running rough with AC

Mine clunks every once and a while when first turned on for the day. I rarely use it so perhaps its just some buildup on the clutch or something.


We need a dedicated a/c thread :)
 
sbcaprice305 said:
Mine clunks every once and a while when first turned on for the day.





We need a dedicated a/c thread
Click to expand...

That's not a bad idea. I think mine needs a new clutch. The metal ring behind the triangular thingy (okay, I don't know the actual "name" of the part) is loose and rattling around. It doesn't affect the operation of the a/c when it is turned on, but it causes a 'chriping' when the engine is running and a/c is off. Sounds like a tensioner pulley. And mine feels like it loses about 20hp when the a/c kicks on. And I've been running the a/c a lot lately due to the 100+ degree heat and my average mpg has gone from 20.9 to 20.2 in less than a week:eek: But that's probably normal. Anyhoo, dedicated a/c thread would be nice:)

topher5150 said:
Mine is more consistent. Come to think of it it's been some years since I changed the plugs and fuel filter.
Click to expand...

Might be a good idea to do so...
 
The stumble with the a/c on is just enhanced by a problem you already have, it's just less noticable w/o the extra load on the motor.

I'd start with a basic tuneup.
 
thaywood said:
That's not a bad idea. I think mine needs a new clutch. The metal ring behind the triangular thingy (okay, I don't know the actual "name" of the part) is loose and rattling around. It doesn't affect the operation of the a/c when it is turned on, but it causes a 'chriping' when the engine is running and a/c is off. Sounds like a tensioner pulley. And mine feels like it loses about 20hp when the a/c kicks on. And I've been running the a/c a lot lately due to the 100+ degree heat and my average mpg has gone from 20.9 to 20.2 in less than a week:eek: But that's probably normal. Anyhoo, dedicated a/c thread would be nice:)



Might be a good idea to do so...
Click to expand...

20 avg mpg. I'm only getting 17.5-18.5 city/highway
 
topher5150 said:
20 avg mpg. I'm only getting 17.5-18.5 city/highway
Click to expand...

Wow, i'm getting 19.8-20.1 with only 10% of my driving 55+. Little to no stop and go traffic on my commute though. If it's an even split in highway/city driving i'd imagine you getting low 20's average if you don't have a lead foot.

I'd get on that mini tuneup. :)
 
I just went through this on my car. The thing that is rattling arround is the clutch hub. There are 3 rubber bushings that have popped out on your hub. Your clutch still works, but not as well. Plus, as a result I am willing to bet your pulley bearing is bad. Both parts are easily inspected and replaced. Take the belt off the pulley and spin the pulley. The bearings should not make any noise. The hub is removed by taking out the bolt in the middle and just pulling it off. There is a small spacer in the hub that sets the gap between the hub face and the pulley. Don't loose it. The pulley just pulls off after removing the retaining clip. The pulley fits tight arround the clutch actuator and center chaft so it might need slight persuasion or a puller. Mine just pulled off. I replaced both parts with the compressor on the car and without discharging the system. The down side is the pulley and clutch hub together are close to the cost of a new compressor per Rockauto pricing so it may be better to just replace the whole compressor. I happened to have a spare low mileage compressor that I swapped the parts off of. After doing this the car and the AC seems to be working better. Plus the anoying chirping noise from the pulley bearing is gone. I have a thread on LOD in the AC section with pctures.
 
Oh, that clutch hub rattling arround is not good. Your compressor is working harder to engage and will stay engaged for shorter periods. It is just leading the compressor to an early grave.
 
beerdog said:
I just went through this on my car. The thing that is rattling arround is the clutch hub. There are 3 rubber bushings that have popped out on your hub. Your clutch still works, but not as well. Plus, as a result I am willing to bet your pulley bearing is bad. Both parts are easily inspected and replaced. Take the belt off the pulley and spin the pulley. The bearings should not make any noise. The hub is removed by taking out the bolt in the middle and just pulling it off. There is a small spacer in the hub that sets the gap between the hub face and the pulley. Don't loose it. The pulley just pulls off after removing the retaining clip. The pulley fits tight arround the clutch actuator and center chaft so it might need slight persuasion or a puller. Mine just pulled off. I replaced both parts with the compressor on the car and without discharging the system. The down side is the pulley and clutch hub together are close to the cost of a new compressor per Rockauto pricing so it may be better to just replace the whole compressor. I happened to have a spare low mileage compressor that I swapped the parts off of. After doing this the car and the AC seems to be working better. Plus the anoying chirping noise from the pulley bearing is gone. I have a thread on LOD in the AC section with pctures.
Click to expand...

beerdog said:
Oh, that clutch hub rattling arround is not good. Your compressor is working harder to engage and will stay engaged for shorter periods. It is just leading the compressor to an early grave.
Click to expand...

