Need some advice from you guys who now Ford AC

[Diesel JD]

Well, I'm working on my system. I had it vacuumed out and I've already put a new accumulator(aka receiver/dryer), orifice tube and new high pressure blow off valve. Condenser core and evap core have been checked and found to be pretty decent, cleaned and blown out, and I bought the R134a and a manifold gauge to charge it. I ran into a snag however. I screwed up the hose that runs from the accumulator to the AC condenser core, the one with that special check valve in it. I need a new hose like that but I have no idea where to get that valve or even if it can be gotten. My AC/radiator guy says he has made hoses like that for motorhome AC systems without a check valve and they appeared to run fine. So I suppose what I'm asking is should I let him try to make me a hose and what could I damage if anything by not having that check valve? The only other options I can think of is checking with Ford and seeing if the hose or check valve can still be gotten or going to a junkyard and scrounging one off of a similar truck to mine. Any ideas/opinions? Thanks all,
JD

 

[icanfixall]

First off I was not aware of any check valve in any of the ac systems. Becides the ac pump valves the only thing that may figure as a valve would be the orfice valve. I will be watching this for answers too. I'm interested in what comes up here. We do have some really good guys with lots of ac information...

 

[Diesel JD]

Yeah the knowledge here is incredible. I don't know if your 89 has the exact same system or not but the check valve is in the plumbing right next to the radiator and before the condensor core.

 

[RLDSL]

I don't know of any check valve that is supposed to be there. I've certainly never seen a system with a check valve in that hose and I've never put one in any hose I've ever made. I can't see why someone would have added one. Are you sure it's not a filter that is in the line? If it's a filter, you would be wise to get another filter for the new hose, Advance and Napa and a few other parts stores will have a master Ac parts catalog that you can flip through till you find the filters, and get one that crimps in to that size hose so it can be rigged in at the time the hose is made up.

 

[icanfixall]

I know some hoses have a muffler type silencer in them. I have seen them on both sides of the ac pump too and usually only on the low pressure suction to the pump. Mught be what someone it telling you needs to be there.

 

[NJKen]

Im not trying to be a wise ass or anything but there is no hose connecting the condenser to the accumulator.
the condenser should have a line coming from the compressor to it and one leaving it that goes back to the evaporator. At this connection is where you will find the orifice tube. The orifice tube is mandatory for the system to work.
The evaporator (inside heater box under hood) should have that smaller line going into it from the condenser and the accumulator is attached to it with no hose, just a curved metal pipe that either spring locks to the evaporator or is threaded (differs depending on year).
None of the lines have a check valve in them anywhere. As mentioned above, some have a muffler but I dont think for used a muffled line on too many trucks anyway.
Try to re post with a pic or a slightly better description and you WILL get an answer from someone here
Best of Luck

 

[Diesel JD]

I now the orifice tube can't be one away with. It is the gose that goes to the line where the orifice tube lives that I messed up. A filter inline? Who knows! I wish I did have aa master parts breakdown on this system.

 

[65sixbanger]

Ok can someone please give a quick rundown of what all is involved in the A/c System Please??

Compressor, blower motor, evaporator, Etc,Etc.

I have A/c but it doesnt work at ALLLL!!

 

[Diesel JD]

Asking the wrong guy here as I am a total AC Newbie. You have the compressor, which is obvious and the associated service ports and high side fittings, then the accumulator which is that canister looking thing, a hose runs from it to the condensor core, and between the accumulator and the evaporator core(radiator looking thing normally hidden by a black plastic box on firewall) there is an orifice tube. The hose I screwed up is a thin Ford only (possibly) hose which runs from the accumulator just after the orifice tube to the AC condensor core in front of your rad. Then there is a lone from the AC core to the compressor and one that crosses over from the compressor to the evap core(huge and massive fittings) If your AC doesn't work at all, most likely your compressor died, the refrigerant all leaked out, or you have a plugged orifice tube and maybe accumuator, evap core and condensor core too. Some of these guys are real mechanics and have forgotten more than I ever knew about AC that's why I was asking advice here. Good luc to you, I'm enjoying learning about it, only this hose and a couple other hard to find parts have given me a pain in the butt.

 

[NJKen]

You posted again that the acumulator is in the line that has the orifice tube in it. This is the part that makes no sense. If it is the line that comes fromt he condenser (in front of radiator) to the evaporator (inside plastic box) there should be nothing there but a line. It is possible that someone added a filter due to a past compressor failure. If that is the case, chuck it and replace it with a new liquid line (proper name) available at some parts stores or rockauto.com for about $23 and you need to get nothing made. Let us know if that is the line in question. If it is, your solution is simple
Ken

 

[Todd C]

I remember replacing that hose a few years ago. Now that I think about it I do remember some sort of check valve in mine. I think I had a problem with it and eliminated it. I just replaced it with a fitting that went from the condenser to the hose. It was attached to the condenser on the passenger side, where that hose runs to the orifice tube in the evaporator. I think I got the hose from Advance Auto. Yeah, if thats the one it doesn't go to the accumulator, but without looking closely you might think it does...
I'll have to take a look at it tomorrow to refresh my memory...

 

[Diesel JD]

Hey thanks guys. I think I'm just going to have this shop make me a new line and not worry about any special stuff. It's for about the same price as what NJKen quoted and it is the line he is talking about. Not sure why I'm having trouble conveying that. I'm an AC Dummy I know that. Thanks for setting me straight. I'll let you guys know what happens.

 

[NJKen]

Your not a dummy if you are looking for the rite answer Im sure you know something that would confuse the hell outta me. Let us know how it all works out. take a picture if you can and post it too!
Ken