Come on Zack, we all know that would be too simple!
Unfortunately im right there with you, long story short, im looking for help as well trying to source part #PL3Z-19A834-A. Made an account just to weigh in to maybe give anyone else information they can use.I took my Lightning in January to the dealers for the annual inspection. At the time, I told them that I didn't think the A/C was working. When I picked up the Truck, they said everything was fine (probably because it had been 20 degrees out those days). A few months later we had a heat wave that gave us temps in the high 80s in March. My theory was confirmed that the A/C was toast. Took it in, again, and this time they confirmed that it was low on gas (R-134??), so they topped it off and all was good they told me. When I picked it up it was in fact blowing cold air, but the A/C was making a loud buzzing noise (that could be heard from across the street) when the A/C was on. Back to the dealers to complain about the noise. The service manager came out to hear it and said "It was perfectly normal, that all new Lightnings made that noise. And, that his mother-in-law's Mach-E made a similar noise". He even offer to fire up a new floor model to prove it to me. (I wish I had taken him on the offer, because I'm sure it would not have made that loud of a noise). I drove away unhappy and unconvinced, but at least I had A/C blowing cold air.
Ten days later, the noise continued but the A/C was no longer blowing cold. I took it back to the dealer for a third time. This time they kept it a few days and informed me that a part was damaged and needed to be replaced, but that Ford did not have the part in stock and was back ordered. The part is: A/C Refrigerant Liquid Hose (NL3Z-18B402-C). They said they would order the part and when it arrived they would call me back to complete the repair. In the mean time I could drive my truck, but without A/C, of course. This was mid April.
After not getting a call for over a month I tried to locate and buy the part myself, but while it is listed on many sites (many willing to take the order and take my money) none were able to actually ship the part. For the past four weeks, I have tried ordering it from a half dozen different sites but none have been able to scare up the part. I don't think trying more parts vendors will yield much fruit. It does appears to be on a national/system-wide backorder.
My best guess is that the part was prone to failure and Ford is back at the drawing board and are redesigning and resourcing the part. But this is just a wild guess. Bottom line, It's been over two months and my truck can't get fixed because there is no information on the availability of this elusive refrigerant line.
Does anybody have an "in" with Ford? Will FOMOCO make this part available? Are they amiable of the problem?
Should I invoke my Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act rights? Would this even qualify?
Am I being unreasonable in expecting a $89k vehicle to have working A/C?
Thank you all in advanced for your input.
Frustrated
Welcome to the forum and your short stay .... assuming the truck ever gets fixed and you dump it!
Perhaps a reputable AC shop can provide a substitute?
Lol appreciate it, I've been reading you guys for a while. Wealth of info on websites like this. That's how I figured out to get rid of the must by cleaning the coils.
Good luck with that.
. Chinese cars are banned in the US as of MY2027 and Polestar is pulling out since it could not get a waiver.Trying to find a reputable shop near me that can braze alumnum. Im a master plumber and braze medical gases for work but dont have a nitrogen purge setup. Also I've never tried brazing aluminum and would hate to blow a whole in it and then have an open refrigerant system collecting contaminants. But the weather cooled down up here so im thinking about just waiting for the part. Its honestly a tough decision.
I am way outside my experience and knowledge, but can a copper tubing be used as replacement?
This story is pretty horrifying - thanks a lot for sharing. OP's and yours makes me want to dump the truck. Don't they have to provide a remedy? Not having A/C in your vehicle seems worthy of a loaner or a buy-back frankly.
At least in my opinion, I feel that once the bumper to bumper is up with no extended warranty, its all put on the owner at that point. Sad for a truck not even 3 years old but just how it is I guess
I mean copper is used for refrigeration pipe all the time so you probably aren't wrong for thinking that. The only issue is making a transition from aluminum to copper as dissimilar metals dont usually play well together due to electrolysis. However in my case I have a small pin hole leak very close to a joint that I think could just be brazed with filler metal as a temporary fix.
