Bad ac compressor?

[Eric]

Hello, I recently bought an s10 and was wondering how do I tell of the compressor is bad or not? It was discharged by the previous owner when he changed out the motor. I turned it on to see if I could hear the clutch engage but nothing happened. Then I learned that when the system is low on gas it won’t engage anyways. So is there something I can do to see if the compressor is any good? I really don’t want to waste money having it charged if it’s bad

Topic

[dan]

bad AC Compressor typically when they go bad you know about it, metal shavings and a smell of burnt metal because the AC clutch is metal too metal.

no the AC compressor will not engauge if the system is low on fluid, and the system that is low on fluid usually has a leak and R-134A leaks VERY easily small pinholes in your AC can result in leaks, if you are low on fluid i would suggest testing pressures of the AC system and see where its at and if its low then see if you have a leak.

ill give you some links and videos in just a sec im on my chromebook and not my computer.

[dan]

here is this
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-hvac-problems

and this
[video]http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95RdGLFIbL8[/video]

and as eric explanes you can think you know what is wrong with the AC system but there are so many variables too it, if your refrigerant level is low suspect a leak because leaks are VERY common in a ac system once again pinholes can cause leaks, so do some diagnostics don’t condem the AC Compressor.

good luck bud keep us posted 🙂

[Eric]

On my post I stated that the system was discharged by the previous owner. So I’ve never used it and it’s not low it’s completely empty cause have been off twice. Is there a way to just check the compressor to see if it works before having it charged again?

[college man]

[quote=”ewhitaker0020″ post=100593]On my post I stated that the system was discharged by the previous owner. So I’ve never used it and it’s not low it’s completely empty cause have been off twice. Is there a way to just check the compressor to see if it works before having it charged again?[/quote]

What I would do is put a gauge manifold on the suction side. jump the low
pressure switch to engage the compressor. Observe the suction gauge. You should
see at least 12″ of hg vacuum on the gauge. Then stop the compressor on see
if the vacuum holds. if not you either have a leak or the suction valve is shot.

[EricTheCarGuy]

To check a compressor I normally try and rotate it by hand. You grab the very front of the pulley, not the part the belt spins, and turn it. Do this with the engine off BTW. If it turns smoothly, then the compressor can turn. In order to know if it functions properly you’ll have to charge the system and check it’s operation. More info on this here.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-hvac-problems

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Andy]

I dont think that you should force the compressor on as you do not know what it happening in the system.
Eric’s suggesstion is good, but what i usually do is i would disconnect the fittings and unmount the compressor. Then you can turn the compressor by hand and see if it shoots oil, if it doesnt, add some ac oil to the low side port and turn and see if it shoot out the oil, if it oozes out then the compressor is definately shot, but if the shoots out then you have life left in that compressor and u can drain the oil get the manufacture spec for the amount of oil and fill it and put it back in.

[dan]

i don’t think there is anything wrong with erics suggestion, personally my experiences with AC Compressors is once again if they do fail its just usually the AC Clutch, a good way too test AC operation once again too view low and high side pressures with the engine running and as eric already illustrated and there has too be a certain amount of refrigerant in the system for it too function! putting oil in it and rotating it buy hand may not get you as good of a result and personally no offense but i don’t like the idea of dumping a bunch of AC Compressor oil in it.

[Author]

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