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I’m helping out a friend with her 07 Subaru Impreza. She told me that the belts on her car were squealing badly. I had her bring it in and I put 2 belts on. One belt was split right down the middle with half of it missing. She left and 2 days later said it was doing it again. She then tighten up the belts herself as I talked her through it on the phone. The next day, she called again and said the same thing was happening. After we talked for awhile, I had her look at the belts as they made the noise. It wasn’t the belts. It was the A/C. The A/C clutch was engaging but the compressor wasn’t turning with it. She brought it in so I could look at it and it was working fine. I turned it off, then on, and it did the same thing. The clutch engages, but the compressor turns very slowly. Turned off the car and the A/C and tried turning the compressor. I could bearly turn it at all. I was thinking it was bearing. Got a used compressor off of a newer car with 12k on it. Took off the old 1 but couldn’t see any signs of damage. Nothing in the lines or in the openings of the compressor. I did not flush the system for that reason and, I do not have the equipment to do it. Put on the used 1, recharged it (yes, evac and all) and it worked great. Three days later, same thing. I’ve recharge hundreds and hundreds of A/C systems but do not get into repairing them. I work in the auto collision field. So my guess is that maybe the expansion vavle isn’t working correctly and blocking the flow of freon. I have no idea if that can even happen, but like I said, sometimes it works fine. Can anyone help me out with this? She’s has no money and I don’t won’t to send her somewhere and have to pay big bucks. The 2 times I had the gauges on the car eveything was working fine. Don’t remember the numbers exactly, but they were ok. Thanks, John
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OK then it sounds like you’ve got a handle on it. Keep us posted of your progress I’m curious how this works out.
Sorry it’s been so long for the update. I replaced the expansion valve on Friday morning, put it all together and charged the system. The compressor spun, but would squeal for about a second each time it kicked on. Other than that, it spun and worked fine. I was thinking that maybe because she ran the compressor for a few days when it was locking up bad, that the clutch was burned out some. Replaced the compressor with another one and everything has been working fine. So this means that one of three things has happened.
1. The expansion valve was the cause to all of the problems and it’s fixed.banana:
2. The first compressor just went, and then the second just went the same exact way. I don’t think that was it though because after replacing the valve, the compressor worked, it just squealed at start up.:unsure:
3. It’s working right now and just hasn’t broke yet.:sick:
As of right now, she is going to AZ and when she returns, if everything is still working, I will replace the drier-accumulator. I thank everyone for all their help. John, a special thanks to you. Your phone call really helped me out a lot. If it stops working again, I will let you all know.Sorry it’s been so long for the update. I replaced the expansion valve on Friday morning, put it all together and charged the system. The compressor spun, but would squeal for about a second each time it kicked on. Other than that, it spun and worked fine. I was thinking that maybe because she ran the compressor for a few days when it was locking up bad, that the clutch was burned out some. Replaced the compressor with another one and everything has been working fine. So this means that one of three things has happened.
1. The expansion valve was the cause to all of the problems and it’s fixed.banana:
2. The first compressor just went, and then the second just went the same exact way. I don’t think that was it though because after replacing the valve, the compressor worked, it just squealed at start up.:unsure:
3. It’s working right now and just hasn’t broke yet.:sick:
As of right now, she is going to AZ and when she returns, if everything is still working, I will replace the drier-accumulator. I thank everyone for all their help. John, a special thanks to you. Your phone call really helped me out a lot. If it stops working again, I will let you all know.Not replacing that drier-accumulator now will allow the moisture in it to create acid in the system and you will have to replace more than just it when the acid eats the inside of the system. It should be replaced whenever the system is opened. The last thing to replace before the vacuum is pulled and system charged.
Not replacing that drier-accumulator now will allow the moisture in it to create acid in the system and you will have to replace more than just it when the acid eats the inside of the system. It should be replaced whenever the system is opened. The last thing to replace before the vacuum is pulled and system charged.
Thanks for the update. Since you still have a noise during engagement I’m still not sold that there isn’t a clearance problem with that compressor clutch, it’s either that or the belt is loose. It should not make any noise during engagement, since it does at some point I’m sure a problem will manifest from this if you don’t address it. Keep us posted.
Thanks for the update. Since you still have a noise during engagement I’m still not sold that there isn’t a clearance problem with that compressor clutch, it’s either that or the belt is loose. It should not make any noise during engagement, since it does at some point I’m sure a problem will manifest from this if you don’t address it. Keep us posted.
Eric, I replaced that compressor with another one. This one makes no noise at all other than the click of the engagement. It has been running fine for 5 days so far. Before replacing the valve, the other compressor only worked for about 2-3 days. Like I said, I think the other compressor burned the clutch out because she used it even though it was making a noise. Might be hard to follow because there has been a total of 3 compressors, the original, the used, and then another used. This third one has been working just fine.
John, I can’t have her buy a new accumulator ever time I open the system until I know the system is fixed. I understand what you are saying, but I’ve opened and charged this 4 times now. The part is $112. She doesn’t have money, so I’m really trying to keep the cost down. Like I told you before, in the past 25 years of collision repair, not one shop that I worked at has ever replaced one just because the system was opened. And worse then that, some have been opened for 1-2 months. I talked to an adjuster about this and he said he has never been asked for one by any shop he has ever visited. I’m not saying you’re wrong, and I’m not saying I don’t believe you, just that if it was as bad as you make it sound, there would be thousands of cars out there with no A/C. Also, if you remember what I said about the A/C tech from Robinair, he said that as long as you pull and hold a vacuum for 20 minutes, it will be fine. Again, not saying you are wrong, but that there is a lot of bad info out there. John, again, I believe what your saying. Kind of like changing the oil in a car. Yes you have to do it. Yes, it should be done about every 3k. But, there are a lot of cars at there that don’t have the oil changed for 3-4 times longer and are still running. I wouldn’t want own one, but they’re out there. I will change it asap. It’s not like I can make her. I have told her all the info I have read, heard, and even had her read this thread. It is her decission to make.
The one good thing that has come from all this, is that I have learned and understand more about A/C work. Again, I thank all the people that have helped.
Eric, I replaced that compressor with another one. This one makes no noise at all other than the click of the engagement. It has been running fine for 5 days so far. Before replacing the valve, the other compressor only worked for about 2-3 days. Like I said, I think the other compressor burned the clutch out because she used it even though it was making a noise. Might be hard to follow because there has been a total of 3 compressors, the original, the used, and then another used. This third one has been working just fine.
John, I can’t have her buy a new accumulator ever time I open the system until I know the system is fixed. I understand what you are saying, but I’ve opened and charged this 4 times now. The part is $112. She doesn’t have money, so I’m really trying to keep the cost down. Like I told you before, in the past 25 years of collision repair, not one shop that I worked at has ever replaced one just because the system was opened. And worse then that, some have been opened for 1-2 months. I talked to an adjuster about this and he said he has never been asked for one by any shop he has ever visited. I’m not saying you’re wrong, and I’m not saying I don’t believe you, just that if it was as bad as you make it sound, there would be thousands of cars out there with no A/C. Also, if you remember what I said about the A/C tech from Robinair, he said that as long as you pull and hold a vacuum for 20 minutes, it will be fine. Again, not saying you are wrong, but that there is a lot of bad info out there. John, again, I believe what your saying. Kind of like changing the oil in a car. Yes you have to do it. Yes, it should be done about every 3k. But, there are a lot of cars at there that don’t have the oil changed for 3-4 times longer and are still running. I wouldn’t want own one, but they’re out there. I will change it asap. It’s not like I can make her. I have told her all the info I have read, heard, and even had her read this thread. It is her decission to make.
The one good thing that has come from all this, is that I have learned and understand more about A/C work. Again, I thank all the people that have helped.
The accumulator will only need to be replaced if the system has been empty for a long time. The desiccant bag will become saturated.
When the system is placed under a vacuum, moisture will evaporate.
John is however very knowledgeable in the A/C field though 🙂
The accumulator will only need to be replaced if the system has been empty for a long time. The desiccant bag will become saturated.
When the system is placed under a vacuum, moisture will evaporate.
John is however very knowledgeable in the A/C field though 🙂
OK thanks for that information. So the only noise heard now is the clutch clicking am I correct in this? Sorry I was a bit confused there. As for the receiver dryer I wouldn’t worry about it, unless the system is open for a significant amount of time I think you’ll be just fine when you vacuum it down before charging it.
Keep us posted if things change.
OK thanks for that information. So the only noise heard now is the clutch clicking am I correct in this? Sorry I was a bit confused there. As for the receiver dryer I wouldn’t worry about it, unless the system is open for a significant amount of time I think you’ll be just fine when you vacuum it down before charging it.
Keep us posted if things change.
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