Yet another Pantera for sale that needs "A/C recharged"

Especially since it is located in Florida. The odds of someone test driving it on a cold day when there is no need for a/c is slim to none!

Perhaps it is easier to say that than to fix the problem it has.

It Always is!!

quote:

Originally posted by v8capri:
Perhaps it is easier to say that than to fix the problem it has.

And cheaper.

this topic was moved from the cars for sale forum to the pub, because it was not an advertisement, it was a complaint about cars for sale needing air conditioning work.

I purchased my Pantera with "new compressor, but needs charging". I charged it. It worked for a week or so. Now it needs charging again.

Technically, the seller wasn't dishonest. :-)

R.

My air conditioner worked for a whole week after I bought the car. Then of course all the freon had leaked out. I have more important issues to fix than air con.

Here's another: AIR CONDITIONING WORKS BUT NEEDS TO BE CHARGED.

"needs charging" = leak in A/C system = A/C not really "working"

I learned this the hard way, too.

And here's another that needs a "recharge";

EBay Pantera

And another one just listed on Ebay needing a "recharge"!!!!
Ebay Pantera

And another one :
needs "recharge"

Another A/C less car - because he like to roll the windows down and hear!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___1972-DeTom...trksid=p4506.c0.m245

That last guy made me chuckle - he glosses over lack of AC with the comment that he 'likes driving with the window down so he can hear; ... then he goes on to talk about the Alpine Stereo with iPod hookup. Why bother with a stereo if you're gonna drive with the windows down and listen to the engine???

BTW, This thread is showing a bias toward the southern climes, Forget AC - what about us up north who can't find z-rated snow tires for our cats???
;-)

As for AC, when I bought my cat, the seller was honest, the AC doesn't work, it needs a new compressor - I haven't had it through the heat and humidity of a full Ontario summer yet, but will decide next year if I want/need AC or not (the light grey interior in my cat is likely a bit more tolerable in the heat than the traditional black).

This is one of my favorite threads. And one of my favorite Pantera quirks.

I bought an "AC works, but not charged" car. I charged it and it blew cold for only a few days. I am hoping it is an easy, cheap leak, but I didn't drive it enough over the summer to fix it.

R.

I sure am glad someone is keeping up with Panteras with the AC not working.

My first Pantera circa 1975 and the current cat had/have non functioning AC. I knew it when I purchased them. For a weekend driver I do not really care. AC parts including better rotary systems are not too expensive.

quote:

Originally posted by Pantera 4134:
I sure am glad someone is keeping up with Panteras with the AC not working.

I think you're missing my point - if all these Panteras only "need a recharge", then why not do it before selling it? It's not that expensive, especially with R-12 replacements. I think these people don't know (or maybe they do) that it will take a lot more than just a "recharge" to get these A/C systems working. Plus, why does this seem to be such a common problem with Panteras? An inherent design flaw?

I am not an AC expert. But I think we all know the answer to why the owner does not just get a re-charge. It is because they know that it is something more, like a compressor or condenser or?

I do not think it is a Pantera specific issue. A lot of the cars of this era I see at various gatherings have non functioning AC. The owners (like me) do not drive them enough to warrant repair of the AC. I prefer to put my dollars into other resto/mods projects.When I finish these projects(probably never) I will get around to the AC. More than likely it will be a problem to fix for my son when he gets the car.

It not a Pantera issue. It's a used car issue. any thing in a use car ad that says "It just needs..." means it needs more than that!!
LOL

Ed...

I just think the "AC need recharge" statement is funny because it is common. It is a fun game because the seller is fibbing, and we usually know.

I think it is just as funny that there is now officially Pantera AC "blowback". Bwahaahaaa.

R.

Another new listing with non-working A/C:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___1972-Detom...12|39%3A1|240%3A1308

Here's a new one: "A/C has not been charged YET"!

Waiting on charge...

