in light of my recent ac system death I have been trying to learn a bit more about exactly what each part does in an automotive AC system. If you want to learn the same I founs a site with a pretty good reference.

http://www.ackits.com/blackdeath.htm

Also ... for those without A/C, this site also sells a kit to upfit an Explorer with AC for under $800. I do not know how that compares but it sounds reasonable to me.

yeah, I hate dealing with a/c systems that were neglected to the point that the orifice tube gets like that. ugh, headache.

I have my manifold gauges, my venturi vacuum pump, and my o-ring kit on hand all the times for whenever I buy a used car, especially one with non-working a/c.

most of the time, you just have to pull the system apart and blow out the lines to get the crap out and replace the compressor, dryer, o-rings, and inline filter.

oh and the reason the dryer(accumulator) is replaced as often as that article states is not only because of what they say about the particles that collect there but also because it is mainly made of a big charcoal bag inside. Once that bag pops, it's useless and will just ruin a newly flushed system. You can hear it slosh around if it's popped...