AC compressor burned up/options.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 3
From: Lowell Arkansas
AC compressor burned up/options.
My 1988 corvette has a stock L98 engine and air conditioning.
The compressor burned up this weekend. Smoke was boiling out from under the hood.
It turns out that my compressor was almost melted.
I was able to simply turn the ac off, and continue with my trip.
Is it safe to drive my car with the compressor burned up, or is it likely to lock up and leave me stranded?
I know it will be expensive to replace the ac. What are my options?
I would like to keep an AC if I can repair it without spending a fortune.
I will most likely need to do the work myself if I am to repair it.
Is this a job a person can do themselves?
If I take the ac off of the car, will I gain much hp?
Will I lower the value of my corvette very much if I delete the AC?
The compressor burned up this weekend. Smoke was boiling out from under the hood.
It turns out that my compressor was almost melted.
I was able to simply turn the ac off, and continue with my trip.
Is it safe to drive my car with the compressor burned up, or is it likely to lock up and leave me stranded?
I know it will be expensive to replace the ac. What are my options?
I would like to keep an AC if I can repair it without spending a fortune.
I will most likely need to do the work myself if I am to repair it.
Is this a job a person can do themselves?
If I take the ac off of the car, will I gain much hp?
Will I lower the value of my corvette very much if I delete the AC?
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I would never buy a car without AC, well if I did buy one I would intend on fixing the AC.
I fixed my AC in my 89 camaro several years ago. It is not too hard. You need to replace the AC compressor, filter, and AC accumulator. You can buy remanufactured ones, but you will be replacing them within 2-3 years because they are not that good.
A new compressor is probbaly about $400-$500 from the dealer, accumulator maybe $50-100, filter is cheap. You can do everything yourself, except you need to have an AC shop suck everything out of the lines to make sure it is a vacuum in there, unless you have the proper tools.
I don't know where you live, but just remember... Summer is just around the corner. Where I live in FL it gets way to hot to consider driving without AC.
I fixed my AC in my 89 camaro several years ago. It is not too hard. You need to replace the AC compressor, filter, and AC accumulator. You can buy remanufactured ones, but you will be replacing them within 2-3 years because they are not that good.
A new compressor is probbaly about $400-$500 from the dealer, accumulator maybe $50-100, filter is cheap. You can do everything yourself, except you need to have an AC shop suck everything out of the lines to make sure it is a vacuum in there, unless you have the proper tools.
I don't know where you live, but just remember... Summer is just around the corner. Where I live in FL it gets way to hot to consider driving without AC.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 473
Likes: 7
From: Houston Texas
Sign up over here:
http://www.autoacforum.com/categories.cfm?catid=2
They are a very helpful bunch of folks.
When you are ready to buy the parts check their forum sponsor
http://www.ackits.com/
They can answer all your questions and sell you the parts too!
The exact same thing happened to me on my '88 several years ago.
I replaced the compressor and dryer/accumulator myself then had it flushed, pulled a vacuum and recharged by a local friend who has an ac shop.
I'm sure if you put all the parts on yourself then you can find some shop to do the easy work!
You can pick up your R-12 Freon on eBay or local auto parts if you get certified. Certification is easy and can be done online (open book test)
The cost per test and credentials is $15.
here:
http://www.macsw.org/certification.php
**
If a passing score is attained, MACS will mail certification credentials, including a wall certificate and laminated wallet card. Techs taking the test online will have their tests graded automatically after the test has been submitted for grading the results sent via email. Once you've successfully passed the certification test online, MACS will mail your certification credentials in the mail. In the meantime, a temporary certificate will be available for you to print out from your computer.
**
Good luck!
http://www.autoacforum.com/categories.cfm?catid=2
They are a very helpful bunch of folks.
When you are ready to buy the parts check their forum sponsor
http://www.ackits.com/
They can answer all your questions and sell you the parts too!
The exact same thing happened to me on my '88 several years ago.
I replaced the compressor and dryer/accumulator myself then had it flushed, pulled a vacuum and recharged by a local friend who has an ac shop.
I'm sure if you put all the parts on yourself then you can find some shop to do the easy work!
You can pick up your R-12 Freon on eBay or local auto parts if you get certified. Certification is easy and can be done online (open book test)
The cost per test and credentials is $15.
here:
http://www.macsw.org/certification.php
**
If a passing score is attained, MACS will mail certification credentials, including a wall certificate and laminated wallet card. Techs taking the test online will have their tests graded automatically after the test has been submitted for grading the results sent via email. Once you've successfully passed the certification test online, MACS will mail your certification credentials in the mail. In the meantime, a temporary certificate will be available for you to print out from your computer.
**
Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
All great info. Make sure the compressor is toast and not just the clutch. The Nippo compressor is a fairly stout unit and there's nothing inside of it that can "burn up" though it will seize if it was run without any oil (is there an oil streak on the hood above the compressor indicating a leaking shaft seal?). Remove the belt and see if you can turn the compressor shaft which is bolted to the outer hub of the clutch assembly. Normally, you'd be able to turn it by hand, but if the clutch is burned up, you might need to put a 10mm socket on the retaining bolt and see if you can crank it over. If you can turn the shaft without much difficulty, you can probably replace the clutch assembly and be on your way. About 200 Bucks OEM. If you can't turn it all, time to start over with new or quality reman parts.
