Stock A/C not working

[texasmike]

Hi everyone.

I would welcome some advise on how to get cold air flowing into my cab. The truck was sitting outside on the dirt for over 13 years before I decided to rescue it about five months ago. I have finally got it in pretty good running condition and passed state inspection. The heater works and the blower works on all three speeds. The truck has a little over 52k on it which I know is original mileage.

All of the A/C parts are in place but the system has no pressure. There was a tag in the glove box showing the system was retrofitted to R134a. The compressor looks pretty rough with a lot of rust on it. Was this a good A/C system and is it worth trying to save? I'd rather not replace the whole system, especially the condenser, evaporator and controls if I don't have to and would like to get it working well before I head to the body shop.

Thanks to all who reply and be safe, especially on this last day of the year.

 

[yevgenievich]

Clean flush the system, new dryer, orifice tube and a sanden compressor would make it work.
Can try using existing compressor but check if it will even spin by trying to turn clutch by hand.

 

[Goldie Driver]

Clean flush the system, new dryer, orifice tube and a sanden compressor would make it work.
Can try using existing compressor but check if it will even spin by trying to turn clutch by hand.

Never tried that - can you turn one by hand ?

OP - the factory A/C system IMHO worked fine, but having one w/ 134 in it now I can say it will not blow as cold, especially at idle, than the R12 did. I hear, but have not tried it yet, that a Ford Blue orifice helps in that regard.

 

[yevgenievich]

With 134 and r4 using blue orifice tube worked fine for me except in one idle situation. Middle of Texas summer sitting in the sun for half a day and then starting up and not moving. Sanden made that scenario acceptable, but that is a hard task for any automotive ac system.

 

[Old77]

Thread moved out the intro subforum and into a more appropriate subforum

 

[Colin]

Put a vacuum pump on it and see if it will hold a vacuum.
Also look for oily deposits around the compressor and other fittings.