Rear AC - Diesel Forum

krdadlamb · 04-21-2007, 03:00 AM

Summer is coming and rear AC not getting very cold. Dropped off the X at local dealer and asked them to charge the AC system. They called and said that the line from the compressor to rear unit is blocked and needs to replaced, and the compressor has a leaking seal. They can fix the whole thing right away for me for $1300. I told them NO THANKS. But does anyone have any ideas? Should I try another dealer? Has others had similar problems?

EXCAV8TER · 04-21-2007, 05:25 PM

I could be wrong but that sounds like bs to me...Mine was blowing warm and fortunately for me I have a friend thats a mech at sunbelt rentals...he owns a ac setup and came over and changed the orifice tube and recharged the system and it was blowing at like 43 degrees! I can see where some seepage has occured around my compresor as well and after recharging it, it works great..if it does let go I'll be looking for a new ac compressor but for now..so far so good..
Tom..

BTW the orifice tube ( read filter) was like $4 at a parts store for a new one... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

mmsafd · 04-24-2007, 02:35 AM

You can shop around but that is the norm for a complete A/C job. I was next to a guy last year at a retailer that paid $1600+ for the works on his Tahoe. If you are going to go through the expense of a compressor you should do it all the way. I am not an A/C tech but have one that does my work on the side. Last year we did the A/C on the EX. Compressor, oriface, accumulator, rear expansion block and quite a few O-rings. We also did a complete flush of the system with some kind of cleaner. Vacuumed it down for about 3hrs. So far it is way better than before. It gets down near 30deg F in the vent,even on a hot summer day. Love that! Beware the clutch is smaller on the Excursion than the one on the F-series, I think it is because of the dual systems. The smaller diameter must help speed up the compressor to compensate for the extra refigerant.

Brians97F250Crew · 04-27-2007, 02:48 PM

I'd like to know how they determined the line was clogged and clogged with what?? It's not like there is crap floating around in these systems. Is your front blowing cold?? If it is then your problem is only in the rear. I believe the rear has an expansion valve vs and orifice tube. There are all kinds of things that could be the problem back there. Blend door actuator letting heated air in, something sucked up into the blower and covering the evaporator.

I'd find somewhere else if you can't do it yourself. Shops have gotten in such a habit of not diagnosing a/c troubles and just replacing everything cuz it's easier and more $$ for them.

Graupp · 04-27-2007, 05:16 PM

>>>>DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS!!!<<<

But sometimes, it can plug up at the ""ORFICE""

The compressor, pumps the freon, under pressure [hot], thru the condensor, next to the radiator, back

to the orfice, where the pressure is released:

then turns cold....in front of the evoporator...

""IF"", that orfice plugs up....then your line will be blocked...

There is a "" Y "" in there that seperates the front from the back...

Both work off the same compressor...

Freon is a little expensive now...like $10-20 for a tiny can...

I've got a leak in the Mustang, and I just put in a pound or two every year or two, with some freon oil, been doing that for 5-6 years...

You probably could do most of the manual labor yourself, and then just take it down some place and have them, put a vacuum pump to it, to evacuate the system, and refill it....

The freon, and pumping, will probably run you a couple hundred bucks....

P.S. ""IF"" I remember correctly, there is a screen in front of the orifice, to catch debris, just like we're talking about