[DML] AIR CONDITIONING/INTERIOR

[Jennifer Soenksen <soenksen@xxxx>]

I am a recent subscriber to this news letter and have read many comments
and questions therein. As a five year owner, I've come to find that
maintance on the car is quite simplistic and not as hard as even
mechanics make it out to be. There are, however many things that we as
"back yard mechanics" do not have the tools or perhaps the experiance to
repair. One of which is the air conditioning.
It seems as though the first thing repair shops go for is the
compressor, and, the second is the vap. core. They say the core is
broken and needs to be replaced.
I was also led to believe a "match" could be found.
This diagnostic is not true.
As I understand it, the vap. cores do not "go out" merely, the seals
around the core do. A vap. core is about $550. And as far as there
being a "match", I have also come to find that this is not accurate
either. There is no substitute for the core other than a factory. I had
"found" many but they do not blow even 20% as cool.
This message comes from straight out of my pocket book,for I've spend a
fortune trying to cut corners and it doesn't work.
As far as the compressor goes: The clutch will cease because of lack of
use, and I have not found there to be any seal failer within the
compressor.
But on the lighter note: My "D" comes from the Panama City, Florida
area.
>From having no garage to store and with the added strain of the 100+
temperatures, the leather had shrunken and has gone bad, partly because
the threading was rotting and allowed it too.
Since replacing with vinal, it improves the life span of the seats and
is just as comfortable but does not let your skin breathe very well; so
one may perspire.
The head liner falls because the cushioning rots and the glue gives out.
If the material is in fair shape it can be recushioned and glued.
The trim posts will need to be replaced. There is no cure for them. One
will need to remove the winshield to replace them, the same with the
dash; the screws are too hard to get too.
The binnical is simplistic to remove the same goes for the cushioning,
and the panals on the inside of the doors merely pop off.
The center console is held down by six 10mm screws, and two screws in
the front of it towards the carpeting.
The carpeting is simply glued down and can be taken out without much
effort. You will need to remove the seats. To do so, remove the four
lock nuts from underneath the car and they will come out easily. When
removing, do not grab hold of the bar that allows the seat to slide. The
tracks will be uneven and can be a pain to line back up when putting the
seats back in.
The rear carpeting is stapled and glued in as well.
In closing, I've noticed quite a few messages from certain subscribers
that put down others imput. Even though the information listed in this
news letter is not all "tech talk", and in many cases can be cheezy, it
is not necessary to attack them. Not all of us have a great deal of
Delorean repair experiance behind us. If we did, we wouldn't need this
site, or we would just call one of the "Big Three" D places.
After all, I haven't read any of your tech notes.
Hope this helps.
Scott Soenksen vin: 15964