AC Compressor replacement

[Rich Leskovec]

Yes I know its January… but in a few months I will need to address this. The bearing on the AC compressor went bad and I was going to replace it on the clutch assembly. The AC worked fine but the pulley for the belt was making a racket and it was wobbly, so i knew that’s what I needed to replace. However, the thing is so damn old. the front of that pulley housing was SO corroded, there was no way to get the puller tool in there and take off the bolt. It was corroded beyond belief. (See the photo)

My question is, can i take off the compressor myself and replace it (easy enough job) and then take it in to have the refrigerant added? What do I not know about the process of removing the compressor that I may be compromising things?

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[Andy]

If you do want to replace the compressor, then be sure to have your refrigerant removed by an ac shop first. Then disconnect your lines and unbolt the compressor. Once the compressor is out, then u should also replace the drier or accumulator, whichever the system has, and orifice if it has one as well. Be sure to change your seals where to disconnect the lines. I would reseal the entire system if it was easy enough. be sure to add oil to your new compressor if it didnt come with oil in it and then u would be good enough to head to a shop and get vacuumed and add refrigerant.

[Lorrin Barth]

So that is a bolt?

I am pretty hard core DIY but in this case, if all it need is a compressor, the system was cooling fine before and since you need to go to a shop to have it discharged and recharged, and since and A/C shop will know the best source for a reman compressor (they don’t like comebacks), all you are doing is a little wrenching. So in this instance, I’d just have the shop replace the compressor. Maybe they know some trick way of removing the clutch.

[Ingvar]

Guess I’m not as much a hardcore DIY guy but why would you replace a well working comp with something else, likely refurbished one?
If you plan on taking comp assy off, a lot of QuickWrench and impact wrench should take the bolt out. Lock pulley with belt wrench or a screwdriver strategically placed.
Also, make sure you plug lines immediately after disconnection. Humidity will get in otherwise and then your ac will go caput later on.
Eric has excellent video on how to recharge ac system. You’ll need manifold gauge, it’s quite inexpensive from Harbor Freight tools. Or, you can rent it. You’ll need to find out what’s oil charge for your comp is, hand spin all oil out of comp and refill with new proper oil. Then you can charge it.

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