Another nice one without functioning A/C: Black one on Ebay

Another one that "probably needs a charge" :
'74 Pantera

Mr. Greene,

1st I notice that you do not own a Pantera; but like to comment about what most of them seem to be missing when offered for sale. Without publicly disrespecting you what is your deal?

Also since you are a fan of vintage Ford muscle please advise me what are the "faults" on your cars? I'm sure there is a list.

I have watched your posts with humor until the latest and I think enough is enough. If you are not a Pantera buyer or asked to comment on these cars you should keep your air conditioning rants silent.

Just my $ .02

Respectfully,

Dave

Sorry you take it that way , Dave. My point is that it seems over 50% (probably WAY over) of the Panteras for sale always have this disclaimer - "needs A/C recharge". If that's all they really needed, then why on a $30,000+ vehicle don't they just have it done (couple hundred dollars at most) then they wouldn't have this negative in their ad. My point is that this is more than likely NOT TRUE - a recharge would not make the A/C work properly. I've looked at many vintage Mustangs over the years that have been misrepresented and wasted more than one plane ticket on such cars.

I think if you look back, in no way did I find "faults" with any of these cars, only with their ads about the A/C recharge.

Didn't know that I had to be part of the "in" group that actually owns a Pantera in order to comment? Does that mean when I do buy one I would be more free to post comments on this forum? Were you actually appointed as Forum police? Just curious...

Well, I actually thought that you were the appointed Pantera International Forum AC Police. I'm just commenting that this seems to be your only interest and posts regarding Panteras?

You may also visit, comment, be critical or whatever without owning a Pantera. Remember we live in America. No problem your a car guy. Although only making the same contribution over and over will get you my comment.

Your AC point is taken and no need to beat that horse(s) again.

How about starting a post with your cars and share with us? I'm a fan of your cars and would like to "see" them. That would impress me more than your AC contribution.

Dave (not an appointee, police, more like a felon...)

Dave, sorry for the foul tone. It's just that "A/C needs recharged" on a Pantera now ranks up there with "no rust" on Mustangs as most deceiving (intentional or not) advertising line in ads.

Here is an article I wrote a few years ago about hunting for my '66 Shelby that appeared in the Shelby American magazine: Finding my Shelby

And here's a scan of an article on my Mach 1 that appeared in Mustang Monthly (before I bought it, though):
My Mach 1

My Boss 302 is currently undergoing restoration - the body has been stripped and soda blasted. I've set up a home zinc plating system and am currently slowly redoing it piece by piece. Some pics are here:
My Boss 302

There are and have been issues with the DeTomaso A/C ever since the car entered into service. The early reviews of the car by R&T, MotorTrend and C & D mention that the A/C did not appear to work.

Problems that occur on some cars ’71-’74 (I stress, not all, but some):

1) The large line that attaches at the evaporator (under dash) is attached with a flare fitting that may not mate well with the “custom” flare fitting on the evaporator core. Early fixes were to insert a copper gasket. This met with some limited success. Most A/C leaks occur here.
2) The original old York compressor is not as durable as modern rotary units. The York service life is not as long.
3) Flare fittings are used throughout the system. If attached well, they should work OK with R12 - but expect a recharge, in any case, every few years. If flare fittings are used with R134 (the molecules are much smaller than R12) the leakage will be greater – with a need for a recharge at roughly yearly intervals.
4) A/C hoses deteriorate. A 35 year old car should have had its lines replaced over the years. Otherwise, expect the lines to leak.
5) R134 requires a different “barrier” type hose than R12. If a retrofit was done from R12 to R134, without changing the type of A/C hose, expect some leakage through the hoses.

I have learned these details by research and experience (school of hard knocks). Yes, I drove a few seasons with the windows down. In the hot, humid, sunny, dog days of Ontario summers, nothing beats A/C. In a car, the windows make me feel like I am sitting in a greenhouse.

