A/C Liquid Hose/Line Replacement
REMOVALThe front air conditioner liquid line is serviced in two sections. The front section connects between the condenser and the filter/drier and includes the high side service port on the fitting for the filter/drier. The rear section connects between the filter/drier and the expansion valve and includes the fitting for the A/C pressure transducer. On models equipped with the optional rear air conditioner, the rear section of the front air conditioner liquid line also includes a liquid line hose and tube extension that connects the front liquid line to the liquid line for the rear air conditioner.
WARNING: REFER TO THE APPLICABLE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS FOR THIS SYSTEM BEFORE PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION.
Front Section
1. Recover the refrigerant from the refrigerant system.
2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
3. Remove the air cleaner housing from the right side of the engine compartment.
Fig.28 Radiator Sight Shield:
4. Remove the two large screws that secure the front fascia and the outboard ends of the radiator sight shield to the radiator closure panel crossmember.
5. Remove the five small screws that secure the front fascia grille inserts to the radiator sight shield.
6. Remove the radiator sight shield from the radiator closure panel crossmember.
Fig.29 Condenser Connections:
7. Remove the nut that secures the liquid line fitting to the condenser on the right side of the cooling module.
8. Disconnect the liquid line fitting from the condenser outlet port.
9. Remove the seal from the liquid line fitting and discard.
10. Install plugs in, or tape over the opened liquid line fitting and the condenser outlet port.
Fig.30 Front Liquid Lines:
11. Disengage the retainer that secures the liquid line routing clip to the top of the right frame rail ahead of the front strut tower in the engine compartment.
12. Remove the screw that secures the liquid line front section fitting to the top of the filter-drier.
13. Disconnect the liquid line fitting from the filter-drier inlet port.
14. Remove the seal from the liquid line fitting and discard.
15. Install plugs in, or tape over the opened liquid line fitting and the filter-drier inlet port.
16. Remove the front section of the front liquid line from the engine compartment.
Rear Section
1. Recover the refrigerant from the refrigerant system.
2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
3. Remove the air cleaner housing from the right side of the engine compartment.
4. Disconnect the drain tube from the wiper module drain on the right side of the engine compartment.
5. Remove the A/C pressure transducer from the fitting on the front liquid line rear section.
6. Remove the nut that secures the A/C ground strap to the weld stud on the top of the right front strut tower.
7. Remove the A/C ground strap eyelet terminal connector from the weld stud.
8. Remove the screw that secures the liquid line rear section fitting to the top of the filter-drier.
9. Disconnect the liquid line fitting from the filter-drier outlet port.
10. Remove the seal from the liquid line fitting and discard.
11. Install plugs in, or tape over the opened liquid line fitting and the filter-drier outlet port.
12. Remove the nut that secures the suction line and liquid line fittings to the expansion valve.
13. Disconnect the suction line and liquid line fittings from the expansion valve.
14. Remove the seals from the suction line and liquid line fittings and discard.
15. Install plugs in, or tape over the opened suction line and liquid line fittings and both expansion valve ports.
16. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional rear air conditioner, go to Step 17. If the vehicle does not have the optional rear air conditioner, go to Step 23.
17. Raise and support the vehicle.
Fig.31 Underbody Connections:
18. Cut the tie strap located just forward of the connections between the underbody plumbing and the engine compartment plumbing for the rear heater and air conditioner.
19. Disconnect the front liquid line extension fitting from the underbody liquid line fitting for the rear air conditioner.
20. Remove the seal from the underbody liquid line fitting and discard.
21. Install plugs in, or tape over the opened liquid line fittings.
22. Lower the vehicle.
23. Remove the front liquid line rear section from the engine compartment.
INSTALLATION
The front air conditioner liquid line is serviced in two sections. The front section connects between the condenser and the filter/drier and includes the high side service port on the fitting for the filter/drier. The rear section connects between the filter/drier and the expansion valve and includes the fitting for the A/C pressure transducer. On models equipped with the optional rear air conditioner, the rear section of the front air conditioner liquid line also includes a liquid line hose and tube extension that connects the front liquid line to the liquid line for the rear air conditioner.
