A/C charging issue resolved.

Scorpio / Scorpio Cosworth Discussions - Questions, problem resolution, general talk, technical tips and modifications.
Merkur Club web site
Ed Lijewski
Level 8
Posts: 8924
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: The Belly of The Beast

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by Ed Lijewski »

The lever opens/closes the vent deflectors. Their systems don't have vent doors (so no motors...).

XR systems have manual deflector adjusters without sliders.

I have no picture of it but yes I believe the outer passenger side vent has the same slider.

YMMV
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
Ed Lijewski
Level 8
Posts: 8924
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: The Belly of The Beast

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by Ed Lijewski »

Around 12:30 pm today, idling in traffic, console temp read 100*, engine temp gauge mid level (just a tad above usual normal), condenser fan operated. Once underway fan ran for ~2-3 minutes with console temp down to 95*.

Unsure if the fan responded to coolant temp or refrigerant pressure.

YMMV
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
User avatar
brokencase
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 2139
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2015 12:18 pm
Location: PA

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by brokencase »

That is interesting. I can't remember ever a time when my stock fan turned on...on either Scorpio.

In any case I prefer my "constant cooling" approach versus the original design where it comes on only when parameters are exceeded

Anyway, I saw this https://tools.woot.com/offers/zone-tech ... tool_3_103

and then I thought maybe somebody else makes the sheets in larger sizes...and then I found this on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Moyishi-One-Way- ... B0CFH5JZ9V

What do you think? I really want to get something on the the passenger, quarter window, and tailgate glass.
Specialization is for Insects
User avatar
brokencase
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 2139
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2015 12:18 pm
Location: PA

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by brokencase »

BTW, I wrote the preliminary code to control the stepper motors for the vents.

I saw a youtube video where the guy stalled the motors in order to measure thier torque. They look easy to stall when run from 5 volts

So the code on power up moves the vents to the closed position (until the motors stall), it then establishes this the home position for the vents.

It then reads the 3 LED lights on the EATC to determine how to position the vent doors. It won't move the vents until the LEDs have settled to a fixed state for over 8 seconds (this, in order to handle case where the user is cycling through the combinations).

Depending on the state of the LEDs is will then set either closed, half, or full open positioning.

Took about an hour to write the code.

When the motors arrive I will probably hook them up on the bench and see if my code works as expected.
In the fall I'll pull the vent motors and see what sort of 3d print job is needed to mount these new motors.
Last edited by brokencase on Thu Jun 20, 2024 3:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Specialization is for Insects
User avatar
brokencase
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 2139
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2015 12:18 pm
Location: PA

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by brokencase »

One other thing Ed, I have the German Ford Scorpio manual and I see that they do have the slide adjusters on all vents.
Specialization is for Insects
Ed Lijewski
Level 8
Posts: 8924
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: The Belly of The Beast

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by Ed Lijewski »

brokencase wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 3:09 pm That is interesting. I can't remember ever a time when my stock fan turned on...on either Scorpio.

In any case I prefer my "constant cooling" approach versus the original design where it comes on only when parameters are exceeded

Anyway, I saw this https://tools.woot.com/offers/zone-tech ... tool_3_103

and then I thought maybe somebody else makes the sheets in larger sizes...and then I found this on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Moyishi-One-Way- ... B0CFH5JZ9V

What do you think? I really want to get something on the the passenger, quarter window, and tailgate glass.
The Amazon item is interesting and worth a try IMO.

I wonder if the windows roll down/up with those applied?

A couple tears ago I bought UV protective and darkening (tinted) window film from HD and cut a section for a Scorpio window. Unfortunately it was too thick and was grabbed by the rubber window anti-rattlers.

is there a Pep Boys within driving distance (up to 45 mins say)? I bought my flexible sun shade for back windows there; ditto the flexible shades for side windows. IIRC the shade was pictured as fir truck rear windows on the package. You could probably find these online too I suppose. Was under $10, maybe closer to 5$ IIRC (bought several years ago).

I use a flexible shade for each rear quarter window, just laid along them and the smallest shades are larger than those windows.

The back shade fits into the side channels perfectly (ditto on my XRs); it covers ~85% of the rear glass. As well I lay on top of the rear shelf and the back of the leather seat head rests a reflective sun shade sold for use on front windows to address the remaining ~15%.

YMMV
Last edited by Ed Lijewski on Thu Jun 20, 2024 4:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
Ed Lijewski
Level 8
Posts: 8924
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: The Belly of The Beast

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by Ed Lijewski »

In the fall I'll pull the vent motors and see what sort of 3d print job is needed to mount these new motors
I have several loose vent door motors; I'll try to remember to take pics of one and post them here.

YMMV
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
User avatar
brokencase
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 2139
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2015 12:18 pm
Location: PA

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by brokencase »

I looked at the reviews of that amazon film and nobody liked it.

I think I am back to the mesh fabric solution. I thought I might be able to use TIG welding rod to make the frame to support the fabric.
Specialization is for Insects
Ed Lijewski
Level 8
Posts: 8924
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: The Belly of The Beast

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by Ed Lijewski »

20240622_103824_copy_1374x929.jpg
20240622_103824_copy_1374x929.jpg
20240622_102632_copy_1612x1209.jpg
[Don't understand why when I upload photo files, three in this case, the software adds a duplicate (in this case) or fails to add say one file of three uploaded. Maddening.]

YMMV
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
Ed Lijewski
Level 8
Posts: 8924
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: The Belly of The Beast

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by Ed Lijewski »

20240622_131743_copy_1612x1209.jpg
.
20240622_131749_copy_1612x1209.jpg
.
.YMMV
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
Ed Lijewski
Level 8
Posts: 8924
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: The Belly of The Beast

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by Ed Lijewski »

Pic of full Euro center panel;
.
.
Screenshot_20240623-121151_Lite.jpg
.
.YMMV
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
User avatar
brokencase
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 2139
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2015 12:18 pm
Location: PA

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by brokencase »

After looking at your pics I think these modern stepper motors are going to be pretty easy to adapt. The $15 kit arrived yesterday.
Specialization is for Insects
User avatar
brokencase
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 2139
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2015 12:18 pm
Location: PA

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by brokencase »

I set the motors up on the bench. When driven at 5 volts I don't think they could be stalled without breaking the internal gears.
But when driven with an adjustable power module set to around 3.3 volts they stall just they way I want them to.

So that means the strategy of powering up and closing the vents until the motors stall, then moving relative to that homed position thereafter will work.
Specialization is for Insects
Ed Lijewski
Level 8
Posts: 8924
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: The Belly of The Beast

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by Ed Lijewski »

You (Dean) wrote above to lubricate lightly the panel vent thumb adjuster as it seemed stiff/sticky.

That's not desirable for a simple reason: with the blower set on High air force inevitably moves the vents to horizontal positions from whatever they previously were set to (in A/C likely upward tilted to maximize cooling effect on occupants).

Your printed panel vent adjusters need some to move with some friction or they will return quickly to horizontal settings when blower is on High.

YMMV
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
Ed Lijewski
Level 8
Posts: 8924
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: The Belly of The Beast

Re: A/C charging issue resolved.

Post by Ed Lijewski »

Project Farm tests R134a against R134a substitutes:
.
https://youtu.be/41HBPqdMxfI?si=dm_mEJI7dtNdFWdt

I wouldn't be satisfied getting ~45* vent temps driving 55 mph. Although, Todd doesn't say if those 55 mph testing excursions were short distances, say a mile or two/three.
.
YMMV
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!