A/C Help Needed
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 70
Likes: 3
From: Dresher PA
A/C Help Needed
Here is my dilemma - it's late September in PA and I won't need the AC until the spring but my compressor is making noises and I think i need to replace it before it leaves my stranded.
A/C is one auto system that i don't know much about, but i guess its time to learn.
My game plan is to put a new compressor on and charge up the system with the understanding that there could be other A/C system issues. Even if the AC does not work 100% i won't do any damage to the new compressor I plan to buy? The noise might actually be the AC clutch, worth replacing just the clutch? From what I've read it sounds like I might as well just replace compressor.
I just got the car in May with the existing issues so don't have a solid baseline on on the condition of the AC system.
Thanks for all help!
Chris
A/C is one auto system that i don't know much about, but i guess its time to learn.
My game plan is to put a new compressor on and charge up the system with the understanding that there could be other A/C system issues. Even if the AC does not work 100% i won't do any damage to the new compressor I plan to buy? The noise might actually be the AC clutch, worth replacing just the clutch? From what I've read it sounds like I might as well just replace compressor.
I just got the car in May with the existing issues so don't have a solid baseline on on the condition of the AC system.
Thanks for all help!
Chris
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 125
Likes: 7
From: Wake County NC
Somebody mentioned in another thread that the defroster uses the A/C, so if you think you might need to defog your windshield it will need to be operational.
Do you see any grease that looks like it has been flung out of the clutch (on the inside of the hood above the clutch) or oozing out from behind the clutch plate?
If the answer to either of those questions is yes, the clutch bearing and possibly the clutch coil are gone.
Both my bearing and coil were gone, so I bought a clutch assembly.
Mine is a 92 and can be done with some patient with out removing the compressor.
The hardest part in my opinion was getting the snap ring off that holds the clutch coil. A standard set of ring pliers are not long enough to reach the snap ring.
Here is a picture of what my bearing looked like.
The coil not pictured was destroyed by the pulley bearing. The coil sits behind the pulley bearing.
If you do take on the job make sure you keep track of the spacers (the sliver washers logged in the coil in this picture) they are need to gap the pressure plate.
Regards,
Roy
Do you see any grease that looks like it has been flung out of the clutch (on the inside of the hood above the clutch) or oozing out from behind the clutch plate?
If the answer to either of those questions is yes, the clutch bearing and possibly the clutch coil are gone.
Both my bearing and coil were gone, so I bought a clutch assembly.
Mine is a 92 and can be done with some patient with out removing the compressor.
The hardest part in my opinion was getting the snap ring off that holds the clutch coil. A standard set of ring pliers are not long enough to reach the snap ring.
Here is a picture of what my bearing looked like.
The coil not pictured was destroyed by the pulley bearing. The coil sits behind the pulley bearing.
If you do take on the job make sure you keep track of the spacers (the sliver washers logged in the coil in this picture) they are need to gap the pressure plate.
Regards,
Roy
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 70
Likes: 3
From: Dresher PA
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 125
Likes: 7
From: Wake County NC
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 70
Likes: 3
From: Dresher PA
After doing some reading, it looks like a lot of people recommend replacing the whole compressor when the clutch goes bad. I'll have to take a closer look to see if the clutch did any damage to the compressor.
I found the clutch assembly at NAPA, i'll probably go that route if i decide to only replace the clutch.
Thanks,
Chris
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,082
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From: Palmdale CA