at a temperature -16F lower than factory setting, hence, my fan runs a LOT. Why did I do the mod? Easy: Fan motors are cheap and easy to replace, heat will damage an engine.

Anyway,
I do my own oil changes for this very reason - you have no idea what the fools, crooks and creeps are doing to your car when you are not standing there.

This is going to cost you a LOT of money, and Jiffly Lube is not going to back up their incompetent or dishonest help.

I hope your savings account is healthy, cause you really need it now.

 

I'd say thanks, but you sound like a *****. Sure, I'm not making what I was when I first got the car, and was trying to save money, which was a foolish idea.

JiffyLube put some meter on the A/C fitting that said it was low. There were no problems after JiffyLube did that. The problems came after I put more R134a in myself. I've owned the car for 90,000 miles. I know what the fan sounds like when it's hot and standing in traffic, but now the fan is running a lot faster than I have ever heard. And the fan comes on fast like that only when I turn the A/C on.

I do appreciate your back-handed advice. :yikes:

 

I will admit I am in a bad mood today, and I am SURE sick and tired of various dealerships ripping people off, but you DID make it point to mention that Jiffy Lube disturbed the system (I see you now have clarified your statement - but you DID imply this started with J-L in your OP.

You then implied you had no idea what the noise was, now you say you do. YOu want someone HERE to tell you what the fan sounds like? Gimme a break, you came across rather ignorant and I TRIED and TRIED to help.

I then took the time to type out a description of how the system work so you could more understand what is going on and perhaps deal with the shop/dealer more effectively.

But now, I guess you don't need my help or anyone else's - and we are done. What I sound like is one thing, but YOU sound like a defensive fool.

Do not expect any more assistance from me.

 

Dood. No problem. You were just trying to help, and I am a Noob in here.

I did mention in the first post it was the cooling fan, heck it's in the thread title. I know what the fan sounds like, but it it much louder than anytime before, because it's running so hard and fast. When I turn the A/C off the fan will calm down (takes about a minute for the fan to turn off).

It's very hard to diagnose something like this online. It's not cooling very well, either. It started at J/L because they were the ones that told me it was low (to sell me an A/C recharge, no doubt). But they also told me my battery was shot and to take it back where I bought it. And it was shot, so I believed them about the A/C. I can't really blame them for anything except planting the seed that something was wrong with the A/C, which now there is. Unfortunately. Who knows, had I had them do the re-charge, it might have been fine.

Like you said in your first response, it may have something to do with the electronics, something is telling the fan to run and run so fast.

I'm indifferent about the dealership. I haven't had but 1 other problem with the camshaft sensor, so I don't have lots of experience outside of oil changes, and they have been good. There's so many shady-looking A/C and auto repair shops in Tampa, which to me could end worse than going to a dealership. Drive in in a XF and dollar signs roll over their eyes. It's all M/B you know.

I might take it to this M/B repair shop. The Dealership guy was good, but mentioned twice how expensive XF parts are (setting the stage). To be continued, but will never try A/C stuff on my own again.

 

If your AC works fine (blows cold air at your face) DO NOT ADD FREON! Too much or too little causes problems. Take your car to a certified AC repair facility and have them drain the system and recharge it with the PROPER amount of freon, measured in lbs.
There is both a high and low pressure switch in the system. Too much freon raises the pressures causing compressor damage. Fix it soon or it gets real expensive.
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH AC SYSTEMS, LEAVE THEM ALONE!

 

I know this is an old post but did you figure out the solution. I have the same problem now

 

I had a slow leak (2005 N/A) somewhere. My A/C would only blow lukewarm air. A buddy here on the forum has a set of A/C test gauges/manifold and checked the pressures (2-one high and one low). I was low on R-134a.

He had a can of R-134a and topped it off. Worked great. For 6 months.

Bought a can of refrigerant at AutoZone and topped it off again. Worked great. For 6 months.

OK, I decided. I have a leak. Bought a can of R-134a from Amazon with "Advanced Leak Sealer":

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Has been providing Crystal Nipples for over a year.

I decided I had no issues with adding refrigerant since the system had never been to zero pressure and there was no chance I had contaminated the system.

BUT-and here is where this thread comes in-when the ambient temps go over ~ 90 degrees F, the fan runs full-tilt when the car is stopped/idling. Once I drive for 2 minutes, it slows down. If I stop for more than a couple of minutes, it goes full-tilt.

I don't have a problem with this behaviour. A/C works. Engine temps are right where my -10 degree C "Fan Mod" says it should be.

So, the moral of this story is: If your A?C is not blowing cold air, have a shop/tech check the operating pressures. NOT static (engine off) pressures. These pressures are pretty much universal-check YouTube.