A/C Question

Maticuno · 03-23-2009, 01:58 AM

When I first got this car, the A/C didn't work. In the process of replacing the head gasket I guess I jostled the compressor clutch wire enough to make it start working again. Determined that the system has been retrofitted to R134a refrigerant. The system was empty so I filled it with a can of oil charge and a large can of refrigerant. One of the products I put in the system had a leak detection dye and I haven't seen any of it leaking out yet. Everything works fine now except the compressor is making an odd noise. It is making a gear whine noise when it is engaged, like an old Ford power steering pump. Any thoughts on what might cause this? Does it need more oil, more refrigerant, less pressure? Thanks in advance.

muffinman · 03-23-2009, 10:27 AM

sounds like the compressor is about to go. after mine wasn't run for a year or so i decided to run it so i put a can of oil charge because it had sat so long. it ran about 5 minutes then starting grinding and eventually seized. i guess oil couldn't hurt assuming you don't over pressurize it. GL

Maticuno · 03-25-2009, 05:15 PM

Pretty sure I figured out what the noise was. I turned on the A/C today and nothing happened. Hooked up my pressure gauge and it was empty. So in a way it's good because it means the noise was due to lack of pressure. It's bad because that means I have a leak in the system in a spot where I can't see the dye. Until I can have someone look at it, $20 every year for refrigerant from NAPA isn't bad to keep the system running.

mr3 · 03-25-2009, 07:55 PM

I just yanked mine out. It wasn't hooked up and it wasn't charged so it was no big loss.

Maticuno · 03-25-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr3

I just yanked mine out. It wasn't hooked up and it wasn't charged so it was no big loss.

If it weren't for my location I would do just that. However I live right in the middle of the Mojave desert, only 100 miles from Death Valley

. A/C for me is crucial, especially in the next 5-6 months. It's already hard enough to get my wife to ride in this thing (motion sickness), without A/C she'd NEVER get in.

mr3 · 03-25-2009, 11:28 PM

Yeah I'm glad I dont live there. It gets warm here in the summer but I just pop the t-tops and thats good enough for me.

8589 · 03-26-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maticuno

If it weren't for my location I would do just that. However I live right in the middle of the Mojave desert, only 100 miles from Death Valley http://images.ford-trucks.com/forums...2/firejump.gif. A/C for me is crucial, especially in the next 5-6 months. It's already hard enough to get my wife to ride in this thing (motion sickness), without A/C she'd NEVER get in.

I'm in the same exact boat (different location), I got a place that work on any car reasonably priced but since we drive old cars and lately most EVERYBODY in the industry uses red china parts, get used to fix the unit more often that before..

muffinman · 03-26-2009, 09:30 AM

my compressor still engages at zero psi which i thought was kind of strange. shouldn't there be a pressure switch like most other cars?

Maticuno · 03-26-2009, 11:04 AM

I would think so. That's why mine wasn't coming on until I recharged the system. I wonder if your pressure switch is stuck in the "on" position?

muffinman · 03-26-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maticuno

I would think so. That's why mine wasn't coming on until I recharged the system. I wonder if your pressure switch is stuck in the "on" position?

possibly , my a/c was blowing cold until recently but the compressor still kicks on so i checked and it's completely empty no pressure at all

strange that it still runs. i tried disconnecting the pressure switch but that didn't make a difference.

Maticuno · 04-20-2009, 04:51 PM

How much did it cost you to replace your compressor? I'm still losing refrigerant and I have a bad feeling the compressor seals are wasted, causing the leak. I wonder if it could be rebuilt cheaper?

mr3 · 04-20-2009, 07:12 PM

I have one sitting. I took it out. I dont know condition of it but if you want it, it's yours for shipping.

Maticuno · 04-21-2009, 11:48 AM

Hmm. Couple questions. How many miles when you pulled it out? Does the idler pulley spin freely and can you make the compressor itself turn? I still need to confirm that it is my compressor that is at fault, but if it is your offer sounds like a good deal to me.

muffinman · 04-23-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maticuno

How much did it cost you to replace your compressor?

I bought mine from the junkyard and it was $28 complete but the clutch was shot so i just used my clutch. I think the rebuild kits are kind of pricey and require some specialty tools.

Achilles · 04-23-2009, 02:57 PM

My AC works perfect but it has a weird rattle or clicking right when I turn it on and it will later go away...

anyone?

muffinman · 04-23-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Achilles

My AC works perfect but it has a weird rattle or clicking right when I turn it on and it will later go away...

anyone?

Might be your compressor getting ready to kick the bucket.

Mine did the same thing before it died. Some times adding oil will quiet it down.

Achilles · 04-23-2009, 03:34 PM

is a compressor expensive or hard to get a hold of and or hard to fix?

apittma · 04-23-2009, 03:56 PM

Mr3, if these guys don't need your compressor, i'd be glad to take it off your hands.

Thanks!

mr3 · 04-24-2009, 12:25 AM

I took it off and put it in a bucket. Stupid move by me. It rained and filled the bucket. I dont think anyone would want it now. Sorry

mr2tim · 04-25-2009, 03:59 PM

Compressors for the Mark1 rebuilt go for $250-400 on the Internet, my friend at the "Yard" got one from a local Florida distributor for $125, can you say gouge the consumer?
(Republicans suck)

Btw the picture I get is that you vacuum the system for 1 hour, confirm the sytem intact, then suck the refrigerant into the system, not just "push" it in?

