Re-installing air conditioning

Pete_89T2 · 07-11-2013, 05:14 AM

I'm by no means an A/C expert, but I picked up a few good tips from this automotive A/C forum I found online when my FC's A/C crapped out and was in need of some repairs:

http://www.autoacforum.com/

Couple of tips I would suggest are:

(a) Replace all the O-rings in the lines

(b) Install a new receiver/dryer

(c) Replace all the soft lines, especially if you're switching over from R12 to the R134 refrigerant. (Soft lines made for R12 won't contain R134 over the long term because the R134 molecules are a lot smaller than R12, go figure!)

(d) If you can find a rebuild kit, I'd replace all the seals/soft parts in the compressor. The A/C forum can probably help you here because the Nippon Denso or Sanden compressors that were used on the FB/FC/FD's are common to a lots of other cars, and the repair/rebuild kits should still be available Look for a part # or ID tag on your compressor to try to figure out what you have as a starting point.

Another thing I'd suggest since your A/C has been open to the elements for a long time is flushing all the components you'll be reusing (evaporator core, condenser, hard lines, etc.) with the appropriate solvent for whatever refrigerant & oil you had in there or plan to use when you close it up. This is another area I'd seek out better advice though, because there are chemical compatibility gotcha's to deal with.

Good luck with the A/C work.

07-11-2013, 05:14 AM	#10
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD Posts: 874 Rep Power: 16	I'm by no means an A/C expert, but I picked up a few good tips from this automotive A/C forum I found online when my FC's A/C crapped out and was in need of some repairs: http://www.autoacforum.com/ Couple of tips I would suggest are: (a) Replace all the O-rings in the lines (b) Install a new receiver/dryer (c) Replace all the soft lines, especially if you're switching over from R12 to the R134 refrigerant. (Soft lines made for R12 won't contain R134 over the long term because the R134 molecules are a lot smaller than R12, go figure!) (d) If you can find a rebuild kit, I'd replace all the seals/soft parts in the compressor. The A/C forum can probably help you here because the Nippon Denso or Sanden compressors that were used on the FB/FC/FD's are common to a lots of other cars, and the repair/rebuild kits should still be available Look for a part # or ID tag on your compressor to try to figure out what you have as a starting point. Another thing I'd suggest since your A/C has been open to the elements for a long time is flushing all the components you'll be reusing (evaporator core, condenser, hard lines, etc.) with the appropriate solvent for whatever refrigerant & oil you had in there or plan to use when you close it up. This is another area I'd seek out better advice though, because there are chemical compatibility gotcha's to deal with. Good luck with the A/C work.