If you ever replace your A/C compressor

[any4xx]

…Get a friend. ‘04 TJU 4.0. I spent five hours today pulling off what should have been (maybe) a two hour job. There’s enough room in there for one hand, but you really need someone to hold up the compressor while getting the two main bolts started. Which requires TWO hands. My Tourette Syndrome was in full overdrive while trying to get those two bolts lined up enough to start.

The good news is that my A/C now blows cold. But what a nightmare doing this without a helping hand. I’m only 66, but I’m thinking that when I grow up I’m going to look for a friend….

Rant over. Back to your regularly scheduled lives.

 

[macleanflood]

Why I like my 97. It's a five minute job. Sits on top of the alternator next to the air box.

-Mac

 

[any4xx]

Why I like my 97. It's a five minute job. Sits on top of the alternator next to the air box.

-Mac

Same on my ‘99. I really can't believe how they “improved” the newer models.

 

[GregBelleville]

Same on my ‘99. I really can't believe how they “improved” the newer models.

I've got a 99 too and was scratching my head why he was having such trouble, didn't know they relocated it on the later models.

 

[TheBoogieman]

‘04 JKU 4.0.

 

[any4xx]

View attachment 699834

Crikey. I was really tired. Yes: TJU!!!

 

[any4xx]

And it just keeps getting better. When trying to get the compressor in I realized that the lower radiator hose clamp was clocked in such a way that one of the ears was hitting the bracket to the power steering pump. I had just gone through the leak-inducing clamp move on my ‘99, but I went ahead and rolled it down a bit anyway. And right on schedule, that hose fitting started leaking while charging the A/C system. Ugh… it looks like both radiator hoses are original so I went ahead and ordered new Gates hoses.

Today I replaced the hoses and decided that I should go ahead and use a chemical flush on this 22 year old system before filling it with new coolant and distilled water. My radiator didn’t agree with this choice. About 30 minutes into the running flush I noticed a leak where the upper radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing. Poop: Here we go again…. Nope. Closer inspection showed that I now had a pinhole leak on the back side of my radiator core spraying directly onto my upper hose. Great. So now I have a brand new radiator on board. New hoses. Fresh coolant. Hopefully I can now drive this darned thing instead of fixing it.

Did I say I was done ranting a few days ago? Apparently I lied.

 

[Zorba]

And it just keeps getting better. When trying to get the compressor in I realized that the lower radiator hose clamp was clocked in such a way that one of the ears was hitting the bracket to the power steering pump. I had just gone through the leak-inducing clamp move on my ‘99, but I went ahead and rolled it down a bit anyway. And right on schedule, that hose fitting started leaking while charging the A/C system. Ugh… it looks like both radiator hoses are original so I went ahead and ordered new Gates hoses.

Today I replaced the hoses and decided that I should go ahead and use a chemical flush on this 22 year old system before filling it with new coolant and distilled water. My radiator didn’t agree with this choice. About 30 minutes into the running flush I noticed a leak where the upper radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing. Poop: Here we go again…. Nope. Closer inspection showed that I now had a pinhole leak on the back side of my radiator core spraying directly onto my upper hose. Great. So now I have a brand new radiator on board. New hoses. Fresh coolant. Hopefully I can now drive this darned thing instead of fixing it.

Did I say I was done ranting a few days ago? Apparently I lied.

Change the fan clutch too. Its amazing how everything goes out on the cooling system at the same time.