I have a 92 Ranger XLT. The previous owner "fixed" the air conditioning, and by "fixed", I mean he shorted over the part that he felt wasn't working correctly.

Anyway, the A/C is the next major project on this truck, and I wanted to evaluate what currently works, and what doesn't, but I can't do that if all of the pieces aren't in place, so I was wondering if somebody could tell me what is supposed to be at the other end of this connector. I don't have it annotated in the current picture, but I think you can tell where it is, by the red looping wire sticking out of it.

Who can tell me what that connector is supposed to hook up to? I haven't been able to figure it out yet.

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Tim
Doreen - 1992 Ford Ranger, 2.3L 4cyl
TODO: pull dents, paint

Your truck is a little different from mine, but I'll take an educated guess. That connector plugs into a pressure switch. If the Freon is low, that switch will keep the AC from running so it doesn't destroy itself.

You are probably low on Freon and with this bypass the AC will work anyhow. I suggest fix the problem before you have to do major repairs.

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's

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2005 2.3L XL 5SOD 3.73 K&N
KYB Shocks Husky Toolbox
Alpine / Rockford Fosgate Sound

"Ask me about my AC Vent fix!"

Do you know if it mounts somwhere in the engine compartment, or is it small and light enough to just hang off the connector?

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Never mind, I think I see where it goes. There's a black cylinder that you can't see in the picture, because it's behind the two heater hoses. That has an empty port on top of it. It looks like it has a quick-disconnect fitting, so I thought it might be the high pressure charging port for the refrigerant, but what you're describing sounds like it might connect to that. Is that the accumulator receiver drier?

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Okay, found the original switch, and where it was mounted on the accumulator. Now that I see it, it's pretty obvious, and don't know how I missed it before. I'll pick up a new one when I get a replacement compressor. Thanks a bunch for the help, Mike.

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Tim
Doreen - 1992 Ford Ranger, 2.3L 4cyl
TODO: pull dents, paint

Here are my AC pressure switches. First is the Low Side switch on the passenger side, then the High Side switch on the driver side.

image-289352711.jpg
image-3241577.jpg

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's

__________________
2005 2.3L XL 5SOD 3.73 K&N
KYB Shocks Husky Toolbox
Alpine / Rockford Fosgate Sound

"Ask me about my AC Vent fix!"

Looked at a friend's '95. Your Low Side Pressure switch should look just like this.
image-1824113901.jpg

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's

__________________
2005 2.3L XL 5SOD 3.73 K&N
KYB Shocks Husky Toolbox
Alpine / Rockford Fosgate Sound

"Ask me about my AC Vent fix!"

image-1773431402.jpg

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's

__________________
2005 2.3L XL 5SOD 3.73 K&N
KYB Shocks Husky Toolbox
Alpine / Rockford Fosgate Sound

"Ask me about my AC Vent fix!"

Yup, that's it, though I didn't know about the one on the low pressure side. Thanks a ton, Mike.

__________________
Tim
Doreen - 1992 Ford Ranger, 2.3L 4cyl
TODO: pull dents, paint

And the good news is that you can safely unscrew this A/C cycling switch, to replace it, without having to evacuate the freon. Ford service manual says there's a schrader (eg, bicycle) valve underneath it, for this purpose.

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1997 4x4 Mazda B4000 SE, Ext.Cab

Thanks, cvar, that's good to know. Unfortunately, it doesn't much help me here, since I'll also be replacing the compressor the same time.

__________________
Tim
Doreen - 1992 Ford Ranger, 2.3L 4cyl
TODO: pull dents, paint