A/C refrigerant all gone. Where to start looking?

[dmjarosz]

My A/C quit on me the other day. The compressor clutch doesnt engage and ther is zero pressure in the refrigeratnt lines. Im going to get some dye and a little bottle of R134a to search for the leak.
Note: The EATC, fans speeds, fuses, relays, connectors were all checked and appear to be working normal.

My question is where are common places for the A/C system to develop a leak on these cars? I realize theres dozens of places that can spring a hole but a few pointers on where to start poking around with the blacklight would be awesome.

Thanks ahead of time!

[martyo]

You live in Buffalo, so I would check your accumulator. They are prone to going bad (corrosion - rotting out).

[Dereck]

Hi Dmjarosz

You do not need any dye Ford allready used it from the factory.

Common places for a leak are the suction accumulator and condensor closely followed by any pipe joint and the compresoor shaft seal.

Regards

Dereck

[Richy04]

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=87961


This will cure you!!

[fastblackmerc]

You live in Buffalo, so I would check your accumulator. They are prone to going bad (corrosion - rotting out).

I bet that is it!

[dmjarosz]

You guys are freakin spot on! Accumulator it is! I didn't even have to go under the car, just reached under the hood and ran my hand on the bottom of the accumulator. Greenish/yellowish oil all over the place.

Time to order an aluminum one.

[Richy04]

Make sure you order the one that is aluminum and has the straight up schrader like the original, read my post and you will find its an easy fix. You can get a vac from Harbor Freight that works excellent for about 60-90 bucks if you don't have one or just do the repair and bring it to your favorite local shop for a vac and recharge when your done installing the new one. The trick is to remove the line going to the evap where it enters the firewall, this makes it easier to remove the accumulator because the hose won't have any tension on it. The quick disconnect uses a white coded tool, you insert it then push the line in then pull out and it releases. the accumulator will take about 1.5 oz of pag 46 divided between the two tubes. Remember to leave the accumulator capped until you are ready to vac it down. Buy the green o-ring assortment pack and PAG-46 from Advanced. Rock Auto has the accumulator for under 22 bucks and they ship fast. Richy

[dmjarosz]

Just ordered the accumulator from Rock Auto for less than $21. (it got slightly cheaper?)

Where do I go about getting this white coded tool?

Im going to do the repair work myself then take to my local A/C guy. The have all the professional equipment to do it right. They do something where they pull a vacuum, hold it for a few hours, purge the entire system with dry nitrogen, then pull the vacuum again to make sure they get every last bit of moisture out of the system.

I love how a seemingly 10 hour job turns out to be 20 minutes on this forum and 1-2 hours of actual work.

[lifespeed]

Take the opportunity to inspect your condenser in front of the radiator. They take the brunt of road debris and can get pretty beat up, not to mentioning blocking flow to the radiator with bugs, rocks and bent fins.

Unfortunately this is a more expensive part, especially if you go with Ford. These are old cars now . . .

[fastblackmerc]

Just ordered the accumulator from Rock Auto for less than $21. (it got slightly cheaper?)

Where do I go about getting this white coded tool?

Im going to do the repair work myself then take to my local A/C guy. The have all the professional equipment to do it right. They do something where they pull a vacuum, hold it for a few hours, purge the entire system with dry nitrogen, then pull the vacuum again to make sure they get every last bit of moisture out of the system.

I love how a seemingly 10 hour job turns out to be 20 minutes on this forum and 1-2 hours of actual work.
They will have the tools to replace the accumulator. Sure you could go buy the tools but this might be the only time you'll ever use them. Should be a 30 minute job. They should also add the correct amount and spec refrigerant oil to the system.

[Richy04]

The tool is available at any auto parts store, they come in a blister pack for different size quick disconnects, all it really does is widen the round spring so the flared part of the line can pull out of the other half. When you push the tool in you then push the line in, the tool will then go in further and then pull the line out and just change out the three o-rings. It really is an easy job if you follow the post. Plus you'll have the kit for other vehicles and line sizes. Some cars use them on the gas filter etc.. The kits runs between 10-15 bucks.. The vac will run you between 60-80 bucks. The best way to check for leaks is to watch the gauges over time, also watch the vac vent port, if you see smokey vapors escaping from the vac vent after about 3 minutes of pulling a vac, there is a leak.

[fastblackmerc]

Do not get the Harbor freight vacuum pump runs off an air compressor. It won't pull enough vacuum.

[larryo340]

Do not get the Harbor freight vacuum pump runs off an air compressor. It won't pull enough vacuum.
I bought that type many years ago and it works fine.....it's the compressor used that makes the difference.

[lifespeed]

I've bought a lot of tools to work on my cars. Don't know that buying a vacuum pump for AC work makes sense, however. Are you going to buy gauges too? Really isn't a proper job without gauges.

[dmjarosz]

Borrowed a set of spring/clip tools from a friend. Pshhh but for $10 I can have my own set, might just make the investment. Im going to talk to my A/C guy and see if he will add the oil or if I have to before I take it to him.

Im not dealing with vacuum pumps, gauges, refrigerant tanks, etc. For less than $100. I can have the system purged and re-charged properly. A/C systems just don't go bad often enough for me to justify the investment.

[fastblackmerc]

Borrowed a set of spring/clip tools from a friend. Pshhh but for $10 I can have my own set, might just make the investment. Im going to talk to my A/C guy and see if he will add the oil or if I have to before I take it to him.

Im not dealing with vacuum pumps, gauges, refrigerant tanks, etc. For less than $100. I can have the system purged and re-charged properly. A/C systems just don't go bad often enough for me to justify the investment.

Good deal! Have fun working on your MM.

Going to be at the Wilmington show this year?

[Richy04]

Do not get the Harbor freight vacuum pump runs off an air compressor. It won't pull enough vacuum.


They make 3 different ones, I have the best one. It pulls vacuum like an animal. That one you mentioned is junk. I have the biggest electric one and it works great and less than 90 bucks.

[lifespeed]

They make 3 different ones, I have the best one. It pulls vacuum like an animal. That one you mentioned is junk.

It could suck-start a Harley-Davidson.

[dmjarosz]

Accumulator arrived today. Gotta love Rock Auto shipping!

The kit even comes with a set of green O-rings and some spring-energized seal thingy. Save me the trouble of finding the parts in the store.

[marauderthis]

Does the new Four Season AC Accumulator come with an expansion valve or is it something that needs to be purchased separately?
Also, should the sensor which screws on to the Schrader valve get replaced too?

[dmjarosz]

I does not come with an expansion valve, although I don't think that valve is part of the accumulator assembly anyways.

I re-used the sensor and replaced the o-ring with one that came in the new kit. Everything seems to be working nominally.

[fastblackmerc]

Does the new Four Season AC Accumulator come with an expansion valve or is it something that needs to be purchased separately?
Also, should the sensor which screws on to the Schrader valve get replaced too?

According to the shop manual there is no expansion valve. There is a orifice tube.

[marauderthis]

Thanks for the info.