A/C made low "honking" sound, then died (leak)

[98SF19]

'98 SF. Last summer, A/C began to decline, and adding 134 had a very minimal effect, but I did it about 3 times from July to September. Winter comes and goes. March of this year, I decide to fire it up for kicks and giggles. A/C blows cold air, but in the first week, on two occasions I hear a short low-frequency honking sound, tapering off at the end to a slightly higher frequency like a pressure release (or a line clearing itself of debris under high pressure). After those two times, the system worked quite well - cold air like the good ole days. Last weekend, driving out of a parking lot (gave it some gas) I hear the honking return but it's louder and more prolonged. A hissing is later heard which appeared to be coming from a gap in the hose at the passenger end of the plastic cover underneath the radiator. I'm not sure what this hose is, but it goes up and appears to tee into another hose above it. I guess the smart thing would have been to get some uv dye in there while there was still some 134 to carry it around the system, but it's been over a week now. I guess I'll have to use the can and a half I have now. Perhaps it's time to pony up and have a full evac/recharge.

Any thoughts?

 

[Vnuk1]

Pay the money, have it looked at you'll thank me later..

 

[jmpSHO2nd]

What is an SF??

 

[98SF19]

Silver Frost

Silver Frost

 

[98SF19]

Update: football-radio/AC issue

Got the system checked today. The high side port valve was damaged and leaking. Had it replaced, system evac'd, and recharged, and they did say the condenser had some minor blockage. Drove away with cold A/C. A mile down the road, no cold air. I go back to the shop and am told about how the "footballs" on these cars (mine's a 98) are failing, and that the radio cutting out for the last two weeks is most likely related to the A/C going out after leaving their lot. They show me some used radio/AC control heads from more recent Fords that they had there in the shop, apparently ordered to be installed in other vehicles. They seemed quite knowledgeable about it, but couldn't offer me a solid solution for the problem. As expected, the A/C quits on the way home, even with the radio off, and no combination of turning things off and on would restore it, though it did kick back on just before I got home. Would the WOT cut-out be a problem? I have not had the shim removed yet either.

So my initial A/C problem was most likely due to the high side valve being damaged, and driving off the lot, the A/C vs. radio issue took hold? Does anyone make anything to resolve this? Surely there are enough mid-to-late Tauri on the road with this problem for someone to make some $$

If not, time to tinker.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Deshim the compressor.

 

[LJRuddy]

With the engine on and the AC on full max, get under the car and tap the compressor clutch with a long broom handle or anything that will reach it. Did the compressor kick on when you did this?

 

[Mr Anonymous]

With the engine on and the AC on full max, get under the car and tap the compressor clutch with a long broom handle or anything that will reach it. Did the compressor kick on when you did this?

Why get under the car?

It's so much easier to just open the hood and stand next to the pass. side fender.

 

[LJRuddy]

Why get under the car?

It's so much easier to just open the hood and stand next to the pass. side fender.

Well I found it easier to get at the compressor from under the car... That and I didnt have a 2 foot long anything that could fit in the 1 inch gap between the body and the accessory belt

 

[98SF19]

Works ok now!

I just went out and started it, a/c worked fine! I let it run for a while, turned the radio on, took it for a short drive, WOT cut it out like normal, but the A/C got cold again a few seconds later. Does the clutch/pulley spacing vary much over the course of the day (i.e. with temperature). From when I left the shop this evening to just starting it up, there was about a 8 degree temp. difference (outside), the engine bay probably much more. If so, perhaps it would be better to do the broom stick test if I notice the comp. not coming on during the hottest part of the day.

 

[ShadetreeSHOguy]

I just went out and started it, a/c worked fine! I let it run for a while, turned the radio on, took it for a short drive, WOT cut it out like normal, but the A/C got cold again a few seconds later. Does the clutch/pulley spacing vary much over the course of the day (i.e. with temperature). From when I left the shop this evening to just starting it up, there was about a 8 degree temp. difference (outside), the engine bay probably much more. If so, perhaps it would be better to do the broom stick test if I notice the comp. not coming on during the hottest part of the day.

Mine is doing this EXACT THING! +1 on wondering about this issue

 

[kevinspann]

Deshim the compressor.

Do this

 

[98SF19]

???

Drove out today around 11 am to register my son for school, then to McDonald's for lunch (dined-in), then back home. Compressor kicked in like a champ right off the bat and at both restarts of the car. This was during use of the radio as well. I may need the de-shim done eventually . . . but not today. <looking for wood to knock on>

As for the football, is there or is there not a trend with radio and a/c problems going hand-in-hand? Judging by a search of this forum (v8) and the responses here, there is not. But the opinion of the mechanics I spoke with yesterday is that there clearly is. It appears that for me (at least today) this is not a problem.