Hello,
New user to the forum after I just bought a Ranger.
2008 3.0L V6 Sport. 5-speed
my Ranger came off the factory with no AC components. I’m planning to install myself just not sure where to start. I currently have a parts list going but can’t identify what else I need.
if anyone else has done this can you please reply with some additional parts needed and any advice.

I’ve seen some old posts saying that the AC wiring harness was installed from the factory, but I don’t see mine. Is it possible that some from the factory did not come with the harness?

Planning on buying most of the parts from RockAuto and avoiding JY pulling.

I currently have:

• Compressor
• drier
• Condenser
• Orfice Tube
• New serpentine belt (different size)

Not sure which hoses I need.

Thanks for the help

 

Welcome to the forum

After 2001 or so wiring harness's were getting more specific, it was cheaper to just wire for specific options on trim levels
So yes, no AC wiring in a 2008 if there was no AC option on that trim level

AC is an ON or OFF setup, that's the only wiring control you need in the cab, an on/off switch, you can use a factory climate control panel, its just an on/off switch as far as AC is concerned

You need a different Heater/blower box with Evaporator, in engine bay, this is the hardest part to install

These are pics of older Rangers but you can see the box without AC, and with AC differences

No AC: https://www.therangerstation.com/for...ad-jpeg.72594/

With AC: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...1&d=1359340879

The Evaporator needs to be added, this is what Cools the air coming from the blower/fan which then goes into the cabs vent system

Since you need a 2008 blower/AC box then you should also pull all the AC hoses from the vehicle you get the box from, needs to be from a 3.0l Ranger, I would imagine 2001-2008 3.0l Ranger would work but never looked into that myself

Good place to find local used parts here: https://www.car-part.com/
Use YOUR Zipcode
"A/C Evaporator housing" is what you want and there are usually pictures of whole vehicle, click on it

 

Thanks for the response and welcome. Evap will be the first job I do then. I was looking into my engine bay and it looks like the heater blower case already in the trucks seem to be compatible and just need to have the evaporator installed.

there isn’t anyplace for the evaporator lines to come out through but it seems like where they’re supposed to come out through are some circular spots that are meant to be popped out or cut out.



Let me know what you think.

 

Wow, that is very odd

Google: Ford Ranger, Explorer 5.0V8 and Mazda B series, A/C Evaporator Replacement

Watch the video, you still need to pull out the housing to install the evaporator

 

Could be a very dumb question but nevertheless.

I have a 99 3.0 With AC. Would i gain anything by bypassing the AC compressor with the serpentine belt and putting a non AC belt on it? I rarely use my AC since i travel at night. I feel like all i would be saving would be wear on the AC pulley bearing. Thank you in advance for your insight.

 

Ron’s can probably speak on this more than myself. But if you don’t use your AC you can probably go to the non-AC belt, but if you ever do want to use it switch the belt back to the with AC belt. So you can have a belt you use in the winter and fall and then another for the summer.

 

Just unplug the 2 wires on the compressor's clutch..........for now
The clutch bearings last a long time
If the bearing starts to make a noise then you can look at getting a different belt

I don't have a 1999 3.0l to look at and the diagrams I find on line are not reliable from what I see, lol

On some engines you need to add another pulley in non-AC setup, not just a shorter belt
Should be a diagram on your rad support if belt lay out, see if you can skip the AC pulley and have belt go under it, without removing the compressor