ac compressor

[hooterville]

Will a compressor from a 93 SHO ATX work with the 94 SHO ATX?
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What is the lowest price for an AC compressor, and accesories?

 

[rangerj]

Hooterville,
Are you sure the compressor is ruined? Where was the black oily sustance comming from. In most compressors, if the oil is dark it does indicate that the compressor is ruined. However, in some of the compressors used by Ford they have black carbon composit piston rings that will turn the oil dark. For these compressors this is normal. I can determine if your compressor is one of these compressors if I have the compressor model number.
Next. If the 93 compressor is the same make and model as the 94 it will work in your 94. However, the 93 had a R12 refrigerant system and most 94s are R-134a systems. The 93 should be drained of as much of the R-12 oil as possible. Let it drain overnight. DO NOT CLEAN IT WITH ANYTHING, just drain it. Use a R-134a oil that is compatible with R-12 oil, such as what is used in a R-134a conversion. You will also have to replace the filter dryer, and the rest of the system should be flushed clean. This is especially true if that black tar-like stuf is all throughout your A/C system. If you do not clean the system your replacement compressor will not last very long! Good luck, rangerj
PS you still need to know what caused the failure in the first place!

 

[hooterville]

I am not completely sure that the AC compressor is dead. I hear it working, I hear it "kick" on when the AC is run. I am reluctant to bring it to the local mechanics in my rural area. It is not that I'm cheap. They are all named Cletus and they're all married to their daughters. I would rather diagnose it myself with the help of shoforum.
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I belive that the black "tar" is the serpentine belt that grinded away a bit, because there are fragments of the tar in places the serpentine belt can only throw it. My best, novice guess would be that there is a clog in the line, that prevents the cold air from getting to the interior. I evacuated the system to normal pressure. I then ran the AC and tested the pressure again and saw that the pressure rose substantially (low pressure line). When the AC is turned on, I feel slightly cool air, then, once the fan kicks on, I feel very hot air (as if the heater was on full blast, most likely because of the air temp of 103). Now, why am I feeling that cool air. I don't think my system has leaks. I checked the tubing and condensor, dryer, etc. The AC has been operating since the day I bought the car.
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I am planning to get a 93 SHO for parts/rebuild. Yes, it has the R12 system.

 

[rangerj]

Hooterville,
I understand what you are saying about mechanics who marry relatives, chew tobacco, and do not have any front teeth!
Lets back up and analize this thing one piece at a time. If the black stuff if melted pieces of the A/C/alternator belt, then the belt is being pulled over a pulley that is not turning freely. Is the alternator pulley bearing OK? If the black stuff is on or near the A/C compressor, that would tend to indicate that the belt is being melted by friction at the A/C compressor. Is the A/C compressor pulley turning freely? Is the pulley bearing noisy when it turns? It could be that the A/C pulley turns OK untill it gets hot, and then it starts to seize. If the black stuff is not oily, then it is not likely to be A/C oil. Is the ribbed side of the belt chewed up? Does this black stuff look like, and feel like, melted rubber? If the pulley bearing is OK, then it could be the compressor locking up or siezing. Before you take the SHO to some Goober, let's see if we can figure out what the problem is! rangerj

 

[rangerj]

Hooterville,
I missed this the first time I read your post. You said your SHO has a serpintine belt? I am thinking first generation SHO. You Sho has a spring loaded belt tensioner, right? Is you belt tensioner working properly? Could the tensioner have lost its spring tension, or have a broken tension spring, and thus be allowing the belt to slip? A slipping belt would also build up heat and melt some rubber! Just as a sanity check, check the belt tension. Put a wrench on the tensioner and release the tension, then see if the tensioner "springs" back to full tension. Does the spring feel strong? Does the belt feel tight? Check this out! If this ain't it we will keep trying till we find it. No surrender, no retreat! rangerj

 

[hooterville]

It is a Gen II SHO, 1994. I mean the accesory belt, not the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt was rubbing against the compressor, when the ac compressor (I guess) freezed up. What happened was, I tested the pressure of the low pressure line. Then I shut off the car and turned it back on. When the accesories were turning on after startup, the compressor was making a chirping noise. It happened for a second. It happened a couple more times after that but it doesn't do it anymore, after I evacuated the system, and threw some more R134a in the system. During the times where it was chirping is when I think the accesory belt rubbed away a little. There is no major damage to the serpentine belt.

 

[hooterville]

When I say serpentine belt, I mean accesory belt; to me they are basically the same thing. thumbs_u

 

[rangerj]

Hooterville,
If I understand you correctly, you are sure that the compressor siezed momentarily and that the chirping noise is comming from the compressor. You evacuated the system and recharged the system, correct? Did you add any oil to the system? How did you "evacuate" the system? It should be taken down to approximately 30 inches of vacuum for 30 to 45 minutes. This allows any moisture to boil and become a gas, so that it is evacuated from the system. Moisture will **** a compressor faster than most other forms of contamination. Think about what would happen if you put water in your crancase! I hope you have your problem solved. rangerj