Hi. I'm a mew member. I have a '95 Ranger XLT 4x4 with a 3.0L engine. A couple years ago, I hit a bull in Colorado head-on, killing the bull. He was a black bull, broadside to the front of my car, and it was a pitch black night on an unlit road, and I was going 60 mph (poor guy never had a chance). I've now "given up" on the vehicle in a sense, but yet I must keep it running for 2-3 more years. So now, when I repair things, I find myself leaving parts out - not really by plan, but unwillingness to put parts back that can't convince me of their necessity. Now, as I face replacing the water pump, and also removing the cylinder heads to repair a combustion leak, I find myself wanting to remove the entire A/C system to get it out of my way! Also, it hasn't worked since the accident, though I have not had any diagnostics done. The A/C condenser was smashed in pretty good by the bull, but got straightened along with the radiator support. With regards to removing all of it, I have thought of some puzzling issues, but I thought I'd stop here and see what reactions I get. Ultimately, in order to turn it into a project, I hope to flesh the issue out a bit - as long as I can rouse some interest from some of you.

(Please let me know if there is a more appropriate forum. This was my best guess.)

Thanks! Duane

 

Yeah, this is the right place for it. There's no actual AC specific forum.

Since the condenser was bent and straightened, the AC system is most likely empty of all refrigerant. So you could remove it and chuck it away with no issues. Of course do confirm that the system is empty.

And, if you wanted to, replace the condenser and have the system professionally vacuumed and refilled. I bet you'll find the ac works again. The rest of the system is likely just fine.

 

I figured I would receive encouragement to repair the A/C, and maybe that is what I will ultimately do.

Do you or anyone else know how to check for existence of refrigerant when the engine is down for a pretty long count? I wonder if the refrigerant pressure equalizes between the high and the low side when the engine is not running. I have never worked on R134 system, but I have an old single gauge with a schraeder valve type inlet that reads up to a little over 100 psi. I think I used it many moons ago on R12 systems. I'm thinking I could use it as a coarse check on whether there is any refrigerant to speak of still in the R134 system. This check would be preliminary to removing any A/C components. Thank you.

 

R12 manifold gauges won't work on the R134-A systems. The Schrader valves are different.

A quick check is to take a pocket screwdriver and 'blip' the low side Schrader valve. If R134A shoots out at you, it's pressurized. If nothing happens, then it's empty.

If you want more info on AC systems (which I'm not exactly qualified to speak on), check out EricTheCarGuy on youtube. He's got several excellent videos on the subject.

 

Thank you ArcticWolf.

Guys - I have a tricky issue with the serpentine belt along with the a/c compressor and power steering pump being mounted on one bracket. If I remove the a/c, the belt won't fit, but there is a smaller belt available. But then I am puzzled about the bracket that is used in the appllication w/o A/C. It may be different. Does anyone know if the 95 Ranger w/o A/C uses a different bracket, or just the same bracket and the place where the compressor goes is leftt empty? I hope there is a smaller and more compact bracket, but my on-line search has come up empty.

Does anyone out there have a Ranger w/o factory air? I'm beginning to wonder if they exist. Maybe mine will be the first.

Thanks for your time, even if just reading this.

 

You're welcome. Unfortunately I can't help with that, aside from offering rockauto.com. They may have the part listed.

Although, I ask, why not just leave the compressor there and leave it unplugged? It can't do anything if the clutch won't engage anyway.

 

I just added AC to the 1997 2.3L I bought "salvage" and put back together...
The truck had an existing bracket... 4 bolts to mount the compressor and a change of the serpentine (longer) and mechanically they are the same....
Removing the compressor would require going to a belt for a non-AC ranger...
Dave

 

It does appear, as in endagered-ranger's 2.3L, that mine uses the same bracket w/ or w/o AC. So I see I have a clean choice of either keeping the compressor, or removing it and using the shorter belt.

The last puzzler I've come across is the blower and evaporator housing. That is a bulky item that intrudes on the rt. side of the engine. If I remove the evaporator, in order to free up that space, I will need to replace that housing with a simple blower housing. Then I will need to plug up the AC opening in the firewall. I hope I just need to find a compatible Ranger w/o AC in the junkyard.

Thanks for the help, ArcticWolf and endangered-ranger.

8/14 Edit: I just found two guys doing the same thing on another forum. Well, they did it 3 years ago. I learned that there is no need to plug up an opening on the firewall. There needs to be two openings whether there's AC or not - otherwise the blower won't get any air. Duh...

 

You're welcome. Happy to lend a hand.

 

Duane...
When I added the AC pump the bracket was all ready there...I just bolted the compressor to the bracket.... and went with the larger belt...
You would do just the opposite...
The belt I took off was a... 6PK1765 or 695K6...so that's what the non-AC belt is...

To put the AC back in operation you would need to get a condenser, and probably an orifice tube...
The condenser is pretty cheap (COF101 AC Condenser for Ford Explorer 1997 2001 Ranger 00 09 Mountaineer 97 01 | eBay) on ebay...
Then you would need 2 cans of R134a, some PAG47 oil. The dryer/accumulator could probably be used again "if" you evacuated the system for an hour or so to get the moisture out of the system...

If you are visiting a local junk yard... why not get the parts to make your Ranger cool once again...
I have had excellent luck with my local "Pull-a-Part" yard here in Ohio...
Dave

 

Thank you, Dave, I will think about it.

Here is my current thinking, though admittedly not Spock-like. I am happy with the Ranger because it killed the bull, and saved me. But I am unhappy with how hard it has been to work on. Maybe I'm getting slow. I want simplicity. I don't miss the AC, and when I get in a car with AC, I don't even turn it on. My friend tells me to think about the resale value, but I'm not counting on much resale value. I'm thinking that if that AC is gone, it will simplify other work I will be doing under the hood, save weight and save gas. Also, I'll seal up the system and stow it, so I can put it back on later. But, Dave, until I make the first move, it can still go either way.

Thanks again. Duane