North American Turbocoupe Organization



A/C woes - This is what I was talking about, Jeff!
Not B Anymore Offline
Administrator
#1
On the '87, the A/C blows nice and cold, BUT... it's too annoying to use a lot of the time. As soon as it's switched on, the car's idle starts rising and falling over and over. It'll smooth out after a little while, and then starts doing it again. This cycle repeats the whole time the A/C is on. It also squeals horribly. I've owned a TC since the late 90's, but this is the first one that's had working A/C and I'd like to keep it that way! Below is a video of the problems. What do ya'll think?

[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itD3Kxjpni4&feature=em-upload_owner[/video]
Brian Leavitt
'86 TC 5-Speed -- MS2x w/COP | 83 lb. injectors | T3/T4 50 Trim Stage 3 .63AR | Full 3" Exhaust - No Cat | Motorsport FMIC | Ranger Roller | Ported E6 | Walbro 255HP | Kirban | 20psi | 120-amp 3G | 8.8" 3.55 rear | '03 Cobra Wheels
Reply

Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#2
Brian, when I click on the video, it says it's private.

We are at a motel in south central Illinois with only 240 miles to go home. Drove 670 miles today, and we're stopped dead on I70 for one hour due to a semi accident. Time for a beer and some sleep.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
Reply

Not B Anymore Offline
Administrator
#3
I don't know how it got set to private, but I fixed it. I just uploaded it directly from my phone. Sucks you got held up. I got lucky and hit zero traffic both ways. Of course, I also have a much shorter trip...
Brian Leavitt
'86 TC 5-Speed -- MS2x w/COP | 83 lb. injectors | T3/T4 50 Trim Stage 3 .63AR | Full 3" Exhaust - No Cat | Motorsport FMIC | Ranger Roller | Ported E6 | Walbro 255HP | Kirban | 20psi | 120-amp 3G | 8.8" 3.55 rear | '03 Cobra Wheels
Reply

TurboBoost88 Offline
Member
#4
the squeal is either the tensioner or a/c clutch bearing. I would remove belt and spin by hand and feel.
88 TurboCoupe,Midnight Metallic Blue on Blue cloth, 140 m.p.h. speedo, 96,000 miles, 5spd. Gills valve, many new parts waiting to be installed..88 TC, Silver, 5spd, My first car, wish I still had that one! Built for customers: 67 Ford Fairlane,69 Mach I,70 Mach I Clone,95 Ranger 2.3/5.0 EFI Conversion,99 Cobra Procharger SC-1 Install/Tune,Factory Five Racing Mark III Cobra #4114,1955 Black on Black Thunderbird for local Ford Dealer owner's wife.
Reply

Not B Anymore Offline
Administrator
#5
It's definitely something in the compressor, not the tensioner. I bought a new bearing for the compressor, but now I'm wondering... If the replaceable bearing was the culprit, wouldn't it be squealing when the clutch is not engaged, rather than when it is engaged? I'm picturing that bearing only being used when the pulley is spinning around the disengaged clutch. Perhaps I am thinking about it wrong. :dunno:
Brian Leavitt
'86 TC 5-Speed -- MS2x w/COP | 83 lb. injectors | T3/T4 50 Trim Stage 3 .63AR | Full 3" Exhaust - No Cat | Motorsport FMIC | Ranger Roller | Ported E6 | Walbro 255HP | Kirban | 20psi | 120-amp 3G | 8.8" 3.55 rear | '03 Cobra Wheels
Reply

Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#6
Brian, I finally had a chance to look at the video. You are right, a bad hub bearing will make noise when the comp is not engaged, and will be quiet when the comp is running.

