Which is A/C low-side on '96?

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rhinesj@gmail.com - 30 Apr 2006 21:15 GMT

Can someone please tell me which port is the low-side on a 1996
mustang? Assume i'm a complete idiot and have no idea how A/C works.
(Which is half-true -- i'll let you decide which half) Is it the port
closest to the firewall or the radiator?

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Backyard Mechanic - 01 May 2006 00:36 GMT

> Can someone please tell me which port is the low-side on a 1996
> mustang? Assume i'm a complete idiot and have no idea how A/C works.
> (Which is half-true -- i'll let you decide which half) Is it the port
> closest to the firewall or the radiator?

Look... considering that you really MIGHT be, and that about half the
garage techs who occasionally deal with a/c are, as well... so there's no
shame in it:

MAYBE you should tell us what the problem is, before you go doing something
that might be expensive to un-do.

And before you ask, yes I AM certified -with a REAL closed book test- and
DO know A/C theory.

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Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

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rhinesj@gmail.com - 01 May 2006 01:13 GMT

Haha... ok, the thing is i've got a can of 134 and a gauge (like they
have bundled together at auto-mega-lo-mart), and the car is cool, but
not cold like it used to be. Cars went to 134 in 1994, right? So i
should just be able to add some charge to it (assuming the gauge says
it needs it), and it'll get cold again, or so i'm hoping.

Now for the really stupid thing i've done (you knew there was one).
The reason i've got a can of 134 is i have a chevy motor with a
non-standard compressor, and i thought the guy i bought it from told me
that it was fitted for 134, and it wasn't cooling, but "all it needs is
a charge". So i put the guage/can/trigger on and charged it up into
the "green" zone. Now the compressor (the thing on the pulley) makes a
BAD racket, and the air isn't any cooler. Did i totally ruin the thing?

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Ritz - 01 May 2006 02:11 GMT

> Haha... ok, the thing is i've got a can of 134 and a gauge (like they
> have bundled together at auto-mega-lo-mart), and the car is cool, but
> not cold like it used to be. Cars went to 134 in 1994, right? So i
> should just be able to add some charge to it (assuming the gauge says
> it needs it), and it'll get cold again, or so i'm hoping.

Any number of things could cause it to cool poorly. There could be:

a blockage in the system
a bad A/C fan motor (or bad fan clutch)
low refrigerant charge
bad/broken flap in the heater box
bad A/C compressor
and I'm sure a lot of other things that I'm leaving out to be brief...

> Now for the really stupid thing i've done (you knew there was one).
> The reason i've got a can of 134 is i have a chevy motor with a
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> the "green" zone. Now the compressor (the thing on the pulley) makes a
> BAD racket, and the air isn't any cooler. Did i totally ruin the thing?

You could possibly have put the wrong refrigerant in. Though if you
managed to get the hose connected, it means it's either native 134a or
converted to 134a. You could also have mixed in an incompatible
refrigerant oil (there are several kinds). Or you could have done
nothing at all and it is just another symptom of a failing compressor.

Take it to someone who knows what they're doing before you get hurt.
The A/C system's high side operates at very high pressure and it is
quite possible to hurt yourself if you're not careful. At a minimum,
buy one of the many relatively inexpensive books available on A/C system
repair before you dive in or ask someone who's done this before to help you.

And if this is for a Chevy motor, then WHY are you posting it in the
Mustang group?

Cheers,

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rhinesj@gmail.com - 01 May 2006 02:22 GMT

if you check, the OP was for a mustang. i thought since i had the
attention of the self-proclaimed "Krusty old Geezer" i'd ask that
question, too.

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Backyard Mechanic - 01 May 2006 02:16 GMT

> Haha... ok, the thing is i've got a can of 134 and a gauge (like they
> have bundled together at auto-mega-lo-mart), and the car is cool, but
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> the "green" zone. Now the compressor (the thing on the pulley) makes a
> BAD racket, and the air isn't any cooler. Did i totally ruin the thing?

Oh, my...

If it had a quick-connect, not the schrader (tire valve) type, it should
have been 134. The system is designed for that... but I'm wondering if
that can didnt also have oil in it.

There are many reasons for loss of cooling efficiency, not just charge-
loss

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Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

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rhinesj@gmail.com - 01 May 2006 02:23 GMT

yeah. i put the wrong coolant in.

SO, what now?

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Ritz - 01 May 2006 02:29 GMT

> yeah. i put the wrong coolant in.
>
> SO, what now?

Ugh...

Evacuate the system
Flush as much of the old oil out as you can with a flush kit
Replace the receiver/drier
Evacuate the system again and leave it under vacuum for a while to
insure there are no leaks.
Re-charge with correct refigerant type/amount and with correct
refrigerant oil.

You may have already hosed the compressor if it's making noise. This
could be an expensive lesson. Again, have someone who knows what
they're doing help you or pay someone who knows what they're doing to do
it for you.

Cheers,

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rhinesj@gmail.com - 01 May 2006 04:16 GMT

well, crap. thanks, though.

anyone know a good A/C guy in San Antonio?

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Kate - 01 May 2006 14:03 GMT

: > Can someone please tell me which port is the low-side on a 1996
: > mustang? Assume i'm a complete idiot and have no idea how A/C works.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
: And before you ask, yes I AM certified -with a REAL closed book test- and
: DO know A/C theory.

That's cause he used the braille method, don't let him fool ya ;¬D

Again.. not so krusty as you want people to think. Lots of puff and bluster
though.

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Backyard Mechanic - 01 May 2006 14:36 GMT

>: > Can someone please tell me which port is the low-side on a 1996
>: > mustang? Assume i'm a complete idiot and have no idea how A/C
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Again.. not so krusty as you want people to think. Lots of puff and
> bluster though.

How'd you know...and what whadda ya mean I puff? Not for thirty years,,
and then I only puked then fell asleep!

Signature

Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

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