Diesel Air Compressor

Diesel Air Compressor
Diesel Air Compressor 2 Diesel Air Compressor

Looking at buying a truck, but the A/C in not blowing cold?

I am looking at a 1997 Ford 7.3 power stroke diesel truck (I really want). When you turn on the A/C the air blows warm. I poped the hood and noticed that the compresser kicked on for a second and off for a second repeatedly. I really would like to buy this truck ( I finaly found one in my price range), but not if it's gona need a new compressor (I heard they are expensive). Is it possible it's just out of frion? How do I find out with out extra out of pocket expence?

"LISTEN AND LEARN"

I HAVE BEEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND SPECIALIZE IN A/C AND HEATING SO LET ME EXPLAIN A/C REPAIRS TO YOU SO THAT YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING. YOU SHOULD GET SEVERAL ESTIMATES BUT REMEMBER THAT A GOOD REPAIR SHOP SHOULD CHARGE YOU FOR CHECKING YOU’RE A/C SYSTEM COMPLETE AND IN MOST CASES IF YOU GET THE REPAIRS DONE BY THAT SHOP THEY WILL CREDIT THE CHECK OUT FEES TOWARD YOUR REPAIRS.

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE COMPRESSOR” IS IT NOISY OR LEAKING VERY BAD, THEN THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR.

WHEN A COMPRESSOR IS LOCKED UP OR VERY NOISY ON A FORD, LINCOLN OR MERCURY YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR, THE RECEIVER DRIER, THE EXPANSION TUBE ALSO KNOWN AS THE ORIFICE TUBE ALL NECESSARY O-RINGS AND OR GASKETS, REPAIR ANY AND ALL LEAKS BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING DONE TO MAKE THE A/C WORK IS THAT THE COMPLETE REMAINING SYSTEM WILL NEED TO BE FLUSHED OUT.

THE TERM FOR THIS IS CALLED “BLACK DEATH” AND WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT WHEN A COMPRESSOR LOCKS UP OR IS VERY NOISY ALL THE INTERNAL PARTS FROM THE COMPRESSOR ARE PASSING THROUGH THE REST OF THE SYSTEM AND AT THIS POINT THESE PARTICLES ARE VERY HOT AND THEY ARE MELTING AND CAUSING SEVERE RESTRICTIONS. THERE ARE TIMES THAT THE COMPLETE A/C SYSTEM UNDER THE HOOD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TERM “COMPLETE” MEANS EVERYTHING.

IF THE VEHICLE IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND YOU PLAN TO KEEP IT FOR MANY YEARS THEN ASK THE REPAIR SHOP THAT YOU PREFER NEW PARTS INSTEAD OF REBUILT PARTS IF AVAILABLE FOR THIS REPAIR.

DO NOT CUT CORNERS BY TRYING TO SAVE SOME MONEY BUYING YOUR OWN PARTS AND THE REPAIR SHOP SUPPLIES THE LABOR EVEN THOUGH THE PARTS MAY BE WARRANTED FROM YOUR SOURCE FOR WHAT IS KNOWN AS “LIFETIME” THIS MEANS NOTHING IF YOUR PART FAILS. THE REPAIR SHOP WILL NOT REDO THE COMPLETE SYSTEM FREE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT SUPPLY THE PARTS.

TYPICAL JOBS OF THE CALIBER CAN RANGE FROM $850.00 TO $2600.00 DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL BUT USE YOUR COMMON SINCE AND NEVER TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY WILL IN EVERY CASE ALWAYS JUST PATCH IT AND YOU WILL BE BACK AND UPSET.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE DEALER WILL DO WITH A LEAKING AND NOISY COMPRESSOR, THEY WILL REPLACE JUST THE COMPRESSOR AND PUT A VERY LARGE FILTER ON THE SUCTION LINE AND RECHARGE THE A/C SYSTEM. THAT JOB WILL MOST LIKELY COOL BUT WAY BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS UP THAT COMPRESSOR WILL START MAKING THE SAME NOISE OR WORSE.

THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE ACCUMULATOR OR RECEIVER DRIER, OR THE EXPANSION TUBE, THEY WANTED TO KEEP THE COST DOWN AND GET YOU IN FOR THE REPAIRS. IF THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND SAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST YOU $850.00 TO $2600.00 TO REPAIR AND YOU WOULD HAVE LEFT.

THEY DO WHAT IS CALLED “SHORT CUTTING”, DO JUST THE BARE MINIMUM AND GET THE CUSTOMER IN AND YOU WILL BE BACK AND BACK, BY THE TIME THAT THE A/C IS FINALLY WORKING CORRECTLY YOU WILL HAVE PAID MORE THAN IF YOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND DOING THE WORK CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME.

ALSO LOOK OUT FOR THE TERM “FREE A/C CHECKS” OR “A/C SUMMER CHECK UP $9.95”, THIS IS JUST A WAY TO GET YOU INTO THE SHOP AND NOT DO ANYTHING AND IN SOME CASES MESS UP THE A/C SYSTEM WORST THAN IS WAS TO BEGIN WITH.

ALWAYS LOOK FOR INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND WELL KNOWN BUSINESSES THAT SPECIALIZE IN A/C AND HEATING, THESE ARE THE TYPE OF REPAIR SHOPS THAT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WILL ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF YOU. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK SOME OF YOUR CO-WORKERS OR YOUR FRIENDS AND SOMEONE WILL STEER YOU TO THE RIGHT SHOP.