92 Ford Ranger a/c broke orifice - how to get out?

Hi, Changing the a/c on a Ford Ranger 1992. It has a skinny long orifice tube that my husband tried to remove and replace. He used the proper Ford tool trying to get it out, and the two plastic side tabs that the tool grabs on to both broke off. The tabs and the top of the orifice tube came out, and the rest of it is still inside the orifice.

Then he went to get a broken orifice tool remover. It is not working either.

He has sprayed some grease release goop inside the tube trying to get it to come out. It is so old it has gunk all over it and it is all stuck inside.

We thought of trying to blow it out with a compressor but don't know how to get to it. I can take a photo of it if it would help.

Oh, Ford said they can't help. They said this happened to them and they had to send the entire thing from the truck to get someone to work on it (very very expensive). I thought I would ask the experts here - you guys seem to have great ideas.

More information:

Metering devices are used to regulate the flow of liquid refrigerant into the evaporator. They also serve as one of the two junctions between the high and low sides of the system. There are two basic types of metering devices used in A/C systems: fixes and variable

The one we are trying to replace uses a fixed metering device located inside the liquid line between the condenser and evaporator. The orifice tube is enclosed within a plastic housing and protected by a fine mesh filter. The filer prevents debris from clogging the tube.

Here is the picture of a new one (which we have if we can get the old one out)

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r219/Scot633/ORIFICETUBEUPCLOSE.jpg

 

Some Ford models have a permanently affixed orifice tube in the liquid line. These can be cut out and replaced with a combination filter/orifice assembly. I have never done one, but can assume it would require some tubing skills. Hopefully someone else here can give a little insight.

 

Yes you are right, however we were hoping to just be able to get the rest of this one out. It does come out normally - we did it on an Explorer and it came right out - no problems. It is because of all the build up of goop in this one that the tool broke the plastic wings - probably the cause of the a/c problem actually - the goop clogged it all up...

we are spraying goop inside it to help with the goop about once a day. I was trying to think of anything with a powerful enough suction to get it out...we own a compressor or heck I thought about my powerful vacuum cleaner - The Dyson -

I need McGreyor's help on this one...

 

Ask a dentist for an old dental instrument with the appropriate hook end and yank the devil out.

 

McGregor type is about what I rely on.

It looks like the lower part which you have stuck will have a hole in it. I would use a long lag screw of proper diameter to screw into that hole securely and you should be able to pull hard enough to remove it. Use caution on using too large a diameter lag or screwing the lag in so tight it forces the outside of the orifice more tightly against the tubing.

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

OK, still not out yet. I used the dental tool and it does to seem to move it some. Then I used the screw, but I don't think it is grabbing it good enough. I feel the tug, yank it, and the screw comes out without the piece. I used a mirror to try and see inside - looks like it is falling apart. I hope so at this point and I will clean out the pieces. I sprayed more brake cleaner in it, and calling it a night 2:25a.m. here - tried for about 2 hours. It looks closer to the end and it will be easier in the morning to looks at it when the sun is out - Maybe I will think of something else - or try harder with the screw. Tweezers seems to help also - then I grip them with long pilers and pull on it. Feels like it moves - but all the goop and the brake cleaner is making everything slippery even the tools.

 

OK............Let's start from the beginning.............The orifice tube in your vehicle slides into the evaporator core. If it's THAT stuck in the evap core, you're probably in for a core replacemant.........Now......where'd the "goop" come from????.......Usually, it's particles from the innards of the compressor that clogs and jams up the orifice tube.....but I have seen cases where "cryoseal" has been used to stop a leak and this kinda stuff happens.....
I'd replace the Compressor, Evap core, Accumulator (SOP).and flush the DAYLIGTS out of the entire system before evacuationg and recharging

 

I'd replace the Compressor, Evap core, Accumulator (SOP).and flush the DAYLIGTS out of the entire system before evacuationg and recharging. (from above)

Replacing everything except the evaporator. We were finally able to remove the orifice plastic screen that is there to protect. We heated the pipe to allow it to expand and then used Very long needle nose pilars. Lucky enough to grab hold of one of the sides of plastic still attached and pull the entire thing out. Drained oil and completely flushed the evaporator. Stopped for the day - yesterday.


Hope everything goes smoothly from here out.

Thanks for the help.

