air conditioner question

[towncar95]

i must be NUTS :)

the AC breaks today and i still love this 1989 conti.
ok the question. for a while it would get a little warm air
when the car would idle , like at a traffic light or such.
worked great nice and cold when driving. today it was working
and then all warm air. the clutch was not cycling on and off like it was low at least that i know. hope this might be an easy fix.
its going be hot out here in jersey for a few days. oh did i mention the passenger window came off the track the day before? :):):)
at least i got the window up by hand .
later guys.

[Steve Moran]

Low on freon or clutch cycle switch is getting bad.

[ekooke]

Most likely not enough air being forced thru the condensor while idling. Check the fan/fan controller and wash off the condenser for better air flow. A low refrigerant charge can also cause this.

[Shrewsbury]

Most likely not enough air being forced thru the condensor while idling. Check the fan/fan controller and wash off the condenser for better air flow. A low refrigerant charge can also cause this.

Expanding on this - the condenser is just downstream of the compressor, so it takes the most pressure of anything in the system (besides the internals of the compressor itself). Plus, it ain't made of the thickest metal and it is stuck out front of everything else catching a constant beating, thus it's a common place to spring a minor leak. Which gets me to my point - a leaking condenser will contribute to all the things that ekooke just mentioned: poor cooling across the component (from compressor oil), low refrigerant. Examine the condenser for an oily coating (and dust accumulation); the oily coating is the compressor oil that leaks out with the refrigerant. Good luck.

[LSRX101]

No reasom not to love your Conti, it's 17 years old, after all. Almost old enough to vote.
If the AC works then doesn't, replace the low side pressure switch, It's a common failure item and about $12.
If that doesn't help. check the compressor clutch gap. It should be .010-.020". There are shims..... I won't get into that until you report back on the switch and the clutch gap. Tap the clutch with a broom stick when it quits, if it pulls in and runs, the gap is too wide.

[towncar95]

i will let you guys know how it goes. thanks.

[KENDO & MYRA]

mines not working either,after replaceing everything under the hood,the refridgerent leaked out a year later and when the guy recharged it the following year he said the high pressure is to high and you must have a clog somewhere, most likely in the filter and the gas leaked out in 2 days

[pro-five-oh]

mines not working either,after replaceing everything under the hood,the refridgerent leaked out a year later and when the guy recharged it the following year he said the high pressure is to high and you must have a clog somewhere, most likely in the filter and the gas leaked out in 2 days

It's probably the orifice tube (http://www.lincolnsonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44396) that's clogged. If the mechanic replaced everything, it would include the high pressure hose with that tube in it. Sounds like you got jerked around, sorry dude.

[towncar95]

well there is power to the compressor clutch we checked that.
it just wont turn on. but another question i have is this. the oil they use in the system what color and thickness does it look like? because for like 1 month i had a leak that looked like brake fluid but it wasnt. the leak was in the area of the firewall under the accumulator/dryer the black metal thing. so now that the air wont work imwondering if that was the leak and since its not leaking anymore .....

[98TC-Cartier]

Refrigeration oil is almost clear, pretty much the same color as brake fluid.

[towncar95]

well if thats my problem , is it a bad one? i have heard of the freon leaking out , but like i said and though wonder if the refrig oil leaked out. which i think thats what it might be, as we checked all the brake lines and no leaks. thanks i will keep it posted what happens.

[LSRX101]

If the oil leaked out, so has the refrigerant. You say that there is power to the compressor, but is the other wire grounded? Put a test light across both terminals, if it lights then the clutch should engage. If so , either the clutch coil is going open when hot or thew gap is too wide.
With the AC on CAREFULLY reach down and tap the clutch plate with a broom handle or similar item (might be easier and\or safer from below). If the clutch engages, the gap is too wide.

If the compressor engages but cooling is poor at idle and low speeds, the cooling fan may not be working or may not be kicking up th "high" with the AC on. This can also be caused by low charge or a dirty condenser.

[towncar95]

ok so the freon is still in the sytem there is no leaks.
we looked at the compressor. it works but the center i guess i want to say the clutch will spin once or twice and thats it. there is a lot of grease coming out of the center of it. well reading my shop manual you can pull the compressor from the bottom of the car. you have to take the radiator out though. wow ! thats better then looking at it from the top of the car. oh well. this project may wait awhile not sure yet.