Manager Forum

VEHICLE CAME IN WITH A BAD COMPRESSOR.

REPLACED COMPRESSOR, ACCUMULATOR, ORIFICE TUBE AND FLUSHED SYSTEM. AFTER REPAIR I HAD 300 ON HIGH SIDE AND 75 ON LOW SIDE. THE BOTH LINES AT EVAPORATOR CORE WERE WARM, COMPRESSOR WAS ENGAGED. I RAN WATER OVER CONDENSER AND BOTH SIDE DROPPED TO GOOD READINGS, LINES AT EVAPORATOR CORE WERE COLD AND WAS BLOWING 52 DEGREES IN VEHICLE. RAN VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY. SHUT VEHICLE DOWN FOR TWO HOURS AND RECHECKED EVERYTHING GOOD. CUSTOMER PICKED UP VEHICLE AND BROUGHT BACK 3 DAYS LATER WITH A/C NOT WORKING. PUT GAUGES AND PRESSURE WERE BACK UP TO WERE THEY WERE, WATER OVER CONDENSER AND PRESSURE DROPPED LIKE A ROCK TO GOOD READINGS. TAKE WATER OFF CONDENSER AND GAUGES GO RIGHT BACK UP. THIS VEHICLE DOES HAVE REAR A/C.

DO I REPLACE CONDENSER OR SHOULD I LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE?

Sounds like you may have a restriction in the condenser. By adding water you are cooling the system to the point that the flow in the condenser will allow the system to function properly. Just my 50Cents (2 cents tax adjusted for the new health care plan.)

Was the condensor flushed?

FLUSHED ENTIRE SYSTEM. WHEN FLUSHING THE SYSTEM, I NOTICED IT TOOK MORE AIR PRESSURE TO FLUSH EVAPORATOR THAN THE CONDENSOR

If the system had a ton of debris in it id sy plugged condensor but either way it has a restriction

As a rule on Ford products for some reason the debris trail is everywhere. When i have an exploded compressor i will replace the dryer, condenser, and lines. I flush the evap with brake cleaner and let it soak overnight with the lines capped. You'll be surprised how much crap comes out after a long soak.

I use dura flush 2 for the flushing if its got alot of debris ill repalce cond and any hoses with a manifold in them. Evaps seem to flush pretty clean with dura flush. Ive never used brake clean.

Good call. I'd be leary of using brake clean. i don't think that's an approved method of flushing.

It may work ive never tried ive used it on trans lines and diff tubes but im leary on a/c.

sounds like cond to me also. I like to use in line filters as well.

Ive never used the filters. I dont like hacking the lines. We have never had any issues I figure if we do it right there is no need.

You dont have it overcharged do u.

Are your cooling fans coming on?

Just a clarification here. I will not use brake cleaner to flush a system under normal conditions. I use the flushing fluid called for. However on a hard part (only evap and condenser) i will force a solvent, usually brake cleaner through it hastening the cleaning. The metal or crapolla will solidify and settle and normal flushing may not loosen and purge it where brake cleaner blows it right out. This may be a restricted rear evap if the system is a full loop with a single condenser. Pressures that high right off with no cooling and the need to run water across the condenser may falsely lead you to condemn the condenser. If you have an infrared temp scanner run it across the condenser to see if there are any cold spots.