Forum Replies Created
-
Replies
-
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.
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.Well, I took the lines off at the firewall. Used a camera snake to look into the expansion vale. It looked clean and free of any debris. I wanted to somehow loop the two lines and fill up the system with the evaporator not connected. Like I have said before, with no pressure in the lines, I can spin the compressor by hand, but with pressure it it, I can’t. I was thinking that if I could spin the compressor with refridgerant in it without the evaporator hooked up, then that would be a really good sign that the expansion valve is bad. So I took a hose that fit on the high side line at the firewall and clamped it on. Then took a larger hose that fit on the low side line and clamped that. I put the smaller hose in the larger hose, clamped it, and pulled a vacuum. I really didn’t think it would work, but it did. I onlt put 10oz. in it, but I could spin the compressor by hand. The day before, with 13oz. in, and the evaporator hooked up, I could not. I have an expansion valve coming tomorrow and will see what happens. I took the old one out and it looks clean. I’ve never seen one before, but there was no marks, dirt, metal, or anything present. I removed the cap on the bottom that holds a spring on a plunger and it all looked fine. I’m hoping that the thermastat that opens and closes the plunger is just bad like in when it happens a coolant system. I have my fingers crossed.
Eric, I have not checked the clearance on the clutch. I figured that since I can’t spin it by hand, the clearance isn’t the problem.
odie241, I will try that out if this doesn’t work.
It just seems really odd that both these compressors do the same thing and there is no signs at all of any wear from inside the system. I’m hoping that the expansion valve was the cause in the first place. I’m trying to make time to get it done tomorrow. She has to leave Tuesday for AZ. She’ll be there for at least a month or so but might stay for good. Wish me luck.
Yes, I plan on changing it, but I want to find out what the problem is first. I don’t think that is what the problem is. I’m thinking the valve first.
On Friday, she was able to give me her car for a few days. I asked her if she has tried to use the A/C at all and she said no. I turned it and wouldn’t you know, it worked. I ran the car for about 1.5 hours with the A/C on. I wrote down the RPM, temperature, pressure readings, and the temperature at the vent. I forgot the paper at work but remember some. Will post the exact numbers tomorrow. For .5 hr., I ran the car at 1750-1900 RPM. The temperature was about 85 F. The pressures read between 275-250 high side, and 19-18 low side. The temperature at the vent with the A/C set on fresh air, coldest setting, fan speed on the 2nd of 4 dots was about 46 F. I then raised the RPM to 2000-2200 for another .5 hr. The pressures went to about 300-275 high side, 18-16 low side. The temperature was still right about 45-46 F. As the compressor cycles on, the high side spikes at the higher number and moves slowly down to the lower one. As it cycles off, it lowers much further but don’t remember the pressures at rest at all, but like I said, I will post them tomorrow. At this point, I removed the gauges so I could drive the car home, but left the car running with the A/C on. I drove the car home which took another .5 hr. and the car stayed cold and ran quiet. Saturday morning, I went out and started the car. I turned on the A/C and again, it ran just fine for about 10 mins. I turned the A/C off, then the car, and then thought that she never turns off the A/C. So I started the car, turned on the A/C, and then shut it off. About 2 hrs. later, I went out and started the car. I got an immediate screech from the clutch on the compressor. It was turning very slowly. (not sure if that means something or not, but at least I might have found a way to make it happen after I think I fixed it) I shut off the A/C and drove it to the shop. I opened the hood, turned on the A/C, and it worked fine again. I then shut everything off. I could turn the clutch by hand (the clutch turns the compressor) but it was hard, like it was building up pressure. So I decided to evacuate the system, and can now spin the clutch by hand very easily. I took off both lines that go into the compressor and wiped them and the holes with Q-tips to see if there was any debris inside. I used a new Q-tip on each hole and the only thing that was on them was oil with dye. No dirt, metal, or anything else. I put the lines back on and pulled a vacuum. The car is still holding a vacuum 48 hrs. later. I still have not replaced any other parts yet. If it is a bad compressor and there is stuff floating around in there, I don’t want to ruin the new parts. I guess I’ll try and take out the expansion valve. The lines at the firewall are easy to get to and I’m hoping the valve will be sitting right there waiting to come out. I really don’t want to have to take the evaporator out.
Does this help anyone in thinking what might be wrong?
Thanks to all that are trying to help. I really appreciate it. JohnThe belts and pulleys are fine. The noise is the clutch slipping against the pulley because the compressor is very hard to turn.
I would think that a good compressor should turn also. This is why I was thinking that there may be some kind of blockage. Pumping liquid through a small hole is harder than pumping air.
I did talk with johnbkobb tonight and he helped out a lot. Long story short, he believes that the first compressor failed and not flushing the system caused the second one to fail also. I didn’t see any debris in the lines or the old compressor but who knows.
She is trying to get the car back to me so I can have it for a couple of days. I will keep you all up to date. It helps no one not to report what fixes a problem.
The label says it holds .55 kg. That comes out to 19.4 oz. I put 1 lb 3 oz. in. So unles the label is wrong, it shouldn’t be over charged.
No, when the A/C is off, the belts don’t squeal. The pulley spins free as long as the A/C is off. The noise is more of a screaching from the clutch slipping but she thought it was the belts. I put 1 lb. 3 oz. in the system wich I believe is correct. I say believe because the car is not in front of me and it’s hard for her to get time off for me to look at it. Both times I had the guages on it, it ran fine and the pressures were ok. I haven’t been able to put the guages on it while it’s not spinning. I will have her read the information label and tell me what it says, but I’m sure it’s right. When the A/C worked and was charged, both old and used, you could spin the compressor by hand. But when the A/C didn’t work, it’s hard to spin them. It’s not like a grinding feel. It’s hard to explain how it feels. If you have ever put a motorcycle in gear with the rear wheel off the ground and spun the engine using the tire, then you have an idea of what it feels like. And both compressors feel and act exactly alike. Sure, it’s a used and “unknown” compressor, but I would find it hard to believe that both of them act and feel the same. I’m not saying it can’t be or wont be, just odd. I trust the guy I ordered the compressor from. Been working with and friends with him for years, so I know he didn’t lie about the mileage or condition. I can always call him and get another, but I really think that it’s not the compressor. But, that’s why I’m here. I want to find out what the people that do this all the time think. One more thing, with the old compressor, when it had a charge but couldn’t spin it, as soon as I recovered the freon, I could spin it again. Don’t know if that changes anything or not.
johnbkobb, I will email you my info, thanks to everyone trying to help. John