Front Section
1. Position the front section of the front liquid line into the engine compartment.
2. Remove the tape or plugs from the liquid line front section fitting for the filter-drier and the filter- drier inlet port.
3. Lubricate a new rubber O-ring seal with clean refrigerant oil and install it on the liquid line fitting.
4. Reconnect the liquid line fitting to the filter- drier inlet port on the top of the filter-drier.
5. Install and tighten the screw that secures the liquid line fitting to the filter-drier. Tighten the screw to 2 Nm (16 in. lbs.).
6. Engage the retainer that secures the liquid line routing clip to the top of the right frame rail ahead of the front strut tower in the engine compartment.
7. Remove the tape or plugs from the condenser outlet port and the liquid line fitting.
8. Lubricate a new rubber O-ring seal with clean refrigerant oil and install it on the liquid line fitting.
9. Reconnect the liquid line fitting to the condenser outlet port on the right side of the cooling module.
10. Install and tighten the nut that secures the liquid line fitting to the condenser. Tighten the nut to 23 Nm (17 ft. lbs.).
11. Position the radiator sight shield onto the radiator closure panel crossmember.
12. Install and tighten the five small screws that secure the front fascia grille inserts to the radiator sight shield. Tighten the screws to 2 Nm (16 in. lbs.).
13. Install and tighten the two large screws that secure the front fascia and the outboard ends of the radiator sight shield to the radiator closure panel crossmember. Tighten the screws to 6 Nm (53 in. lbs.).
14. Reinstall the air cleaner housing into the right side of the engine compartment.
15. Reconnect the battery negative cable.
16. Evacuate the refrigerant system.
17. Charge the refrigerant system.
Rear Section
1. Position the rear section of the front liquid line into the engine compartment.
2. Remove the tape or plugs from the suction line and liquid line fittings and both expansion valve ports.
3. Lubricate new rubber O-ring seals with clean refrigerant oil and install them on the suction line and liquid line fittings.
4. Reconnect the liquid line and suction line fittings to the expansion valve.
5. Install and tighten the nut that secures the suction line and liquid line fittings to the expansion valve. Tighten the nut to 23 Nm (17 ft. lbs.).
6. Remove the tape or plugs from the liquid line rear section fitting for the filter-drier and the filter-drier outlet port.
7. Lubricate a new rubber O-ring seal with clean refrigerant oil and install it on the liquid line fitting.
8. Reconnect the liquid line fitting to the filter- drier outlet port on the top of the filter-drier.
9. Install and tighten the screw that secures the liquid line fitting to the filter-drier. Tighten the screw to 2 Nm (16 in. lbs.).
10. Reinstall the A/C ground strap eyelet terminal connector onto the weld stud on the top of the right front strut tower.
11. Install and tighten the nut that secures the A/C ground strap to the weld stud. Tighten the nut to 12 Nm (106 in. lbs.).
12. Reinstall the A/C pressure transducer onto the fitting on the front liquid line rear section.
13. Reconnect the drain tube to the wiper module drain on the right side of the engine compartment.
14. Reinstall the air cleaner housing into the right side of the engine compartment.
15. Reconnect the battery negative cable.
16. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional rear air conditioner, go to Step 17. If the vehicle does not have the optional rear air conditioner, go to Step 23.
17. Raise and support the vehicle.
18. Remove the tape or plugs from the liquid line rear section extension fitting and the underbody liquid line fitting.
19. Lubricate a new rubber O-ring seal with clean refrigerant oil and install it on the underbody liquid line fitting.
20. Reconnect the liquid line rear section extension fitting to the underbody liquid line fitting. Tighten the fittings to 23 Nm (17 ft. lbs.).
21. Install a new tie strap just forward of the connections between the underbody plumbing and the engine compartment plumbing for the rear heater and air conditioner.
22. Lower the vehicle.
23. Evacuate the refrigerant system.
24. Charge the refrigerant system.