AC Probs

[Tillong]

OK so heres my problem... last year I had my AC retrofitted and filled on my 91 lets say June 20th, stayed cold until like the End of august at which point it was out of coolant. My cars going in for a boat load of maintainence and I asked about pumping the system to find the leak or just replacing all the o-rings and hoses then refilling it. He said that ford had really shaddy systems and that he couldnt promise anything and that the leak could very well not be fixed by new o-rings and hoses and that maybe its leaking from inside the compressor. Am I being ****** or could this leak really be from inside the compressor.

Paul

 

[projectSHO89]

O-rings are easy to replace (if you can get it apart.) You can change all of them yourself for about $12 in parts plus another $10 for the tools. Of course, given the tight clearances you'll be working with, it would likely take the better part of a day to move enough stuff around to get them replaced.

He's right about the crappy Ford design. they all leak.

The leak in the compressor? Not very likely (but a remote possibility) unless the front main seal blows out.

Steve
89 with a newly installed compressor, new lines and a cool ride.

 

[Tillong]

well since the systems already empty how easy would it be for a first timer like me to do it. Thruth be told I dont even know where the AC system is but Im rediculously quick @ all things mechanical or electrical.

Paul

 

[projectSHO89]

I will e-mail you a couple scans to the e-mail address listed in your profile. They are for my 89, your configuration may vary.

Steve

PS 3 files at about 1 meg each.

<small>[ June 13, 2002, 10:20 AM: Message edited by: projectSHO89 ]</small>

 

[projectSHO89]

The biggest problem is that after years of driving, the springlock couplers on my 89 were extremely corroded. The only way I could get most of them off was to soak the garter spring in PB blaster, free the spring from its housing so it would expand, then use the tool to expand it. Then it required considerable rotating and pulling in order to actually separate the connections. Due to space limitations, a bunch of stuff may need to be disconnected and removed from the engine compartment in order to give the hoses and you enough room to move them enough to break the corrosion and to separate them.

I posted recently in another thread the part numbers for the O-ring and garter spring sets from AutoZone. Use the search feature and look for "Factory Air".

A cheapie set of plastic springlock tools is available from AutoZone for around 10 bucks. There are better ones out there that I would buy if I had to do it again.

Steve

<small>[ June 13, 2002, 10:34 AM: Message edited by: projectSHO89 ]</small>