My 1988 F150's AC compressor is leaking out the front gasket. The compressor is in three sections, and the where the first section meets the middle section, it is leaking. Can this be fixed, or do I have to buy a new compressor?
Thanks much!

 

Most likly the compressor needs the seals replaced but if it's still a R12 system and the compressor has alot of miles on it, it's doubtful
that repairing it and recharging with R12 would make much economic sense unless you have a personal stash of R12 to use. Because only a EPA certified a/c technician with the proper freon recovery equipement can legally discharge and recharge the system before and after the repair, it would probably make far more economic sense to replace the compressor with a new one that has the new R134A refrigerant compatible seals and have the system converted to 134A which is much cheaper and widely available to the public which R12 is not since it requires a certification to buy and is very expensive.
If you do the conversion and compressor replacement yourself to 134A, the system may not perform quite as well in real hot weather and be sure to have the repair shop install a can of the relatively new R134A QuickBoost product I described in an earlier post as it's supposed to help the R134A system do a better job.
The bottom line is that unless your truck is low miles and you have a source of freon, I wouldn't mess with the R12 repair.
Most reputable a/c repair shops will tell you this too and usually give you prices for both repairing the R12 system and repairing and converting to R134A so you can decide.
Good luck with your repair as hot weather will soon be here.
Mark P

 

Im going to get the sytem discharged, I'll probably replace the compressor myself to save some money. What else needs to be done to convert to R134? I will replace the dryer/accumulator/reciever when I change the compressor. Is there a good kit that would have all the needed parts to convert?
Thanks

 

First, there is a set of published guidelines for most vehicles published by an A/C association or organization that gives recommendations for properly converting to R134A and for most Fords of your 1988 vintage requires the compressor to be replaced with one having the R134A seals and also the receiver/dryer to be R134A compatible with the proper desicant. Also a proper flushing of the system and replacement of R134A compatible oil is recommended. Also hose connection seals/o-rings should be replaced with proper ones. The list goes on to do it right by them. Maybe you can ask to see these guidelines by whoever discharges the system.

The other way to do it is to buy a generic R134A conversion kit at the autoparts store that contains instructions, seals, sometimes the oil, and recommendations on how to do it. That would be the way to go if your doing the work yourself after having the system evacuated of R12. It just may not be the optimal way.
Don't forget to add the QuickBooste additive at recharging time. Good luck.
Mark

 

Forgot to mention replacing the orifice tube/filer also since the system is apart and their cheap. You will need a special tool to do it but their cheap too.
Mark

 

Where is the orifice tube? What is it for?
Thanks for all the help everyone!

 

The orfice tube is located in the high side line. This is the smaller line going from the condenser to the evaporater. It will have to be replaced as a unit. It is important to flush the evaporater and condensor of all the old R12 oil that you can. I would also suggest that you use FORD PAG oil instead of the ESTER that is sometimes supplied with conversion kits.