AC Problems

Well, a while back my AC went out. It started with a squealing belt... broek it twice.... then one day I turned on the AC and nothing happened. As in the fan blew, but the engine didn't slow down. So I stopped with the AC of, left it idling, and turned it on again. The rpms shot up but nothing else happened.

So... I'm assuming either the compressor clutch went out or the entire compressor went kaput.

I tried Autozone but the price was starting at $260 for a refurbished compressor... ::Censor:: ... is there any cheaper, or should I just tear out the entire system? My problem is that I drive a black car with a black top, an aluminum shift knob, leather seats, and I wear a polyester uniform to work. Am I screwed?

-Joel :cat:

Does the compressor still spin or is it locked up? You may have lost some freon and the pressure switch has disable the system.

Drat is an R12 car, your also going to want to figure out if your going to covert it to 134a or spend some big money on fixing the R12.....

There are some commercially available R12 substitutes but I have no first hand knowledge with any of them.

You can have the one off the spare engine if you want... it's from a 93...

Or if you want one that is still on a pressurized system, you can rip the one out of my Spec project...

Price is TCB: Free.

I had my 92 B&T converted to the newer freon... worked pretty decent.

RJ

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Drat is an R12 car, your also going to want to figure out if your going to covert it to 134a or spend some big money on fixing the R12.....

There are some commercially available R12 substitutes but I have no first hand knowledge with any of them.

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I've used one of those R12 substitutes and I've also converted a few cars over to 134a. I'd go with the conversion kit if I had to do it again. By far the cheaper and easier solution.

Well, If you do need a compressor, you might want to check out The Parts Group...

They have some listed for $40-55. Including r134a models.

They are also listed on the Approved Vendor list.

Sammm recommended them. See how he feels.

I converted mine over to R134 at least 4 summers ago and it's still blowing cold. I put a can in, found the leak, replaced 1 o-ring, had the system sucked dry and then added the R134. Really easy swap.

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Originally Posted by Sharpie

I converted mine over to R134 at least 4 summers ago and it's still blowing cold. I put a can in, found the leak, replaced 1 o-ring, had the system sucked dry and then added the R134. Really easy swap.

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OK... Question time...

So you added the can of the R134 to the R12 that was already in there to find the leak? Is that OK to do?

How exactly do you find any leaks?

What does a shop charge to suck the system dry, or is this something you can do on your own?

What would it take to get a little help with this project? ::Clown::

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Originally Posted by Titus

OK... Question time...

So you added the can of the R134 to the R12 that was already in there to find the leak? Is that OK to do?

How exactly do you find any leaks?

What does a shop charge to suck the system dry, or is this something you can do on your own?

What would it take to get a little help with this project? ::Clown::

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I've been doing some research on this for the 'lac. It is recommended that you don't mix R134 and R12 not sure what the end result would be.

I have access to a freon leak detector it will point out where the leak may reside, but not sure about the other stuff.

Anyone here an A/C professional??

Well my car has no AC at the moment, and I would really like to get it working before the trip to Colorado. Anyone with an airconditioned garage want to host an A/C tech day? ::Angel::

My neighbor is A/C certified. We sucked the system dry (which it already was due to the leak), then we added a can to find the leak, we could've used the can with dye, but we didn't it was obvious where the leak was. An o-ring just above the compressor. We sucked it dry again, then I added the conversion kit, about $40 IIRC. Do not mix R12 and R134.

My point was to say, you don't have to buy a new compressor, condensor, evaporator, etc.

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Originally Posted by Sharpie

My neighbor is A/C certified. We sucked the system dry (which it already was due to the leak), then we added a can to find the leak, we could've used the can with dye, but we didn't it was obvious where the leak was. An o-ring just above the compressor. We sucked it dry again, then I added the conversion kit, about $40 IIRC. Do not mix R12 and R134.

My point was to say, you don't have to buy a new compressor, condensor, evaporator, etc.