Do you have a set of manifold gauges? If so, have a look at the pressures on the high and low sides. If the high side is way high, like 280+ psi and the low side is below spec, the system may be overcharged or the orifice tube is plugged. If pressures are within range for the ambient temp, the comp may be on its way out. How hard is it to turn the comp by hand? You should be able to turn it by hand with relative ease. You will encounter occasional resistance as the pistons compress the Freon. If very difficult to turn, the comp may be on its way out.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
Reply

TurboBoost88 Offline
Member
#7
the clutch bearing turns all the time , regardless of a/c operation. If your getting a high pitch squeak or squeal with a/c on, it can be excessive high side pressure and/or bad compressor. manifold gauges will tell you real fast.
88 TurboCoupe,Midnight Metallic Blue on Blue cloth, 140 m.p.h. speedo, 96,000 miles, 5spd. Gills valve, many new parts waiting to be installed..88 TC, Silver, 5spd, My first car, wish I still had that one! Built for customers: 67 Ford Fairlane,69 Mach I,70 Mach I Clone,95 Ranger 2.3/5.0 EFI Conversion,99 Cobra Procharger SC-1 Install/Tune,Factory Five Racing Mark III Cobra #4114,1955 Black on Black Thunderbird for local Ford Dealer owner's wife.
Reply

Not B Anymore Offline
Administrator
#8
No I don't have any gauges for this. I can't imagine excessive pressure being the issue, though, because it only started a couple weeks ago and it's gradually been getting worse since then. When I first got the car it didn't make any squealing noises.

Here's another thought/question. What about the clutch? The air gap is a little out of spec. The book states .009"-.041" as the specification and this one measures at .045". Could it be slipping? I was thinking about removing one of the shims to see if that helps.

The weird thing (to me) is it only starts squealing when the engine rpm drops below 1000. If I step on the gas and turn the A/C on it doesn't make any noise at all. It's only when it's idling wonky that it starts up.
Brian Leavitt
'86 TC 5-Speed -- MS2x w/COP | 83 lb. injectors | T3/T4 50 Trim Stage 3 .63AR | Full 3" Exhaust - No Cat | Motorsport FMIC | Ranger Roller | Ported E6 | Walbro 255HP | Kirban | 20psi | 120-amp 3G | 8.8" 3.55 rear | '03 Cobra Wheels
Reply

TurboBoost88 Offline
Member
#9
might have a belt slipping or tensioner sticking. I would tighten the air gap up, that needs to be done regardless. without seeing the pressures, its a guessing game. But I would watch the tensioner and belt when the noise happens to see if your getting any extra deflection on either. belts can do weird things. I know the early 90's f-150 had to use a motorcraft belt or they would squeal. also how is the water pump? since it shares the load of the a/c belt, I would check to see if you have any play there also. good luck !!
88 TurboCoupe,Midnight Metallic Blue on Blue cloth, 140 m.p.h. speedo, 96,000 miles, 5spd. Gills valve, many new parts waiting to be installed..88 TC, Silver, 5spd, My first car, wish I still had that one! Built for customers: 67 Ford Fairlane,69 Mach I,70 Mach I Clone,95 Ranger 2.3/5.0 EFI Conversion,99 Cobra Procharger SC-1 Install/Tune,Factory Five Racing Mark III Cobra #4114,1955 Black on Black Thunderbird for local Ford Dealer owner's wife.
Reply

Not B Anymore Offline
Administrator
#10
I thought the belt might be slipping, even though this sound, to me, doesn't really sound like it. I was going to replace it, but when I manually added tension to the belt it made no difference in the noise at all so I just left it alone. I took it off yesterday and fiddled with the pulleys. They all spin freely and the compressor clutch turns easily by hand. The tensioner does have some play in it.

If the thunderstorms hold off I'm going to adjust the clutch tonight and see if that makes a difference. If not, I suppose I can buy a cheap set of manifold gauges and get a reading.

I have a spare HR980 off my '86 that, as far as I can tell, seems to be in good shape. If all else fails I'll throw it on. It's a Ford reman unit and I measured the air gap on that clutch at ~.013
Brian Leavitt
'86 TC 5-Speed -- MS2x w/COP | 83 lb. injectors | T3/T4 50 Trim Stage 3 .63AR | Full 3" Exhaust - No Cat | Motorsport FMIC | Ranger Roller | Ported E6 | Walbro 255HP | Kirban | 20psi | 120-amp 3G | 8.8" 3.55 rear | '03 Cobra Wheels
Reply





Users browsing this thread:
1 Guest(s)



Theme © iAndrew 2018 - Software MyBB