AC service valves
 

I have done extensive searching and reading and have not found this specific topic. I have a 1990 Cherokee Sport with the 4.0. The AC compressor has these weird valves on it from the factory. I need to replace, repair or eliminate those valves to get my AC working.

looks like you have the r12 system but somebody already retrofitted it to r134a, the blue and red cap are your high and low pressure ports. Since it's an older system, it also has valves to open and close the high/low pressure port. Those valves are the little stud looking things with the square head on them sticking out. Looks like they are in the open position. Hope this helps

Also, here is a pic of the valves I'm talking about, with the square heads. This is the only pic I could find. Some cars open turning right, some turning left. Just depends. On my 93 jeep, the service ports are on the back of the compressor and to open them, I got to turn right, and left is to tighten. Yours may be opposite.

What is wrong with the valves on your a/c system?????

You don't say why you need to eliminate them, but I think you need them with this style of compressor/ head. Here is link to explain their function. They also make your compressor serviceable without losing the refrigerant.

http://wiki.amcevolution.com/index.p...Service_Valves

AMC used these service valves on their cars from Rambler days into the 1980s, and apparently on early XJs as well. No need to eliminate them unless stuck or leaking. I use a 1/4" drive socket with an allen wrench to operate the valves. (On the cars I've worked on, the 1/4" square end fits the service valve stem perfectly.)

As the diagram that Oswalla provided indicates, for normal AC operation turn the valves all the way counterclockwise to "back-seat" them. Turn clockwise a few turns to position them in the middle for servicing and charging the system. Normally you would not "front-seat" the valves (full clockwise) unless replacing the compressor. This position permits the compressor to be removed without discharging the system, aside from the small amount in the compressor itself.

Look in to changing the system over to r134a,You have r12 now which is pricey to buy and you need a license to buy it also.The r134a is cheaper and anyone can buy it.

They are Ford valves, can find them from specialty places (eg, Mustang restoration)

looks like somebody already did, it's got r134 retrofit kit on it.

X2 it already has R134. R12 has the same size AC ports colored to R134 have different high/low side port sizes.

The valves leak, someone (not me!) used vice grips on the shaft chewed them up and now they leak. I got a price from an online place for $26 to replace the valves. I think they would work fine. Any thoughts suggestions?

That should work, just have to have a way to get gauges on and fill. Another option is to get a set from wrecking yard. U-pull-it yard would be cheapest

Check this out, this might be what your looking for. Not the search term I would of used to find it.

FORD BACK-SEAT ROTOLOCK YORK R210L A/C
COMPRESSOR SUCTION FITTING

http://www.acpartsguys.com/service_valves

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BACK-SEAT-RO...-/280963786818

and 1 more

http://thepartguy.com/ac-hosesMustangCougar.html

That looks like the exact thing. I would never have found those. I am buying something other than the service valves though. How often does a person need to service the compressor? Very rarely ideally. Auto Zone loans the vacuum pump and gauges to service AC, as soon as I get my replacement parts in I'm acting like an AC service guy!