2002 XLS AC repair.

[Krabathor]

Good Morning Everyone.

Trying to get AC working in my 2002 XLS 4.0. Truck was purchased last fall, with no refrigerant in AC system.
Right after purchasing I have filled it up with "all in 1 AC can/gauge" contraption. AC compressor started cycling on and off. Figured out since winter is coming, no need to invest time and money in AC repair.

Two weeks ago I've made a second attempt at repair. Replaced low/high valves, replaced low side pressure sensor. Vacuumed the system for 30 minutes and added 8oz can of R134A refrigerant.
Pressure on low side was 70 psi, in high was 90 psi. After looking around on the forums it looks like compressor was bad. Got a repair kit off ebay, new compressor, drier and orifice tube.

Replaced the compressor, vacuumed the system and charged system again.
High side is 150psi, low side goes into negative psi. Compressor got really hot, started to smoke.
Kit came with orifice tube, but I have trouble locating where in the system orifice tube is located. Tried googling, to no avail.

Can these symptoms be clogged orifice tube?
I have no service history on the truck.

Thank you.

 

[lincolnshibuya]

could be clogged orifice tube and/or evaporator. Orifice tube is in the pipe under the heater control valve (passenger side of the engine) It's the pipe going into the firewall (evaporator).

 

[Krabathor]

Thank you. I'll replace orifice over the weekend and post back.

 

[Number4]

The condenser tubes are very fine. They can clog as well and can be impossible to flush.

You can flush the evaporator and lines (just remove the orifice tube), but the condenser would need replaced.

I'd never put a new compressor on a system without either replacing all components, or flushing them as appropriate.

 

[lincolnshibuya]

The condenser tubes are very fine. They can clog as well and can be impossible to flush.

You can flush the evaporator and lines (just remove the orifice tube), but the condenser would need replaced.

I'd never put a new compressor on a system without either replacing all components, or flushing them as appropriate.

I highly doubt 100% OEM condenser tubes are really fine, when my AC compressor blew up last time, it threw a lot of debris into the orifice tube. They are fairly large shreds of metal.. Not sure if the aftermarket ones are smaller than OEM. Note that high side of AC compressor goes directly into the condenser and output of condenser to the orifice tube, the condenser should have not allowed all those debris to reach the orifice tube if the tubes are fine. The condition of the orifice tube will let you decide if the condenser needs to be changed, in most cases for warranty work the seller will require you to replace the condenser too.

 

[Drewmcg]

pm me if you want to buy a good used '02 scroll-type compressor. drew.

 

[steve granger]

I also have some issues with my ford ac unit as it starts blowing hot air after one hour of its start. I have contacted an ac repair specialist, they fixed it on time and now ac works fine and blow cool air.