Helping my kid, need help. A/C Compressor & Condenser

troye · Jun 24, 2016

Junior is my son-n-law, correct.

The car was taken from the shop after the A/C fix and started overheating on the drive home. Overheating as temperature gauge went hot and my understanding is it started running rough - BUT I NEED TO CLARIFY this.

When it was driven from the second shop for evaluation to home it "overheated" - temp gauge went 3/4 hot

Coolant - was picked up from the local auto shop. I am not sure if they bought the right coolant but will verify that as well

I have not driven the car myself, this is challenging getting all the info. I will be this weekend to take a look at it.

Right about adding up, the hoses should have not been touchable for most part.

I have come to know the radiator was drained and refilled by junior and his dad after the initial overheat. Dad seems to also think the radiator might be clogged but not sure why he came to this conclusion.

Sorry guys third hand info here and I appreciate your chiming in anyway trying to help! I need to get over there myself and see what is going on

stamp11127 · Jun 24, 2016

For what it is worth, anytime I buy a vehicle and it has any form of gunk in the upper radiator hose, I replace the radiator. Coolant will not gunk up your cooling system but mixing different types can turn into mud and plug things up. Spend a $100 on a radiator or a bunch more on warped heads. Easy call.

0xowner · Jun 24, 2016

I found it troublesome that the degos bottle cap did not have info on the type of coolant to use. My 02 could have been green or gold and I guess it was based on where the vehicle was made or maybe sold... Canada vs USA and something about Oregon or Washington st.

Anyway, I definitely spent the time to make sure I was buying the right stuff. I just could not tell... I used a black light at night and thought it was green coolant. My degoss bottle did have reside and I feared it was so rusty. I drained a quart and took it the dealer and compared it against new gold. Still uncertain... But anyway gold was the type to use for certain... I completely renewed the coolant with multiple drains, line flushes, and running with lines open. If I had any combo of green, it should been gone now. Something really clogged my supply line to the rear core and the core itself... Nasty chocolate water...

I could have truly converted to green, but I tend to go with factory set up and specs, so I spent 2x on the premium gold coolant from the stealer ship. Even after I was done, the yellow gold color now looks light orange in the bottle and a sample drain from radiator. Who knows maybe a year from now, I may choose to spend the 70 bucks on coolant again to get the color more towards what it should be.

Is any history known on vehicle to help further gather info over the coolant used?

troye · Jun 24, 2016

Coolant - They called Ford ahead of time and bought the correct coolant. It's on its way to a shop right now and it is overheating, coolant coming out of the degas bottle.

I have the details on the overheating as well. On the way home from the shop the engine light came on and the screen said car was at 1/2 power. She pulled over / coasted immediately and that was it.

Let's see what the shop says. Recommended by a friend and free diag so since i could not get to it ASAP I said let's do it.

98eb5.4 · Jun 27, 2016

troye said:
Thanks to all for the replies, I greatly appreciate it.

Getting the facts...I am going to call the second shop today and see what they say as I do not have the facts and it is not making a lot of sense to me as my daughter tells me "car is drive-able but it is just a matter of time before the engine blows", "he didn't want to do all of the pressure tests and risk further damage" ??? -It is just a head gasket for goodness sakes supposedly.

I see on the invoice where it says "replace engine assembly" so maybe the block is cracked. I dunno but will have more information once I call them.

I do not see how one time overheating it could cause this much damage. I understand it is a beast of a car. Maybe it had been overheating some and never noticed, or maybe the stress of the A/C fix pushed it over the edge as you guys are saying.

a head gasket on an older car can certainly be a big deal and can easily become a 'cost more to fix than vehicle is worth' deal

you may not really know the extent of the head gasket job until going there and taking them off on the v8, no point in doing just one if going that far etc

that's just to start with, then what else??

http://www.expeditionforum.com/f42/head-gasket-replacement-parts-list-28148/

http://www.expeditionforum.com/228240-post6.html

Honestly your looking at around 3K for the job if not more depending on what shop you take it to

http://www.expeditionforum.com/228221-post4.html

troye · Jun 28, 2016

98eb5.4 said:
a head gasket on an older car can certainly be a big deal and can easily become a 'cost more to fix than vehicle is worth' deal
you may not really know the extent of the head gasket job until going there and taking them off on the v8, no point in doing just one if going that far etc
that's just to start with, then what else??

I see your point.

I also know some older cars that blow head gaskets and the entire car does not need to be junked / more then it is worth type deal. But I can see how it can add up.
I appreciate you providing the links

Verdict is it is the head gasket and not the thermostat. I don't know the estimates yet for the fix.

Let me get the cost and then see what you guys recommend.

98eb5.4 · Jun 29, 2016

unfortunately, tho highly unlikely, it is possible to have a sudden major event right after an unrelated or even somewhat related repair,

i had an intake gasket done once and on the way home, the engine started knocking, i ended up getting it rebuilt,

i doubt the first guy will feel any obligation for what transpired after the work he did,

this part comes across very lame but most folks in that boat won't be saying anything pointing at them

Took it into the shop yesterday for Condenser and Compressor replacement
On way home it overheated
Mechanic met them and said it just needed some coolant and that is not checked as part of A/C service

this part may or may not be relevant

Bottle was cracked and supposedly he showed evidence it was not a new issue

i'd say if they run the engine at all, they have an obligation to check basic vital fluid levels but in the real world it's mostly never done,

an overheat can happen at any time on any vehicle, as well as a host of other engine ending events, from very simple failures, hose clamp comes loose, hose or line bursts, T stat sticks etc, for cars outa warranty in particular, proving a repair directly resulted to or in a big dollar problem is most often more trouble pursuing than it's worth

doesn't hurt to look into it tho, laws, rules, supporting agencies etc are diff all over

troye · Jun 30, 2016

I agree, the first guy feels no obligation but he did not handle it well! It is like he completely washed his hands knowing there was something wrong.

And yes any legit shop in my opinion should be checking the fluids but again agree how often is this happening?

Turns out the bottle was not cracked.

I am actually of the opinion one has nothing to do with the other and advised my daughter the same since the start.

troye · Jun 30, 2016

Update:
Head Gasket for sure. Thermo replaced and radiator flushed. Car is running fine for now, so running on hope and prayers until they get the funds to fix.

The original job of fixing A/C is 1/2 completed. Front A/C is working but not the rear, any idea why?...Maybe the wrong compressor?

The shop my buddy referred us to took very good care of them. Charged them a little over 1/2 off discount ($106.00) since the news was bad for them. Also committed to doing the job at 10 hours labor instead of the 19 it takes. - This is great news for them, and now I highly recommend Automotive Solutions in Temecula moving forward.

stamp11127 · Jun 30, 2016

There are two lines for the rear AC. With the system running correctly you should have a wide temp difference between them - one hot and one cold. If they feel the same the expansion valve is usually stuck closed. Evacuate and replace is the best option.

Helping my kid, need help. A/C Compressor & Condenser

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