2002 Excursion Rear AC Removal
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2002 Excursion Rear AC Removal
Good day all. New member here and have a question for the gallery. Has anyone removed the rear AC/heater from their Ex? I know this may sound weird to some, but I am using my Ex as an Overland camping vehicle and would like to install a second battery in the rear of the vehicle that will interface with my portable solar panels. I have removed the third row seating permanently to use the area for sleeping instead of a tent or trailer, so the rear AC and heat never get used as intended. That space where the rear AC is and all the lines going to it takes a ton of space which can be converted to a rear DC electrical interface. Just wondering how difficult this task may be and what, if any, hazards there may be with the coolant lines.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Western AR
It is all very easy to remove. The plastic panels pull right off the wall, but there are a couple of push-pin fasteners just under the lip of the carpet to watch out for. Once exposed, the whole thing comes out as one big unit, after removing 3-4 10mm bolts. Disconnect the lines just below the expansion valve in the rear of the unit (under the blower) where the lines come up through the floor. You can cap those lines off, or you can climb under the truck to pull them out. You will have to remove the tire if you want to pull all the lines out. If you are keeping the front AC, you will need to get a replacement hard line under the hood from an F250/F350. This line will eliminate the "Y" pipe junction that sends freon to the rear unit, and allow you to recharge the unit once you have removed all the lines. Same goes for the heater lines. You will need to cap them off or replace them with lines from a truck.
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Thanks Nicmike, I think I will start looking for those F250 cooling and heater hard lines before I dive into this project. Removing that rear AC/heater will open up a lot of new room for a spare battery.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Western AR
I just removed this whole assembly from an Excursion at a salvage yard a couple of weeks ago. I will take pics Monday, if you are interested in seeing it without all of it in there. I removed the lines that run under the frame from front to back as well. Not that hard to remove, really. As I mentioned before, you will have to pull the back right tire off of the truck to get the lines out. I did have the advantage of pulling from a truck that had the engine out, so I will throw that in there.
If you have a salvage yard, these AC and heater parts should be available very cheap. It is not something people buy, and they usually get crushed with the trucks when all the other desirable parts are removed. Don't let them charge you a bunch of money. Also, change your orifice tube while you are in there.
If you have a salvage yard, these AC and heater parts should be available very cheap. It is not something people buy, and they usually get crushed with the trucks when all the other desirable parts are removed. Don't let them charge you a bunch of money. Also, change your orifice tube while you are in there.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Western AR
Pics will have to happen next time, as you didn't reply before I went back out there last Monday. Should be back out there in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I might have some photos of the parts you will need to delete under the hood to make your Excursion like a Super Duty pickup without rear AC.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Northern California
Even if you are the only occupant I would leave the rear AC in place, when its 100* out it takes both units to cool the cabin because of the volume.
You can mount your house battery or batteries on the frame behind the trans.
I'd use an optima battery just because there are many fabricated mounts readily available for it.
You can mount your house battery or batteries on the frame behind the trans.
I'd use an optima battery just because there are many fabricated mounts readily available for it.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
I'm almost always the only person in my truck, and I use the rear AC all the time to cool it down faster. It makes a big difference.
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Good day all. New member here and have a question for the gallery. Has anyone removed the rear AC/heater from their Ex? I know this may sound weird to some, but I am using my Ex as an Overland camping vehicle and would like to install a second battery in the rear of the vehicle that will interface with my portable solar panels. I have removed the third row seating permanently to use the area for sleeping instead of a tent or trailer, so the rear AC and heat never get used as intended. That space where the rear AC is and all the lines going to it takes a ton of space which can be converted to a rear DC electrical interface. Just wondering how difficult this task may be and what, if any, hazards there may be with the coolant lines.
If all of the parts are in good working shape, I would be interested in purchasing them from you. When I bought my X, someone had removed the rear AC. I'm in FL and need it back desperately!
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
Was it removed or was it never there from the factory? Some municipal special service rigs came without rear heat/AC and third row seats. Many of those also had the vinyl floor coverings in place of carpets.
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It was removed. Not exactly sure why though.
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Pics will have to happen next time, as you didn't reply before I went back out there last Monday. Should be back out there in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I might have some photos of the parts you will need to delete under the hood to make your Excursion like a Super Duty pickup without rear AC.
Thanks,
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
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From: Western AR
I have photos of the rear housing out, but I did not take it apart. I am still up at the farm in AR for a few more days. Will be back home and taking some pics this weekend for this thread.
Kongerup, you can get a complete system here if you are serious. The lines from front to rear are about 18 feet long, so it is not practical to ship this system.
http://hitechcarparts.com/
Talk to Bruce and tell him Mike sent you.
Kongerup, you can get a complete system here if you are serious. The lines from front to rear are about 18 feet long, so it is not practical to ship this system.
http://hitechcarparts.com/
Talk to Bruce and tell him Mike sent you.
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Konger, I would be happy to sell the rear ac/heater module, but i plan on utilizing the existing coolant hard lines as conduit for my conductors from front to rear battery and charging system. I plan on taking my Ex into the shop in the next couple of weeks to have them discharge the ac and heater lines, then install the caps on the Y lines, so the rear module will be available by first of november if interested. Just let me know if still interested.
Thread Starter
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New User
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Konger, I would be happy to sell the rear ac/heater module, but i plan on utilizing the existing coolant hard lines as conduit for my conductors from front to rear battery and charging system. I plan on taking my Ex into the shop in the next couple of weeks to have them discharge the ac and heater lines, then install the caps on the Y lines, so the rear module will be available by first of november if interested. Just let me know if still interested.