BTW you can put too much oil in the system too!!

03-23-2009, 01:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Maticuno Park Ranging Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Deserts Posts: 313 Thanks: 15 Thanked 25 Times in 17 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	A/C Question When I first got this car, the A/C didn't work. In the process of replacing the head gasket I guess I jostled the compressor clutch wire enough to make it start working again. Determined that the system has been retrofitted to R134a refrigerant. The system was empty so I filled it with a can of oil charge and a large can of refrigerant. One of the products I put in the system had a leak detection dye and I haven't seen any of it leaking out yet. Everything works fine now except the compressor is making an odd noise. It is making a gear whine noise when it is engaged, like an old Ford power steering pump. Any thoughts on what might cause this? Does it need more oil, more refrigerant, less pressure? Thanks in advance.

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03-23-2009, 10:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	sounds like the compressor is about to go. after mine wasn't run for a year or so i decided to run it so i put a can of oil charge because it had sat so long. it ran about 5 minutes then starting grinding and eventually seized. i guess oil couldn't hurt assuming you don't over pressurize it. GL

03-25-2009, 05:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Maticuno Park Ranging Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Deserts Posts: 313 Thanks: 15 Thanked 25 Times in 17 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Pretty sure I figured out what the noise was. I turned on the A/C today and nothing happened. Hooked up my pressure gauge and it was empty. So in a way it's good because it means the noise was due to lack of pressure. It's bad because that means I have a leak in the system in a spot where I can't see the dye. Until I can have someone look at it, $20 every year for refrigerant from NAPA isn't bad to keep the system running.

03-25-2009, 07:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
mr3 unskilled Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Plymouth Mtg, Pa Posts: 2,408 Thanks: 24 Thanked 98 Times in 93 Posts iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	I just yanked mine out. It wasn't hooked up and it wasn't charged so it was no big loss.

03-25-2009, 11:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
mr3 unskilled Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Plymouth Mtg, Pa Posts: 2,408 Thanks: 24 Thanked 98 Times in 93 Posts iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	Yeah I'm glad I dont live there. It gets warm here in the summer but I just pop the t-tops and thats good enough for me.

03-26-2009, 09:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	my compressor still engages at zero psi which i thought was kind of strange. shouldn't there be a pressure switch like most other cars?

03-26-2009, 11:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
Maticuno Park Ranging Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Deserts Posts: 313 Thanks: 15 Thanked 25 Times in 17 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I would think so. That's why mine wasn't coming on until I recharged the system. I wonder if your pressure switch is stuck in the "on" position?

04-20-2009, 04:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
Maticuno Park Ranging Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Deserts Posts: 313 Thanks: 15 Thanked 25 Times in 17 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	How much did it cost you to replace your compressor? I'm still losing refrigerant and I have a bad feeling the compressor seals are wasted, causing the leak. I wonder if it could be rebuilt cheaper?

04-20-2009, 07:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
mr3 unskilled Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Plymouth Mtg, Pa Posts: 2,408 Thanks: 24 Thanked 98 Times in 93 Posts iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	I have one sitting. I took it out. I dont know condition of it but if you want it, it's yours for shipping.

04-21-2009, 11:48 AM	#13 (permalink)
Maticuno Park Ranging Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Deserts Posts: 313 Thanks: 15 Thanked 25 Times in 17 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Hmm. Couple questions. How many miles when you pulled it out? Does the idler pulley spin freely and can you make the compressor itself turn? I still need to confirm that it is my compressor that is at fault, but if it is your offer sounds like a good deal to me.

04-23-2009, 02:57 PM	#15 (permalink)
Achilles Big Boss Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 116 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	My AC works perfect but it has a weird rattle or clicking right when I turn it on and it will later go away... anyone?

04-23-2009, 03:34 PM	#17 (permalink)
Achilles Big Boss Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 116 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	is a compressor expensive or hard to get a hold of and or hard to fix?

04-23-2009, 03:56 PM	#18 (permalink)
apittma College enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Clemson, SC Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Mr3, if these guys don't need your compressor, i'd be glad to take it off your hands. Thanks!

04-24-2009, 12:25 AM	#19 (permalink)
mr3 unskilled Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Plymouth Mtg, Pa Posts: 2,408 Thanks: 24 Thanked 98 Times in 93 Posts iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	I took it off and put it in a bucket. Stupid move by me. It rained and filled the bucket. I dont think anyone would want it now. Sorry

04-25-2009, 03:59 PM	#20 (permalink)
mr2tim SUPERcharZed ToyZ RacZer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,789 Thanks: 8 Thanked 118 Times in 111 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (6/100% )	Compressors for the Mark1 rebuilt go for $250-400 on the Internet, my friend at the "Yard" got one from a local Florida distributor for $125, can you say gouge the consumer? (Republicans suck) Btw the picture I get is that you vacuum the system for 1 hour, confirm the sytem intact, then suck the refrigerant into the system, not just "push" it in? BTW you can put too much oil in the system too!!