[Shotimes] RE: Spring locks ~ AC

[Raymond Aikens]

This can be a major PITA to the magnitude of 100. I think it ranks right up
there with trying to get the rear intake support bolts loose and undoing and
reconnecting the line to the power steering pump!!!

The couplers get crud in them and are recalcitrant. The evaporator lines are
especially challenging.

I bought the cheapo separator tools from NAPA and Chief. One is thinner and
is a bi**h on your fingers, but works better than the other brand in some
instances. The best way to go is the real ones from Snap-On, but they are
expensive. The cheapo separators will work given enough pain tolerance and
patience on your part. I'd buy both sets.

Squirt some WD into the spring lock bell and twist them as much as you can
to loosen the crud up. Take a couple Lortabs, figure which size tool you
need, I forget the sizes. Stick it into the "bell" area of the spring lock,
and squeeze it in. If you aren't wearing gloves, the insulation on the
firewall will grind your hands really nicely. The Lortab helps you forget
how much your fingers and hands hurt and how much you hate your SHO at this
point.

In my case the top evaporator line came out really easily. The bottom that
is a total bi**h to get at took about an hour of twisting and finger pain.

The bottom line comes out and then hits the engine before you can pull it
out. That's when you have a Homer Simpson moment and go "waaaaaaaaaaaaa."
Try twisting the line around to different angles and you'll have that Zen
moment when it comes out.

Like Howard Stern's Dad said, "I told you not to be stupid, stupid." 

Don't even think about not following my final advice.

Go to a NAPA and look for the smartest Parts Man there. Most of them are way
too lazy to find this indispensable part, the Spring Lock Repair kit. It
really is hard for them to find. I forget which obscure catalog it is in.
This kits has the correct O-Rings and a locking device that prevents the
coupling from coming loose later, AND IT WILL.

Congratulations, having successfully completed an evaporator replacement
puts you on a higher level than the other SHO enthusiasts. You may now
advance to clutch replacement!!!