A/C junking - Wire removal tips ?

[Guest Anonymous]

Hey all;

Pulling the frigiking unit out. Hasnt worked in years.

What have you done with the electrcal wires, and with the two honking thick freon (im guessing) wire/tubes? Just cut em, tape em and hide em?

I've got the panels off and out, removed the 2x philips head screws holding the unit to the tunnel....

[Simon]

Some thoughts,

1. I took a very sharp pair of garden shears and cut the hoses at several points. This made it easier to remove the entire hose from the engine compartment.

2. I had the car in at the mechanic for another reason. While it was there I got them to take out the compressor. I had read a number of threads regarding some long screw associated with the compressor that had given others grief on removal. Some reference to radiator damage scared me off the DIY.

3. Unfortunately, the auxillary cooling/heat exchange coil up in front of the car's radiator can only be removed through the engine compartment; ie, you have to take the car's radiator out first. For the moment that is still in place.

4. You can remove the wiring up front by taking off a front side grill.

Good luck

[okartguy]

I just did this procedure a few days ago. I ended up removing the radiator, fan assembly and the alternator belt to gain access to everything. I think the bolt(s) in question are for the front of the compressor bracket; they can NOT be removed with the radiator in the car. They pass through the lower timing cover, and one will require a spacer to make up for the thickness of the missing bracket. I used two body washers here, it did the trick.

AFAICR, the only bolts that need to be replaced are the two in the timing cover (10mm), and 1 that shares a motor mount bolt (17mm).

The whole job took maybe four hours (including removing and replacing the radiator etc). But keep in mind that some of the fasteners are a PITA to get to, so have a good selection of sockets and extensions available.

Good luck-

JJ

[Marty]

All good advice, But be careful when you 1st breech the hoses there might be some freon left in them and it will give you a freeze/burn that you won't like at all, be sure to wear eye protection too.