mwadams
07-04-2006, 08:21 PM
Well my a/c clutch/coil went out yesterday (hot and humid as he!!). It stopped cooling the interior and started forming sweat beads all over my face. smoke coming from the compressor area. I turned it off and braved the heat in mid-day traffic as i made my way back to the house. Looked in at it and saw the tell-tell tarish looking gunk hanging all over it, clutch was very loose.
I began to gather numbers of what it would cost me. A new compressor would run $190.00 + evacuation of the R12 + fillup of 134a + a new compressor down the road when it seized up from the incompatibility of the two oils. New clutch / coil would be the better route since I like my R12, but $120.00 was still a bit too much and parts had to be ordered. I'll try the wrecking yard.
Found a pretty good looking rebuilt compressor out of a 90 LeBaron turbo. While I'm here I might need a spare SMEC so I grabbed it. $50.00 later and I was headed home to tackle the install.
First off was to remove the new(ish) assembly from the compressor. With a spanner wrench and 13mm socket, the retaining nut broke free, took a homemade puller and pulled the clutch cover off (save those shims). Looked pretty good, only some surface rust on the machined surface. Next was to remove the lock-ring holding the pulley assembly onto the compressor. Stupid lock ring pliers just not big enough, but played with it and finally got it off with some larger snap-ring pliers.
Next was to remove the coil (another lock ring, only deeper into the guts). Popped it off and was ready to do the swap.
Took the belt off, removed the 4 bolts holding the compressor on, and rotated it up and out of the engine compartment. It looked nasty, as well as my hands after toying around with it. Lock nut was barely hand tight. I figured that it may have come loose and caused it to fail. Followed steps above for complete assembly.
This is where it gets fun. Clutch cover goes on with nut, checked gap w/ shims and it was pretty good (about .7mm). Went to torque nut on and... this is too easy. Looked closely and the threaded shaft had snapped. I literally stared at it for 5 minutes, praying that i wasn't actually broke. I was thinking that I had just made this more costly b/c compressor has to come out, R12, etc. Idea bulb pops on, just weld it!! Brilliant. Well, it worked. It better last a while because if it goes out again, a new compressor is going in. Air is chilly and working.
All in all, it is very simple to do, and is much cheaper than throwing in a new compressor. I am spoiled and I love my A/c, thankfully I actually know where to get an R12 top-off if ever I need it:D
Mark
I began to gather numbers of what it would cost me. A new compressor would run $190.00 + evacuation of the R12 + fillup of 134a + a new compressor down the road when it seized up from the incompatibility of the two oils. New clutch / coil would be the better route since I like my R12, but $120.00 was still a bit too much and parts had to be ordered. I'll try the wrecking yard.
Found a pretty good looking rebuilt compressor out of a 90 LeBaron turbo. While I'm here I might need a spare SMEC so I grabbed it. $50.00 later and I was headed home to tackle the install.
First off was to remove the new(ish) assembly from the compressor. With a spanner wrench and 13mm socket, the retaining nut broke free, took a homemade puller and pulled the clutch cover off (save those shims). Looked pretty good, only some surface rust on the machined surface. Next was to remove the lock-ring holding the pulley assembly onto the compressor. Stupid lock ring pliers just not big enough, but played with it and finally got it off with some larger snap-ring pliers.
Next was to remove the coil (another lock ring, only deeper into the guts). Popped it off and was ready to do the swap.
Took the belt off, removed the 4 bolts holding the compressor on, and rotated it up and out of the engine compartment. It looked nasty, as well as my hands after toying around with it. Lock nut was barely hand tight. I figured that it may have come loose and caused it to fail. Followed steps above for complete assembly.
This is where it gets fun. Clutch cover goes on with nut, checked gap w/ shims and it was pretty good (about .7mm). Went to torque nut on and... this is too easy. Looked closely and the threaded shaft had snapped. I literally stared at it for 5 minutes, praying that i wasn't actually broke. I was thinking that I had just made this more costly b/c compressor has to come out, R12, etc. Idea bulb pops on, just weld it!! Brilliant. Well, it worked. It better last a while because if it goes out again, a new compressor is going in. Air is chilly and working.
All in all, it is very simple to do, and is much cheaper than throwing in a new compressor. I am spoiled and I love my A/c, thankfully I actually know where to get an R12 top-off if ever I need it:D
Mark