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Cool.... so what does it take to "suck it dry"? Is there some special tool we could rent from autozone for the day so a bunch of us could go through the process, or do we need to pay a shop for a couple sucks each?

What are the odds you could get your friend to help us out? Is he the type of guy that can be influenced by a 12-pack? :D

What about AJ? Anyone know if AJ sucks? ::Clown::

Brian doesn't drink so a 12-pack is out. :( He brought home this machine from his body shop that did all the sucking. I'll talk to him though.

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Originally Posted by Sharpie

Brian doesn't drink so a 12-pack is out. :( He brought home this machine from his body shop that did all the sucking. I'll talk to him though.

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Well if you talk him in to it, then I guess the 12 pack is yours my friend! ;)

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Originally Posted by channelmaniac

You can have the one off the spare engine if you want... it's from a 93...

Or if you want one that is still on a pressurized system, you can rip the one out of my Spec project...

Price is TCB: Free.

I had my 92 B&T converted to the newer freon... worked pretty decent.

RJ

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Sounds like the price range I was looking for!!

Anybody want to help me do a little work this Sunday or Monday?!

:burnrubr: I'll buy you dinner, if it's cheap :D

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Originally Posted by MadMonkey

Sounds like the price range I was looking for!!

Anybody want to help me do a little work this Sunday or Monday?!

:burnrubr: I'll buy you dinner, if it's cheap :D

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You sure your current compressor is dead? Your still going to have to get the system evacuated and refilled which is not free.

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

You sure your current compressor is dead? Your still going to have to get the system evacuated and refilled which is not free.

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Well... I guess you could always try the propane/butane mixture method to check it out.::Drive2::

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

You sure your current compressor is dead? Your still going to have to get the system evacuated and refilled which is not free.

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I'm not entirely sure (I'm new to the mechanical side of this stuff) but I could at least get it checked out... anybody know of a good shop?


*cough* BAM want to give me a hand? :D

If the belt burns up... well, could be a bad clutch or a bad compressor... if it just won't turn on anymore (you push the AC switch and the thing never kicks on and the engine never gets the load of the compressor) then you most likely have low or no freon due to a leak. In all my years of owning cars I've never had a compressor go bad (knock on wood)

But it does happen....

So if yours is truely bad then you can have either one that I have. I should be home Sunday sometime - not sure when. I drove the Miata for a work trip and will be Riding the Dragon early Saturday morning since my week finishes up in East TN.

Raymond

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Originally Posted by Sharpie

My neighbor is A/C certified. We sucked the system dry (which it already was due to the leak), then we added a can to find the leak, we could've used the can with dye, but we didn't it was obvious where the leak was. An o-ring just above the compressor. We sucked it dry again, then I added the conversion kit, about $40 IIRC. Do not mix R12 and R134.

My point was to say, you don't have to buy a new compressor, condensor, evaporator, etc.

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I suspect the system in my '94 has a leak, since it blows nice and cold when I add a can, but after a week or so it's hardly cool. How hard is it to find a leak if it isn't obvious from looking? Can you get the dye at a parts store, and tell from that? At that point, is it better to have it sucked dry and refilled at a shop?

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Originally Posted by tmanAg08

I suspect the system in my '94 has a leak, since it blows nice and cold when I add a can, but after a week or so it's hardly cool. How hard is it to find a leak if it isn't obvious from looking? Can you get the dye at a parts store, and tell from that? At that point, is it better to have it sucked dry and refilled at a shop?

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I have spotted this the other day, and this too.

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Originally Posted by Titus

I have spotted this the other day, and this too.

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Wonder if this would work??

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Wonder if this would work??

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Looks like a winner. I think I will be ordering this and the conversion kit shortly.

Well... MM picked up the compressor today. He was telling me about snapping a belt on it so it probably is a compressor issue...

Good luck with the install! - You can either let someone else install it or you can put in some new o-rings and install it yourself.

You may want to have someone suck all the old refridgerant out before you replace it since it's harmful to the ozone.