Cool. I think this is what I need:
Clicky

ac clutch hub.jpg

That's not a bad price. I figured the rattling wasn't a good thing. And I had to replace the clutch and pulley on my Exploder a couple of years ago. Pretty easy job. So that's my next project apparently...

ac clutch hub.jpg
 
beerdog said:
Oh, that clutch hub rattling arround is not good. Your compressor is working harder to engage and will stay engaged for shorter periods. It is just leading the compressor to an early grave.
Click to expand...

That happened to my Grand Marquis. Clutch started rattling something feirce on a trip down south. It siezed up about a month later costing me 7xx bucks. :eek:

If that ever happens to the mark it'll be recieving a bypass pully.
 
That is the part. If you did it before then you know everything you need to know. I think the best way is to buy the whole clutch assebly then you get all 3 parts plus the gap setting shims. I looked at Rokauto .

compressor w/clutch - $135 (reman) to $225 (New Ford)
clutch assembly - $103 (ford new) all 3 parts
3 clutch parts seperatly - $180 total (ford new)!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF

I imagine lower prices can be located elsewhere.
 
Alos, my car was making that chirping noise and just replacing the hub did not make it go away. On my car, the chirping was coming from the pulley bearing.
 
I would pop the $225 new from ford.
Just bought a reman GM, it was close to $200.
If your car has miles on it my guess is its at the end of its life.
 
20120706_112941-1.jpg


The AC delete pulley is about $45 from Late Model Restoration. You can get a Ford Racing one from Ford-but I don't recommend it, there's is $60+ and has play between the pulley spindle and the inner bearing race,Not good machine work.
The one pictured above is from Ford..customer got his own part -shrug-

If you want a cheap way around it....Crown Vic/Mustang/4.6 Exploder/Conti all use the same compressor and they are usually $35 at a U-Pull yard.
 
sbcaprice305 said:
That happened to my Grand Marquis. Clutch started rattling something feirce on a trip down south. It siezed up about a month later costing me 7xx bucks. :eek:

If that ever happens to the mark it'll be recieving a bypass pully.
Click to expand...


OMG I wish I had customers like you.. $700 for a compressor swap and recharge is INSANE
 
Sapperfire said:
OMG I wish I had customers like you.. $700 for a compressor swap and recharge is INSANE
Click to expand...

Yep. That's insane. Unfortunately, it sounds about right for around here. Shops charge you an arm and a leg for the littlest things. That's why I do my own work. It's cheaper:D The shop I usually use for whatever I can't do myself threatened to charge me $300 bucks to change out the oil filter adapter gasket in my '96 Mark. They said it was because they would have to undo the motor mount, lift the engine about 6"-8" and remove the power steering pump to get to it. I just laughed, walked away, and did it in my driveway in about an hour without removing anything:rolleyes: Anyhoo, that's way beside the point. The point is that stealerships and garages around where I live are froggin' crazy high priced. And I just remembered, a buddy of mine had his a/c compressor go out on his Honda Pilot last week. The dealership told him that if he bought his own parts, they would "only" charge him $800 bucks to swap everything out:eek:
 
Probably the dryer and condenser and some hoses, fittings, and seals. The stealership doing my friend's Honda said that they had to replace pretty much everything associated with the a/c in order to provide a warranty. Sounds like :bsflag: to me:rolleyes:
 
That's a "CMA" tactic..since there's 15-20 seals in the entire system, and all of them are usually the same age, so in order to "guarantee" there's no more leaks, they'd just replace them all so you don't come back in a few days when a seal that wasn't replaced is leaking

I love hearing all the extra stuff some shops want to remove to replace certain things, which is why its always best to edjucate yourself before dealing with other people, because knowing is half the battle
 
I don't feel bad about what they charged as they were the cheapest for what I needed. And it was a repair I needed asap cause it was my dd att.
 
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