Help; AC compressor making nasty sounds
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 1
From: Springfield MO
Help; AC compressor making nasty sounds
Since I've owned this car the compressor has always dragged the motor down once it was engaged. Now, while driving, the compressor makes a groaning noise and shudders the car. Once the AC is off....the noise and shuddering goes away. Is the compressor on its way out? Can it lock up without the compressor being engaged.....that would suck?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,589
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From: DrunkDefender
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
CI-IV AutoX Champ
CI-IV Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '07-'10
Re: Help; AC compressor making nasty sounds (AS84)
Aaron, it sounds like your compressor is on its very last legs. Theres not really any good way to say it but its gonna get pretty exspensive real soon or pretty hot. Vettesrule is having the same issue with his 91 right now too. I'd lay odds 100-1 that if you pull your orfice tube its gonna be full of metal shavings. The other part of your question is that it can lock up in the engaged position but its very very unlikely. The clutch would have to lock up in the locked position and it's probaly break before it did that and locked up the belt. If you do change the compressor[$350 from advance auto] I'd go ahead and swap it over to 134a and replace the accumulator[$70+/- from AA] and orfice tube[$5] at the same time. I just did everything but the compressor on a 93 today and it puts out 34 degree air now. :cool:
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,851
Likes: 5
From: Liberal Kansas
Re: Help; AC compressor making nasty sounds (Dr. Evil)
Been there done that. I had compressors go out on the 84 and the 89.
Good news, if you can call it that, the 89 to 93 use a different compressor than the 84. The 84 uses the less expensive R4 compressors. Around $125 for the R4.
Good news, if you can call it that, the 89 to 93 use a different compressor than the 84. The 84 uses the less expensive R4 compressors. Around $125 for the R4.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Help; AC compressor making nasty sounds (AS84)
AS84
You could have something simple causing this problem. I would have an AC shop check the suction and discharge pressure. It could be over charged or have a blockage in the orfice tube. A good shop will be able to properly pin point the problem using a set of pressure guages.
Mine did the samething when I first got it (14 yrs ago) and it was over charged. Still going strong at 175 K miles
Bill Curlee
You could have something simple causing this problem. I would have an AC shop check the suction and discharge pressure. It could be over charged or have a blockage in the orfice tube. A good shop will be able to properly pin point the problem using a set of pressure guages.
Mine did the samething when I first got it (14 yrs ago) and it was over charged. Still going strong at 175 K miles
Bill Curlee
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 1
From: Springfield MO
Re: Help; AC compressor making nasty sounds (Bill Curlee)
Thanks for the replies! I'll probably end up taking it to a shop for testing and then replacing the parts myself :cheers:
