Forum Discussion

jllaco's avatar
jllaco
Explorer
Aug 11, 2013

89 E350 Jamboree Rallye AC charge port location

Hi All,
New to the RV world and need some help. I have searched the Web trying to find my low pressure charge port and have had no luck. I have pictures that I will try to post. The rv is an 89 Fleetwood Jamborree Rallye on a ford e350 with the 7.5L. Searching the web, I found where people said it was behind the airbox or under the cowling, having removed both, I don't see it. I have found one port but its on the drivers side and I think it may be the high pressure side. It is also still a R12 system. Will I be able to find R12 and charge or do I need a conversion kit and where would i get one? Thanks!!

  • Looks like it is shown on the second to last picture. It is directly in front of the reservoir.. I believe if you unscrew the small grey cap that is the LP port...
  • Okay I wasn't sure if that was it. I thought that might be the high pressure side. Are the ports for high and low the same type and size. Would a closer picture help confirm that is the right one?

    Lol. Guess I can put the rest of it back together!
  • On mine it was on the fire wall on the passenger side. up high you can't see it in the first picture. It is back under the lip on fire wall.
  • It should be on the suction line, coming from the evaporator. The pressure side is the line going to the condensor.
    Evaporator is the part inside that gets cold and condensor is the part in front of the radiator that gets rid of the heat.
    We had a Jamobree Rallye 27Y, with the rear bunks and put a few miles on it before selling it to a friend.
    She is still a friend also. The reason for the two ports is so you can connect a manifold gauge set to compare pressures on the lines.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    The LOW side lines (metal or hose) will be clearly larger than the HIGH side lines. So, the LOW port will be part of, or attached to, a LARGE diameter line. You may be able to trace LOW side to the Accumulator, which is the black coffee-can-sized cylinder in the left side of the first picture. The connector in that picture, with wire stuck into it, mounts to that switch on the Accumulator (behind the bend in the metal low side line). Jumping that should force the Compressor to run, even if the system is empty.
    You have a Cycling Clutch Orifice Tube (CCOT) system. Starting at the Compressor Discharge (High Side):
    Hot High Pressure R12 exits Compressor
    Flows through Condenser (the "radiator" in front of the Radiator)
    Exits Condenser and flows into Evaporator (the Cooling "Core" with the blower motor) This Flow is through an ORIFICE
    Orifice may be in the Evaporator entrance **OR** in a crimp in the Liquid Line
    All lines (metal or hose) up to this point are SMALL and any service port attached is HIGH SIDE
    R12 expands (from Liquid to Gas) in the Evaporator and absorbs HEAT (producing Cold)
    Cold gaseous R12 Exits Evaporator through a LARGE line which leads to ACCUMULATOR
    Accumulator filters and dries the R12 (moisture may have entered the sealed system) and provides a place for any liquid R12 to settle out of the gas
    Gaseous R12 exits Accumulator and is pulled into the Suction (LOW) port of the Compressor
    All the lines from the Evaporator exit, through Accumulator, to Suction Port of Compressor, are LARGE. Any service port attached to the Lines or Accumulator are LOW side
    HAYNES has a TechBook called Automotive Heating & Air Conditioning 10425 (1480) that's pretty informative. Also, some of the parts outlets had small handbooks from various auto a/c component vendors. MotorCraft, ACDelco, Factory Air, Four Seasons had booklets as I recall. Again, very helpful in understanding automotive a/c types, troubleshooting, repair and charging.
    R12 is still available (with a License to Buy) and there are "drop in" alternatives too. Conversion to R134A is another possibility. Some conversions require that you pull the compressor and drain the oil then replace with a different oil. Some replacements claim they're compatible.
    If your a/c has leaked down, suspect the SpringLock connectors. There are kits to rebuild them.
  • Hi Guys,
    Thanks for all of the help. I'll check up near the firewall again on the passenger side. Didn't feel or see anything before.
    How about the port in the fourth pic, does that look like its on a low pressure line?
  • Also, are the r12 ports a standard connector that is used with other types of refrigerant? If I buy the R12 but have no way to get it into the system, thats no good!
  • The service port in the picture is the high-pressure side that line goes directly into the condenser I followed the line out of the evaporator up along the rear firewall and right behind the airbox there is a port pointing down so I think I have found everything I need I just need to know if the fittings are standard size
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    An ordinary A/C gauge set like used on central a/c for years will connect to at least the Low Side Port.
    At some point, at least some carmakers downsized the High Side Port's size. This kept people from connecting those "recharge kits" (can of R12, piercing valve and a short hose) to the High Side and bursting the can.
    So, connecting to the High Side with ordinary gauges required this:

    The male thread you can see fits the gauge set and is same as the Low Side Port. Inside the end you cannot see is the smaller female thread for the High Side.
    I found this item on AutoZone.
  • On my 1991 Tioga E-350 the low pressure port is located out of site up under the cowling. Ten years after having it converted to R-134a it stopped cooling. After locating the low side port with a mirror I was able to connect the low pressure hose from the charging kit by feel without having to remove any panels. I cut off the charge when the low pressure gage reading was witihin spec, and the recharge has lasted 3 years so far.