 

well husband put it all together and we kept hearing a chirpping sound. Didn't know if a belt was slipping or it was the compressor he just replaced. It was the compressor bearings.

He replaced the compressor, dryer, and all the parts today in about 40 minutes. Works great and no noise.

Returning the compressor for a refund on the other one. Pulled a vacuum on the system and all is fine.

I have to say this truck has over 200K on it in mileage, and it is a 1992 model. Just so everyone that reads this thread wonders why we did what we did - it isn't worth anything except the worth we want to spend to drive it in this Texas Heat. It has great tires, and engine is in good shape. The door handles are gone. Husband is making new door handles out of wood to close the doors. Ha. I love it - he made a template and is cutting it out with his jigsaw. It will go with the entire theme of the truck - talk about getting your money out of a purchase - dang

Best advice - change your oil every 3K miles. That is what we did on this truck since 1992. We purchased it brand new. I mean we did the other stuff, but this is the consistant part we did and changing the oil at home every 3K miles.

Anyone else know what makes a vehicle last so many miles without a New engine? or a new transmission?

Thanks everyone - this site is the best ~ love it.

 

Not adviseale, but just had to respond to your query of what makes engines last and the fact you believe in 3K oil changes which is pretty much a standard accepted practice. So we all go on what we are told. Just like we go on what we are told about preparing lawn mowers for winter storage:

I haven't changed my oil in thousands upon thousands of miles!

I did change just the filter, though just weeks ago, out of fear I was testing fate TOO much. I have 241,500 miles on it and it has no visible wear or sludge in the upper head/overhead cam. After I added 'motor honey' type additive, I have not had to add any oil to the engine in thousands of miles! So, try to figure THAT one out.

On my ex 79 PU truck I went at least 80,000 miles without changing oil. Just kept adding more oil to engine when it needed it and oil always stayed that honey color. I had 235,000K on engine with no rebuild work!, when the rear end bearing went out - due to rear end oil ran out. Still have truck stored in a garage.)

BTW - regarding the lawnmower. Have 4.5 HP Briggs that I let out in the rain, and through the winter, uncovered, and had it for years and took note this last spring that engine started on - get ready - the very first pull. Cut my grass last night in the cool, btw.

I am now old enough and have so many experiences with stuff that I often test fate and smile at 'conventional wisdom' as I have grown cynical of it (mainly all the ads, or someone tooting their horn), obviously, based on such stuff as true stories I have cited here today.

And here I was led to believe (by ads) that with my 79 PU, it was the V******* brand motor oil I was using. Until I now see how black my 241,000K car engine oil is, and yet it uses almost non!,and runs like a top even though I haven't changed oil in years, and I put on about 23,000 per year! With lots of mix of highway and LOTS of stop and go light driving about town, with stops all throughout the day in my line of work on repairing household problems. And the car is weighed down by lots of tools and supplies, btw!

[ Disclaimer: But I'm not here to encourage people to follow in my footsteps as I'm sure I'd here all about that.]

 

If I were you, I'd play the lottery; you are the luckiest man alive. For the few dollars to replace oil, I'd do it a least once a year. Continued good luck!

 

Was thinking the same thing.................Used to work for a Jeep dealer in Norwalk CT........Had a woman come in for her first oil change at 27,000 miles.........We charged her $4000 for the oil change...........The engine was free

 

Well truth be told. I was young with my second car around 19 years old and my step father helped me pick it out, etc. It was used, but only a few years old and low miles. I knew absolutely nothing about cars.

Well it was a standard and I was tearing up the clutch, so my step father had his mechanic replace it. I brought my car over to my folks house, mechanic came by and fixed it up while I was inside chatting with my folks.

Well Monty (step father) asked me "When is the last time you had the oil changed?" I said, "What do you mean "get the oil changed?" I don't understand. He said, when is the last time you took it someplace to have them change the oil? I said Never. I didn't know you had to do that. Why would I do that if it has oil in it. *(I knew how to check the oil)*

Anyway as a young lady I had no idea I was to have the oil changed. I had owned it two years by then. Well the clutch was fixed, and Monty said well we are selling your car this week, so figure out what kind you want - we will let someone else deal with no oil changes for two years - he was serious too. I had another car before a week was up -

I think that is when I started to pay attention to guys working on cars. I wanted to at least know some basics.

Susan