Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

ugmw177 on Mon September 27, 2010 3:46 PM

Year: 2000
Make: Ford
Model: Windstar
Engine Size: 3.8Litre
Refrigerant Type: 134a
Country of Origin: United States

The Wife's van has recently been smelling strongly of ammonia when the a/c is switched on. It is not the mold/mildew smell of a normally moldy evaporator but a much more strong ammonia smell. No pets ever ride/enter the vehicle. Any ideas?

HECAT on Mon September 27, 2010 4:21 PM

Long shot idea; I read somewhere that misting ester oils can smell like ammonia.

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HECAT: www.hecatinc.com You support the Forum when you consider www.ackits.com for your a/c parts.

FLUSHING TECHNICAL PAPER vs2.pdf 

iceman2555 on Tue September 28, 2010 10:42 AM

There are several possible producers of ammonia, check the windshield washer bottle to insure that it is not cracked...the supply lines for the washer bottle could be leaking and introducing washer fluid into the evap case. A possible exhaust leak could also produce this odor.
Karl, not sure about the POE lube...but my question, why would POE be in a late model Ford ? Has Ford been playing tricks on us....or has a alien source contaminated the PAG of the world with POEs........mmmmmmm !!!
Who is going to MACS this year....wonderful land of THE MOUSE this year.
Thought for the day: Life is sexually transmitted.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

TRB on Tue September 28, 2010 10:48 AM

No MACS and maybe not even SEMA this year.

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When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

HECAT on Wed September 29, 2010 5:30 AM

Quote
Originally posted by: iceman2555
There are several possible producers of ammonia, check the windshield washer bottle to insure that it is not cracked...the supply lines for the washer bottle could be leaking and introducing washer fluid into the evap case. A possible exhaust leak could also produce this odor.

Karl, not sure about the POE lube...but my question, why would POE be in a late model Ford ? Has Ford been playing tricks on us....or has a alien source contaminated the PAG of the world with POEs........mmmmmmm !!!

Who is going to MACS this year....wonderful land of THE MOUSE this year.

Thought for the day: Life is sexually transmitted.

I thought about an exhaust leak; and windshield washer fluid is a good one, I had not thought about. I guess the misting POE thought is just one of those junk facts that rose to the top when I first read the OP.

Planning on being at AAPEX and MACS.


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HECAT: www.hecatinc.com You support the Forum when you consider www.ackits.com for your a/c parts.

FLUSHING TECHNICAL PAPER vs2.pdf 

iceman2555 on Wed September 29, 2010 10:48 AM

Thankfully, I am so low on the totem pole that AAPEX is out of the question....heck standing on your feet at MACS is bad enough.
Sorry TRB is not gonna be there.....now I have not one to claim for dinner....lunch....breakfast.....snacks.....drinks.....taxi faire......and other 'entertainment' expenses.......damn!!!!


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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

TRB on Wed September 29, 2010 11:44 AM

Only makes sense for us to go to MACS in Vegas. I still may hit SEMA/AAPEX.

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When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

ice-n-tropics on Wed September 29, 2010 1:29 PM

Ammonia thought for the A/C repairman/technician:
2 raccoons have been climbing up my RAM hood and sitting on the roof every night. They have also been marking their territory and may dump their liquids into the outside air intake grill. If pee stays wet, it reacts and forms ammonia.
No kidding,
hotrodac

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Isentropic Efficiency=Ratio of Theoretical Compression Energy/Actual Energy.
AMAZON.com: How To Air Condition Your Hot Rod

ugmw177 on Thu September 30, 2010 9:01 AM

thanks for all the replies.

I checked all the windshield washer fluid lines..no leaks at this point; however, her van does have a high pressure coolant leak by the upper right side of the engine..probably the pos ford crossover tube but i havent had time to tear it apart yet. Could the coolant somehow react and smell of amonia?

BTW, the car stays in the garage with door closed so i am pretty sure animals outside of the abundance of anoles and skinks that make the garage home are not eliminating into the evaporator case.