No A/C. Where to start?

[Peyton]

Just picked up a 93 SHO and the AC isn’t working. Just wondering where to start. Any suggestions would help! Thanks!

 

[luigisho]

You have to get some gauges on it and see how much r134 is in there. At that age you might get lucky with refills or have to dig into the whole thing. Could be clutch or compressor and while you're doing that some of the other components and o-rings are probably not sealing and/or accum/dryer probably not good. That can cost as much as the low book value of the car. I spent about 1k getting my 94 ac components replaced. It's one of those systems you have to figure into the price when you're buying a car and deciding if you are fixing it or not.

Post back with what you find out.

 

[zoomlater]

Welcome!

 

[Peyton]

You have to get some gauges on it and see how much r134 is in there. At that age you might get lucky with refills or have to dig into the whole thing. Could be clutch or compressor and while you're doing that some of the other components and o-rings are probably not sealing and/or accum/dryer probably not good. That can cost as much as the low book value of the car. I spent about 1k getting my 94 ac components replaced. It's one of those systems you have to figure into the price when you're buying a car and deciding if you are fixing it or not.

Post back with what you find out.

thanks. I appreciate the help

 

[Irish Pride]

Check to see if it's already been retrofitted. Does it have threaded tips at the high and low side ports(R12) or are they the press on R134 connectors? If it's been converted then thats a good step in the right direction. If not you are looking at a lot of disassembly and some part replacement at the very least.

If you can verify that it has pressure in the system then you can jump the low pressure switch to see if the compressor engages.

Check out these things and post back.

-Chad

 

[Peyton]

Check to see if it's already been retrofitted. Does it have threaded tips at the high and low side ports(R12) or are they the press on R134 connectors? If it's been converted then thats a good step in the right direction. If not you are looking at a lot of disassembly and some part replacement at the very least.

If you can verify that it has pressure in the system then you can jump the low pressure switch to see if the compressor engages.

Check out these things and post back.

-Chad

Trying to find time to work on it. Looks like threaded tips. What do I all need to convert it?

 

[Irish Pride]

The proper way to convert it is to replace the accumulator and liquid line. You can use a 94-95 accumulator and it will have the proper R134 fitting on it already. The liquid line has the Orifice Tube built into.

Flush the condenser and evaporator. Flush the manifold lines coming off the compressor. Flush the compressor with proper Pag oil to get all the old Ester Oil out of it. Then put it all back together using the proper R134 o-rings and have it vacuumed and charged with 32-34 Oz. of R134.

If you don't want to go thru all that then at the very least you have to replace the O-rings on the compressor and flush the system. The O-rings on the compressor are more than likely the source of any leak and the original red ones are not compatible with Pag oil. Doing it this way will get you cold air but it won't be as good and efficient as doing it properly.

-Chad