Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

TW/92LSC/SE on Mon July 09, 2012 11:15 PM

Year: 2005
Make: Ford
Model: Mustang GT
Engine Size: 4.6
Refrigerant Type: r-134a
Ambient Temp: 75F
Country of Origin: Canada

Engine not running; If I try to turn the compressor by hand it's very stiff to turn. I noticed this last year but forgot all about it till just now. All my other vehicles I've checked the compressors turn smoothly with moderate force. The engine only has 50,000 miles on it, summer driven only. I found a tsb regarding the A/C Clutch http://www.stangpit.com/wp-content/images/docs/s197-tsb/06-10-1.pdf . Should this tsb be performed immediately? Why and/or would the orifice tube need to be changed if the compressor hasn't failed yet? Thanks for any replies.

JJM on Tue July 10, 2012 1:06 AM

Honestly, if it were my vehicle I would run it until the system dies, if at all. Look at it this way, if there is compressor damage, you're going to need to replace the compressor, condenser, orifice, accumulator, lines with mufflers, and flush everything else, so why not just run it until (or if) it happens.

I don't think the TSB you provided necessarily addresses this concern. It seems more like this TSB is geared towards reducing system pressures, and replacing the clutch components that may have been damaged due to potential slippage from excess pressures. But I'm not in Ford engineering, so this is just an educated guess.

Joe

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TW/92LSC/SE on Wed July 11, 2012 9:18 AM

I did further research and found my 05's A/C decal says 31oz r134a. I also found in an older manual the orifice tube is orange instead of the updated blue. I think you hit it with the purpose of the tsb. Thanks again.

joe_mn on Wed July 11, 2012 10:39 AM

Does a/c work ok? So, do you have a problem or not? How is it that you decided something is wrong? We're u under car and decided to turn compressor shaft and noticed it was hard to turn? U can take off serp belt and hub spins easy. So compressor clutch is ok? A seized compressor usually will have a freely spinning hub when clutch is not energized. But you know that.

TW/92LSC/SE on Wed July 11, 2012 2:25 PM

A/C works fine. Hub spins easily with belt off. Even checked clutch gap at 0.016". I was just a little concerned with the non-running turn force being more than other vehicles I've turned and was wondering if the TSB I misinterpreted would be part of the issue. Again thanks, I'll just consider this normal. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".