OK have a laugh on me as I am new to AC.

I just redid my 88gt AC system and all went well. I went to do the same on my 87 gt, but I was getting some pretty high low side reading compared to the 88. Someone mentioned to check the orifice tube. Here it is.




* Is it plugged?
* I was going to just replace it, but thought I should ask if I should dig deeper.

Anyone?

Yes, it's plugged--go ahead and get another one (they're pretty cheap).
You need to flush the lines and replace the receiver/dryer. The compressor may be bad, too. It looks like "black death".......

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Rod Schneider, Woodstock, Ga.
"You can't have too many toys!"
1988 Fiero GT
1985 Porsche 944
1966 Porsche 911
Van's RV-6 airplane-under construction

[This message has been edited by Rodrv6 (edited 06-28-2009).]

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[This message has been edited by TK (edited 06-28-2009).]

That's actually pretty clean compared to the one I pulled out of my 88 coupe.

I guess the compressor could be bad, bit it is a rebuilt I bought and I have used it very little.

With regard to flushing the lines.

* I assume it is a no brainer. The flushing needs to be done?
* Do I have to disconnect the lines from the compressor and flush inlet and outlet front to back?
* Or disconnect each component and flush separately?

How long has that tube been in there? That's not black death to me. Just used with some compressor wear. Is the goop hard chunks or just slimy grease?

[This message has been edited by TK (edited 06-28-2009).]

Yes that's plugged. Looks like the compressor exploded and sent metal fragments throughout the system.

Flush individual parts. I can't remember if the Fiero condenser is flushable. Don't flush the lines with mufflers on them (by the compressor).

The accumulator needs to be replaced as well, any time you open up the system. Replace the orifice tube with a variable one, if you can find one.

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1984 Fiero SE

Ok, I laid the orifice on a paper towel and flushed with spray card cleaner. The black residue flew off the orifice tube on to the paper towel. most of it dissolved in the carb cleaner. There were black specks remaining. These were NOT magnetic.

The tube was in there for a year or two, but with the AC running only maybe 10 hours. I don't drive this car much.

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: Ok, I laid the orifice on a paper towel and flushed with spray card cleaner. The black residue flew off the orifice tube on to the paper towel. most of it dissolved in the carb cleaner. There were black specks remaining. These were NOT magnetic. The tube was in there for a year or two, but with the AC running only maybe 10 hours. I don't drive this car much.

The parts in the compressor that tend to fail are the piston rings, which are made of teflon type plastic, and the pistons themselves, which are made of aluminum. If the car had a previous compressor failure, you may be seeing leftover residue. Put in a new orifice tube and reciever/dryer, evacuate and recharge the system and give it a try. It's a lot cheaper than changing the compressor.

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Rod Schneider, Woodstock, Ga.
"You can't have too many toys!"
1988 Fiero GT
1985 Porsche 944
1966 Porsche 911
Van's RV-6 airplane-under construction

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: I went to do the same on my 87 gt, but I was getting some pretty high low side reading compared to the 88. Someone mentioned to check the orifice tube.

In my mind a plugged orifice tube will give low low side pressure readings not high. I can see that a weak compressot would give high low sode pressure readings. But a new orifuce tube is less than $10, So I''d replace it and charge the systen up and see what happens

Thanks for all your input guys. This next week end I will be flushing the system, evacuating and recharging. I will let you know how it goes.

Steve