Pwnery Tinkers - 2003 Thunderbird (11th Gen) A/C System Redux - in 4K!
12Welcome back to Pwnery Tinkers - a few-and-far-between playlist when I can afford the time to record some of my "other interests that may be of interest to you." That's a line I generally say in every video - but now you can actually SEE the other kind of videos I do that aren't games or gun related :)
Today I'm tackling a 19 year old failing A/C compressor on my 11th gen 2003 Thunderbird. This procedure should be the same for all 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbirds with the 3.9L V8 engine.
We're going to dive into what it takes to remove the A/C compressor and replacing the Accumulator/Drier unit, as well as a few basics on how to diagnose your system with a set of manifold gauges, how to evac your system and build a vacuum to check for leaks before installing new oil, as well as an invaluable little lifehack I learned from Brent over at Halfass Kustoms which worked out incredibly well, and saved me a few bucks to boot.
Editors note : Hindsight is sometimes a cruel teacher, in this case, a beneficial one. Throughout the video you will hear me comment about the low side being a bit high on pressure (40+ psi). During the filling process, I completely forgot about the ambient outside temperature being a factor in that number. It was nearly 100 degrees outside by the time I filled the system. At that outside ambient temperature, the low side should be closer towards 45-48 psi. Do not let that put you off - your high side will still read close to 200 or so. Also, equalizing pressures should be somewhere in the neighborhood of about 110-135 psi on both sides with the engine off. This also helps illustrate that the low side can handle what seems like elevated pressure while running since it's far below the equalizing pressure.
If you're in the market to tackle this job yourself, I've provided a few links below to show you where to get what I used in this video today.
Compressor + Drier : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z80JPQM
Vacuum Pump + Manifold Gauge Set : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SZ4QFW0
"Lifehack Refrigerant" : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073R55696
Motorcraft Compressor Oil YN12D (7 oz) : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011DU47E
The cost of this repair was surprisingly inexpensive compared to what I paid to have Chrysler replace a compressor on my 2014 300S... literally 1/8th the cost to be exact! :o
Also - give Brent over at Halfass Kustoms a little love - this guy can do just about anything, which I guess is a common trait among us IT guys huh? :D
https://www.youtube.com/c/HalfassKustoms
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Smash the old like button and subscribe buttons if you're new here, and feel free to browse my other videos if you think that subject matter would be of interest to you. Welcome to my channel, and this video, and thank you for watching!