I'm handy, wondering how hard to unbolt, put now O-rings, and reattach the ac compressor on my x type? Book says 2 hrs, assuming empty system...Seems pretty buried, but I haven't taken the air cleaner unit off, maybe it's not so bad.

Also, Jag dealer wants $1231 to do it, and another Ford dealer quoted $1000. Are reman units good? Where to get one?

 

Which O rings? The ones on the hoses? (ganged together on the aluminum block?)

Which engine? do you have? That might help to know, too.

I have had mine off and replaced the o rings when the little pop-off valve went bad, and the main shaft seal was leaking.

The real trick is dealing with the serpentine belt.

 

3 liter...did some research and was wrong-compressor is not in front, is on pass. side, low, easy to get to! I can do this...

I suspected that there would be O-rings on the ends that bolt to the compressor, as seals, it's pretty normal...other than that, with an empty system, its cake, just unbolt, do rings, repeat. 90 min job, then have it refilled...beats $1231.

 

From Experience..I know you have to remove the right side tire/wheel and then remove the inner wheelwell liner, to access the compressor.

 

You will have to replace the compressor and receiver/drier. You will have to remove tire and fender liner like dpk stated. I got the serpentine belt back on by using a harbor freight serpentine belt tool that I bent in half in my vice to be able to fit up into the tight space. alfaveloce helped me a ton when I was replacing mine. He knows his stuff when it comes to a/c

 

Ah, why the R/D also? And you're saying that it'll likely take a special tool to get the dang serp off and on?

 

The Receiver-dryer (aka Filter Dryer) catches all the crap circulating, including Moisture if any..So it is always a good practice to replace it, along with the Fixed Orifice tube entering the evaporator...Don't forget to flush the condensor and evaporator out of any old oil too.

The tool is a 3/8" drive pry bar thingy, to release the tension of the belt tensioner

 

Most if not all sellers of compressors will not honor the warranty if you don't also replace the receiver/dryer at the same time.

If your compressor died, the screen on the orifice tube is probably very clogged up as well. There is a joint where the orifice tube lives up top near the firewall. It's a little crowded there but you can get to it by carefully moving tubes and wiring around.

And you really need to flush that system if you can. Some compressor failures can be fairly benign but sometimes so much crud gets spewed out it will destroy the new one if you don't flush out the lines first.