Aerostar AC Reminder...
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Northern California
Aerostar AC Reminder...
Fellow Aerostar owners: I know for many of you in the snowbelt, January is the last time you would think about this. Remember to exercise your Aerostar's Air Conditioner, when you are on the freeway, and the Van has been fully warmed up. Simply, slide the temp. lever to the bottom (cold) and turn on the AC, starting out at Max AC. Saturday, I did this to mine, while driving the just washed van, on dry northern California pavement. I ran the AC "ON" for about 6 miles, also running the rear AC (1987 Aerostar XLT 3.0 V6) At 60-65 MPH, for almost two miles, I had front and rear AC blowing a Max fan speed. Ice cold, out the vents. Just to keep everything exercised, ready for those warm summer days. I feel driving at a steady freeway speed, is the best time to do this to the AC. I have not used the Cruise Control in a long time also, and wanted to make sure it still worked in the old gal. It did, and when I could feel the engine pulling, with the CC on, up the freeway's slight hill incline, I was happy. Then when straight, CC off (tap brake pedal) and AC turned off. Temp selector moved to "up" red HOT position. Ed 
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
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From: Washington state
in the front defrost position, the air conditioner compressor clutch kicks in and pushes refrigerant thru the two coolers and the condenser, used to speed window defrost with dehumidified air out of the A/C
never unplug the a/c compressor clutch wire to save fuel, compressor will freeze up and die from lack of lubricant circulation with the refrigerant
Ed,
good advice for those living in dry SW where defrost is never used in winter and a/c is on all spring/fall/summer
never unplug the a/c compressor clutch wire to save fuel, compressor will freeze up and die from lack of lubricant circulation with the refrigerant
Ed,
good advice for those living in dry SW where defrost is never used in winter and a/c is on all spring/fall/summer
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2005
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I am told that the reason for exercising the a/c has to do with the compressor shaft seal sticking to its mating face after months of disuse. starting the unit in the first warm spell causes the sticky seal to rip up its bellows and dump the charge. Makes sence to me.
might be a good idea to exercise the clutch manually if it hasn't been used for months (forgotten) or if it is just too cold where you live to allow the pressure switch to close. compressor will not run period if it is consistently below about 40 degrees, even in defrost. pressure switch will not close.
ken
might be a good idea to exercise the clutch manually if it hasn't been used for months (forgotten) or if it is just too cold where you live to allow the pressure switch to close. compressor will not run period if it is consistently below about 40 degrees, even in defrost. pressure switch will not close.
ken
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
What you just said is very close to the truth. While that can happen, what is more common is the film draining off. An AC system isn't perfectly sealed, the metal has slight variances and pitting, and the seals aren't perfect either. But the lubricant forms a film over everything, and as a result, fills in and plugs up these imperfections. If this film is allowed to drain long enough, it leaves openings. Also, the seals do require constant lubrication.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2005
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I thought the reason to run it at least once a month, was to ensure that all the seals (o rings on the fords) stay lubricated, along with the other things... I have heard that R12 was worse than R134a as far as this, since the newer oils they used with R-134a were supposed to be longer lasting over the course of the season...
Yeah, using any defrost mode will cycle the freon... I will often times use COLD defrost on the front window, esp at night, seems to do the best job sometimes at a clear windshield...
Bob
Yeah, using any defrost mode will cycle the freon... I will often times use COLD defrost on the front window, esp at night, seems to do the best job sometimes at a clear windshield...
Bob
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Oct 28, 2016 09:38 AM