He also got to see the pics from the run through the Dragon's Tail. ;) I'll get 'em scanned in later tonight (hopefully) and post a couple up.

RJ

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Originally Posted by channelmaniac

Well... MM picked up the compressor today. He was telling me about snapping a belt on it so it probably is a compressor issue...

Good luck with the install! - You can either let someone else install it or you can put in some new o-rings and install it yourself.

You may want to have someone suck all the old refridgerant out before you replace it since it's harmful to the ozone.

He also got to see the pics from the run through the Dragon's Tail. ;) I'll get 'em scanned in later tonight (hopefully) and post a couple up.

RJ

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I appreciate it :D

I'll see about getting it installed tomorrow

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Originally Posted by channelmaniac

If the belt burns up... well, could be a bad clutch or a bad compressor... if it just won't turn on anymore (you push the AC switch and the thing never kicks on and the engine never gets the load of the compressor) then you most likely have low or no freon due to a leak. In all my years of owning cars I've never had a compressor go bad (knock on wood)

But it does happen....

So if yours is truely bad then you can have either one that I have. I should be home Sunday sometime - not sure when. I drove the Miata for a work trip and will be Riding the Dragon early Saturday morning since my week finishes up in East TN.

Raymond

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Hmm...you say having a compressor go bad is a rare occurrence? What say you about mine then? It makes the belt squeak occasionally and makes a fairly loud buzzing type noise when on. It does work 60% of the time but cuts out randomly during the day, especially in heavy traffic/high heat. Oh yeah, with the ac on my car looses about 40% hp. I have to turn the ac off if I wish to pull out and not get run over in traffic!


* Getting it sucked dry is getting the freon removed professionally to avoid polluting the atmosphere. You can fill the system yourself with the kits and save the costs of a shop doing it.

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Originally Posted by icepenguin66

Hmm...you say having a compressor go bad is a rare occurrence? What say you about mine then? It makes the belt squeak occasionally and makes a fairly loud buzzing type noise when on. It does work 60% of the time but cuts out randomly during the day, especially in heavy traffic/high heat. Oh yeah, with the ac on my car looses about 40% hp. I have to turn the ac off if I wish to pull out and not get run over in traffic!

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I say check your temp gauge. My my 03 will shut down the AC when the temp gets too hot... I've only had it happen on the hottest of the hot days when sitting in stalled traffic - and when it does I'll look at the temp gauge and it's way above where it normally sits... and when it cools down the AC works fine again.

As for the buzzing, both 92s that I've had did that. They worked fine on the AC. It's just compressor noise.

RJ

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Originally Posted by channelmaniac

I say check your temp gauge. My my 03 will shut down the AC when the temp gets too hot... I've only had it happen on the hottest of the hot days when sitting in stalled traffic - and when it does I'll look at the temp gauge and it's way above where it normally sits... and when it cools down the AC works fine again.

As for the buzzing, both 92s that I've had did that. They worked fine on the AC. It's just compressor noise.

RJ

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Hmm...the temp guage has always been fine. I don't think I've ever seen the guage over normal temp even at the track during summer! And that doesn't explain the extreame loss of power with the ac on. At least the buzzing is normal I guess!

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Originally Posted by icepenguin66

Hmm...the temp guage has always been fine. I don't think I've ever seen the guage over normal temp even at the track during summer! And that doesn't explain the extreame loss of power with the ac on. At least the buzzing is normal I guess!

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AC units are power sucking aliens... Plus you are running that damn gas with the ethanol additive now. You will notice a big difference with the AC on and that is pretty much normal. If your engine isn't in good shape and making normal power the hit on performance is worse.

RJ

MadMonkey - Did you get it installed & charged up yet? Don't forget to add oil to the system as the oil in the compressor probably ran out the lines...

Todd came by today and we ripped out the AC stuff from under the hood so he should have his running again soon! (And the project car has lost some weight too!)

RJ