So, the fix I am doing is:

1) Already replaced the York compressor with a Sandon Rotary unit years ago.
2) Replacing the Evaporator with a newer unit that has a denser A/C core and has O-ring fittings ($550).
3) All A/C lines replaced with the latest and greatest barrier type with O-ring fittings throughout. ($300)
4) Replacing the Condenser with a denser A/C core ($200).
5) I will be evacuating and charging the A/C myself

Not all cars need to do what I am doing. Many cars have A/C systems that work well or have been made to work well (with a few minor fixes).

Finally, mgreene has made at least 10 posts pointing out cars that advertise problems with their A/C. I think it is worthwhile to point out problems with advertisements regarding cars for sale. On the other hand, maybe 10 posts starts to be like beating a dead horse.

I hope the information provided here will finally help with any concern about the DeTomaso Pantera A/C.

I read your article, and found it to be an interesting read, but to be honest, I would label you as a "tire kicker." You obviously had your own idea of what you should get for your money, but missed a lot of opportunities as mentioned in your article. If you nitpick everything, including the A/C in Panteras, which is obviously an admitted problem here, you will be sorely disappointed in your search.

Are there people who are less than honest about the mechanical soundness of parts on their vehicles for sale? You should know that answer. Are you going to change the worlds ethical principles by continually posting in this thread? Good luck with that. I wish it were that easy.

Honestly not everyone is misrepresenting the A/C. Some may not know whether a recharge would fix the A/C. I bought my car knowing it hasn't been run in awhile, but could it be recharged and fixed? Maybe I don't know and frankly I could care less. When I lived in So. CA it was 110+ during many summer days and I just rolled the window down in my mustangs and pushed the throttle. The Pantera isn't even a daily driver for me, so this is a moot point for me personally.

I suggest you accept the fact that whatever car you end up finally deciding is within your realm of acceptability and pricepoint will have the A/C not working and move on I would also accept the fact that you will not change the ethical practices of random pantera owners posting their cars on ebay that may not even belong to this forum.

I hope you don't take any of this personally, I just want you to be a happy pantera owner and realize that there are better efforts to make use of your time Either way, you can keep posting in here too, I enjoy checking out Panteras for sale

quote:

So, the fix I am doing is:

1) Already replaced the York compressor with a Sandon Rotary unit years ago.
2) Replacing the Evaporator with a newer unit that has a denser A/C core and has O-ring fittings ($550).
3) All A/C lines replaced with the latest and greatest barrier type with O-ring fittings throughout. ($300)
4) Replacing the Condenser with a denser A/C core ($200).
5) I will be evacuating and charging the A/C myself

andriyko,

Do you have any part numbers or pics?
I assume you are going to use R134-A?

New listing : Low mileage Pantera

If he "knows" the A/C works, why not hook it up and charge it before trying to sell it?

wanna buy mine??? for the right price??? 2007 A/C works very cold... and when it wont work anymore, I'll probably sell it on ebay, saying I haven't recharged the A/C

Please add #4134 to the Panteras without functioning A/C. It did not work when I purchased it.

But if someday I sell it you will not have to resurrect this 2 year old thread.

Same here times 2, neither 1729 or 4499 have working A/C. I will do a rotary converson on 4499................someday

No A/C here... I needed the space for the 180 headers

quote:

Originally posted by Pantera 4134:
Please add #4134 to the Panteras without functioning A/C. It did not work when I purchased it.

But if someday I sell it you will not have to resurrect this 2 year old thread.

Hey, I know of a car for sale that's rusted to shreds...but the AC works!

When I went to look at my car 7 years ago, the A/C "needed a charge" as well. We consummated a deal a week later, and when I went to pick the car up 2-3 weeks after that I was pleasantly surprised to find that the seller had it charged before I came to pick the car up. Blew cold for 4-1/2 years, until the blower fan stopped working. Haven't used it since. Also spun a rod bearing, so it's been off the road for 2 years now; soon to be back together though!

A/C works on both DeTomasos. Longchamp just needed filling, Pantera needed new switch, one new hose and filling. It then worked, but vibrated like crazy, so now I have rotary on Pantera.

Good to have A/C in my climate, at least 10 days per year where it's needed