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    #1

    AC not working, burning smell.

    We took La Pantera on the first semi road trip since the tranny rebuild. 50 miles at 70-80 mph on the toll road. It seemed like it was running pretty good. Got to a stop and noticed a little bit of a burning smell. I checked under the hood but couldn't see any smoke and everything looked normal. We left it parked while our daughter played in a softball tournament. A few hours later, right before we left we started the car and left it idling while we loaded up the stuff. The burning smell returned and we noticed the AC was not blowing cold.

    I think the compressor is shot. It's acting and sounding weird. I already knew it was creating some kind of drag the motor. See my thread here. http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...98-Slight-miss

    Plus the condenser is or had a leak at some point. http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...denser-leaking

    The car stayed parked until this morning when my wife was taking the kids to school. When she went to start it, the battery was dead. The neighbor gave her a jump and she took them to school. She came home, parked the car and the battery died again. Not sure if there is any correlation between the AC and charging system?

    Looks like I will be replacing AC stuff and converting the system.

    And I just realized this is in the wrong sub-forum
    1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

    1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

    2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

    2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

    Tags: None
    #2
    Could be the A/C compressor is fixing to seize up, and the smell you noticed is from the belt slipping onto the pulley intermittently. Look into the grooves of the compressor's pulley, do you see small chunks of rubber embedded in there? That would be your tell-tale sign for slipping belt.

    Now whether it's the compressor's internal works seizing up, or just the external clutch, you can tell that by when the belt is slipping - burning smell only while A/C is running suggests internal issues.

    Not sure on your battery drain issue, the A/C compressor clutch does need 12V to engage and obviously there is the blower motor as well, but those are the two things that use power. I'd imagine you'd notice if the fan kept on running after the car was shut off, and the clutch can be checked by pulling the 2-wire connector on top of it right behind the pulley and using a test light or voltmeter there.
    The ones who accomplish true greatness, are the foolish who keep pressing onward.
    The ones who accomplish nothing, are the wise who know when to quit.

    Comment

      #3
      If you still have the 2G alternator, check the connector at the alternator. If it's brown/black or otherwise not white on the connector with the two fat wires going to it, that may be your whole issue. Replace that mess before it burns the car down.

      Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
      rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

      Originally posted by gadget73
      ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

      Originally posted by dmccaig
      Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

      Comment

        #4
        Originally posted by His Royal Ghostliness View Post
        Could be the A/C compressor is fixing to seize up, and the smell you noticed is from the belt slipping onto the pulley intermittently. Look into the grooves of the compressor's pulley, do you see small chunks of rubber embedded in there? That would be your tell-tale sign for slipping belt.

        Now whether it's the compressor's internal works seizing up, or just the external clutch, you can tell that by when the belt is slipping - burning smell only while A/C is running suggests internal issues.

        Not sure on your battery drain issue, the A/C compressor clutch does need 12V to engage and obviously there is the blower motor as well, but those are the two things that use power. I'd imagine you'd notice if the fan kept on running after the car was shut off, and the clutch can be checked by pulling the 2-wire connector on top of it right behind the pulley and using a test light or voltmeter there.
        Just checked the pulley and no rubber chunks. I replaced the belt when I did the water pump and it still looks pretty new.
        1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

        1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

        2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

        2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

        Comment

          #5
          Originally posted by sly View Post
          If you still have the 2G alternator, check the connector at the alternator. If it's brown/black or otherwise not white on the connector with the two fat wires going to it, that may be your whole issue. Replace that mess before it burns the car down.
          I still have it. I haven't found had a day off for a junkyard run. Heres a pic of the plug. Going to the zone now to test the battery.




          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
          1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

          1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

          2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

          2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

          Comment

            #6
            Alt connector looks fine, not melted. Well, this one at least - there's another one down the wire, it lays on the driver-side inner fender and connects that engine harness you took a picture of to the main body harness. Check that connector as well, just in case.
            The ones who accomplish true greatness, are the foolish who keep pressing onward.
            The ones who accomplish nothing, are the wise who know when to quit.

            Comment

              #7
              +1 Check that connector. (Old pic from my pile)
              Attached Files

              Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
              rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

              Originally posted by gadget73
              ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

              Originally posted by dmccaig
              Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

              Comment

                #8
                I had an F-150 that would murder it's battery overnight. Turned out the alternator was causing it. My '85 LTD once produced the burning rubber smell and it turned out the A/C compressor locked up, thus chewing the belt. I could feel the drag as it happened on the highway so switched to vent to save the belt. Replaced the compressor and all was well until it shit that one out too. Must've been dirt in the system.

                But like everyone else said, check inside the alternator's connector. Exterior might look ok but inside it could be full of green fuzzy corrosion.
                1985 LTD Crown Victoria - SOLD
                1988 Town Car Signature - Current Party Barge

                Comment

                  #9
                  Btw, I bought a new battery from AZ night before last. It was already drained this morning. 3G conversion kit from LMR is on the way. Power wire, small parts pack and new plug. When I get back from vacation on the 28th, I'll got get a new 3G Alt from either the JY or the parts store to throw on there. Thanks for all the help so far everyone.
                  1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

                  1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

                  2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

                  2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

                  Comment

                    #10
                    New (not reman) alt from the parts store has like a $10 core on it, don't know why if it's supposed to be 100% new. Check the cost of reman units, they typically have a higher core charge. If you already got a core it can make sense to go with a good-quality reman unit, but if you gotta either get a core from the yard or eat the core charge it may be better to just go with the all-new unit and be done with it.
                    The ones who accomplish true greatness, are the foolish who keep pressing onward.
                    The ones who accomplish nothing, are the wise who know when to quit.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      What cars alternator should I get?


                      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
                      1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

                      1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

                      2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

                      2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

                      Comment

                        #12
                        '95-'96 Mustang Cobra IIRC is what works best. I'll have to get back to you with the proper P/N tho, I know where the receipt is for one but that stack is quite fat and I got something slightly more exciting to work on right now, lol
                        The ones who accomplish true greatness, are the foolish who keep pressing onward.
                        The ones who accomplish nothing, are the wise who know when to quit.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...upgrade-README
                          Has your 3G donors listed.
                          1990 Country Squire - under restoration
                          1988 Crown Vic LTD Wagon - daily beater

                          GMN Box Panther History
                          Box Panther Horsepower and Torque Ratings
                          Box Panther Production Numbers

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Originally posted by His Royal Ghostliness View Post
                            '95-'96 Mustang Cobra IIRC is what works best. I'll have to get back to you with the proper P/N tho, I know where the receipt is for one but that stack is quite fat and I got something slightly more exciting to work on right now, lol
                            Appreciate it! Won't need it for a week or so.

                            Originally posted by Tiggie View Post
                            http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...upgrade-README
                            Has your 3G donors listed.
                            Yep, that's my main resource . Just thinking if If I buy one, what's the best application.
                            1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

                            1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

                            2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

                            2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Make sure the alternator is a 130A and not the 90A.

                              I also updated the links to current products in that thread.

                              Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
                              rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

                              Originally posted by gadget73
                              ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

                              Originally posted by dmccaig
                              Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

                              Comment

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