Happy 4th everyone!

I bought my 95 Ranger 3.0 5-speed in the Fall of 2004. The AC worked great. By summer of 2005 it no longer worked, and I didn't bother with it. This summer I decided to try and figure it out, and here's what I have so far. When I switch on the AC, I do not hear the compressor clutch or detect any strain on the engine. It blows hot and stays that way. The inside fuse and WOT relay are both good. Today I got a pressure gauge and put it on the low pressure port (on the accumulator), and it showed 120psi. This is way more than normal, and I don't understand what's going on. If there is that much pressure, then it seems my coolant is still there (it has not leaked out), but I don't know how that much pressure has built up. Is there anything else I can do without having to take it to the shop?

Jeff

 

With the clutch not cycling the system will equalize. Sounds like the clutch is not engaging.

SD

 

Try jumping the A/C cycling switch, located on top of the suction accumulator/drier, which should force the compressor to engage. See if any cold air comes out while the compressor is running. If not, then you probably don't have enough refrigerant in the system. If the compressor does not come on when the switch is jumped, then you will have to check the rest of the circuit which includes a WOT cut-off switch, a high pressure cut-off switch, and an A/C clutch coil.

 

If you do get it to work with jumpering, I'd suggest that you do not leave the jumper in and go on your merry way. An overpressured system can cut loose and douse the unsuspecting with hot frothy oil. Messy, too. Rangers of that era had 'black death' where the oil broke down a little, the teflon wore off the compressor pistons, and they mixed to form a black goo that stopped up condensers. The crud infests and cannot be removed (generally) by flushing, thus a new condenser, high side w/orifice, and low side w/accumulator. Only thing original left is the evap... Nice job one, guys.
Anyway, good luck.
tom