AC Elbow Connector

[Brandon85-944]

Hey all. I want to recharge the AC but there is a little problem. The guy i sent it to says that he can't get the line to the AC compressor. Evidently it's in a really tight spot. He suggested that there might be an elbow that dealer uses for easy access. I called a dealer and they told me i could find it at Napa but gave me no discription of the part. Any body k now what i'm talking about or am i just rambling?....What are the ends male / female? Size? Dimension? part # maybe?...thanks for the help all. By the way i don't know if my imagaination put this into my head or a just heard it, but has anybody ever loosend the compressor and let it drop down to get the line on and it still being able to run?.. sound dangerous!

Brandon 85-944

[Lawrence Coppari]

Can't you charge it at the low pressure side near the shock tower? I always use the Schrader fitting closer to the engine. It is low pressure.

[Scott R]

Your mechanic is correct it charges at the compressor. The fitting is in a bad place. Here is what you can do before you buy the elbow. Remove the tension arm from the front of the compressor and swing the compressor towards the engine. Attach the fitting at this point and then swing the compressor back into position for charging.

[justin]

Well on an 85 model the low side port is on the compressor,this is what you have to do,
Go get a shorter belt,take the one thats on your car right now off and take it to a local parts store and tell them you need it about an inch shorter,take the new belt to your mechanic and tell him to (with the original back on your car of course) take the original off and screw the adjuster all the way loose ubtill he can get the low side hose on,then put the new belt on with the low side hose still connected and tighten the tensioner till it is almost pinching the low side hose,at this point (if the parts store gave you the right size belt),you might want to get a few different sizes) the belt will be kinda loose(not at full tension) start the car and charge the system,the new belt might squeak a little ,but you are just letting the car idle,it won't hurt anything,it is just there to turn the compressor,then after charging take the new(ac filling belt) off and put the original back on and readjust your tension. Put the ac refilling belt in a safe place if you find one that works.
P.S. I would get a belt about 1 inch,3/4 and 1 1/2 shorter.
Good luck

[Brandon85-944]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. Even though I feel a little more comfortable just trying to find the elbow (seeing how i shouldn't have to move the compressor), i will definatley get to work on trying your strategies and let you know how it turns out.

Brandon85-944

[Lawrence Coppari]

Checked the P manual, page 87-37. For cars through '86, the fill is done at what is labeled connection 2 which clearly is the valve at the shock tower. Next paragraph says that from "model '87, the arrangement of the connection valves has been modified. The high pressure valve is located on the line from the fluid reservoir to the evaporator in the area of the left-hand spring strut; the low pressure valve is located directly at the compressor."

Mine has both. I charge it where it is easier to get at which is right on top near the shock tower. Been doing it for 6 years there. Why make it more difficult than it needs to be? When working, the inner line is cold meaning low pressure.

[justin]

My 83 dosnt have the port there,it is only on the compressor. My friends 86 does,so I thought that all 85.5 and newer cars have it there,while all older cars are on the compressor. My high side is sorta near the strut tower,right behind the driverside headlight bucket.

[Lawrence Coppari]

Mine has the one at the compressor and two at the shock tower. The inner one is low pressure. I chose the one at the shock tower because it is so much easier to get at. Mine is a 1986.