AC Spring lock blow out!

[Whosondephone]

I had just replaced the accumulator on the 04 Marquis. The system held vacuum for about a year so I attempted to charge it yesterday. I put 3 12oz cans in. So theoretically 2 oz under the 38oz on the sticker. Drove it about 15 minutes. The AC blew nice and cold.

Drove to work this morning there was no AC. Upon arival I looked in the engine compartment to find the spring lock let go on the accumulator. The hose from the evaporator to the accumulator. I could see about 1/4 of the spring from the spring clip sticking out of the housing. There is plenty of oil and dye all over the passenger side engine compartment.

My thought is that I may have overdone it adding PAG oil. If I remember correctly I was suposed to add 3oz to the accumulator. I may have added up to 5oz. I was kind of eyeballing it. My reasons for going a little generous are because the system was open for at least 5 years. Maybe some evaporated? I think I may have pumped some out when running a vacuum on the system last year.

Also I didn't put the clip over the spring lock. Another thing to consider is I ran over a deer's legs and they kicked/dented the condenser. Mostly the bottom tube. I suppose it's possible someone put stop leak in it but I kind of doubt it. It looked like the car sat for atleast a year before I got to it.

I was considering adding maybe 1oz of oil to the accumulator and charging it up again.

[gadget73]

more likely you didn't have it quite fully engaged. They won't come apart from too much oil or anything like that, but if its not 100% shoved together it will come off. Had it happen on my Continental. The springs can also get damaged or distorted, then they won't work correctly.



The retainer clip isn't a requirement, but not a bad idea.

[Whosondephone]

I'm wondering if I should put more oil in the system. There is PAG oil all over the passenger engine compartment. Top and bottom of the plastic wheel well are %100 covered. The underside looks good. Nice and dark. Unfortunately I moved the car and we had a brutal storm so I don't know how much was on the ground.

I'm guessing the originally recommended 3oz should suffice.

Do you think getting oil all in the spring could compromise the connection. Everything is covered. I guess if I can't muscle the connection appart it should be ok to refill.

Thanks gadget.

[sly]

I would add oil. And yeah, 2-3oz sounds like a good idea in that location.

[friskyfrankie]

If you are performing a complete flush and rebuild, use the 7–7.5 ounces (I believe that is the spec). If you are only replacing individual components, you only need to replace the oil lost by that specific part or lost in your "mini explosion".

[Whosondephone]

With the system full of air, no pressure. I gave the hose a good yank without getting too crazy and seems to hold. I put the retainer clips on this time.

What do you think about running the system on 36oz of R-134a? Is it worth adding the extra 2oz. I wish I could use my gauges. But they are so cheap and leaky I don't trust them. I'm charging the system with a short cheep charge hose. With 3 12oz cans. Emptying them untill they stop getting cold.

If the hose doesn't blow out again, I am considering attempting to measure out another 2oz out of another 12oz can using a kitchen scale. I also don't know how much was wasted on bleading the fill hose. Probably not much right? Is it best to just leave it at 36oz?

As a side note it's real nice Ford has all the condensation from the low pressure side drip directly onto the frame.

[jaywish]

Did you have the system running when you sucked down the cans? When it starts to run then it will suck out the cans.

[gadget73]

2oz under won't hurt it, it just may not cool quite as well as it potentially could.

[Whosondephone]

Did you have the system running when you sucked down the cans? When it starts to run then it will suck out the cans.

Yes. I kept the cans connected while running the compressor untill they stoped getting cold.

So far I've had AC for 2 days now. It's been nice outside.

[jaywish]