Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting A/C problem, causing temp goes high

I don't think this is normal for my Duratech doing this, cause ever time i turn the A/C on the temp goes high very fast and the fan will stay on like normal faction. The A/C is very cold had no problem with it, and yes I flush the radiator and put new coolant in it about 1000 miles ago. Is it normal for temp. goes high like that when the A/C is on? just wonder. Could that be thomosta need to be replace? Just wonder. Please let me know ASAP, thanks ya.

David

You may need a waterpump. Run the car without the a/c; the fans will run at low speed when the temp gauge reaches M for a minute or so. The fans should stop after a few minutes and repeat. It's also possible the high speed fan circuit has a problem, or one of the fans has failed. The high fan comes on when the engine is warmed up and the weater is hot with a/c on. You will hear it cycle high/low if you have the car idling with a/c on.

Remember that while the A/C system is operating, all the heat that is rejected by the condensor is then being forced through the radiator. This makes a significant difference in the ability of the radiator to properly reject engine heat.

First thing to do is to make certain that, if you have two fans, both are working simultaneously. If one fan has failed, then the system will run much hotter.

Steve

Both my fan are working good either high or low. The A/C work ice and cold for sure, and the only time that the temp will goes between middle to almost L is when the temp outside is hot and humite with A/C on driving in the city. If I drive on the highway ever day they my temp will run in the middle or little bit over during the hot and humite day with A/C on, unforturnelly that my new job just only less then 10 minutes from the house. however today on the way home from work I had A/C on and don't have any problem at all. other then that spring, fall, and winter, I have no problem.

Time to either connect a scan tool or use an external themometer to see what the actual operating temp is. The in-dash guage is not very accurate and should be cross-checked to see if it's off.

Steve

I had this same problem in my 1990 thunderbird, never was able to get it figured out. Replaced anything it could have been and with an external temp gauge car was still runnin hot. Permanant fix: got a 1998 contour.

Warm up the car, turn on heat to maximum.
If hot air comes out of the vents, thermostat ($12) is stuck on closed (or partially stuck).

If warm air comes out, water pump ($70) is broken (or partially broken).

To Tony

If i turn to the heat wasn't hot air suppose come out after I have warm up the car? just wonder. right now, the car is running normal and the temp stay at O and if i do turn the a/c on it was like either m or a. so it wasn't so bad, i think it probably was my thermostat probably need to change after I had replaced about 4 and half years now. the first time I had replaced thermostat and water pump, cause my temp does not want to come down even thought i did not turn the a/c on. I probably just going to drive it for a little bit see what's going to happen.

"If i turn to the heat wasn't hot air suppose come out after I have warm up the car?"
Trying to determine if the water pump is broken and yes, hot air is supposed to come out after you warm up the car.

"right now, the car is running normal and the temp stay at O and if i do turn the a/c on it was like either m or a."
This is a symptom of the fans not coming on but you said that both your fans are working. Have you checked the coolant strength? ($5 tester from Autozone or Advance).

When I am idling in traffic without the a/c on, the temp does go up to A and then the fans come on and the temp goes down. But if I have the A/c on, it hardly goes up higher than R because the fans are on all the time.