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Is my AC compressor shot?

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Old Jul 22, 2006 | 07:50 PM
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VetteMed's Avatar
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From: Merritt Island, FL
Default Is my AC compressor shot?

I've been trying to tackle my AC gremlins these past few days, here's where I've gotten:

AC is colder at idle, gets warm anything above idle

AC light on control head stays on, no blinking, regardless of temp.

I hear the compressor kick on when I engage the AC

I put some UV dye into the system, and I can see speckles of it around the compressor and water neck/t-stat housing region. The back half of the compressor is nearly solid green under UV light.
I can also see some faint traces of green around the lines running behind the intake region, but not as intensely as by the compressor.

Gauge seems to indicate that there's adequate refrigerant in there.

Is the next step to replace the compressor? Does the engine have to be pulled to service the lines along the firewall (if so, I'm trading this thing in! )

Thanks!
Andrew
'01 Triple Black Z51

Last edited by VetteMed; Jul 22, 2006 at 07:56 PM.
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Old Jul 22, 2006 | 08:08 PM
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St. Jude Donor '06-'11
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sounds like your compressor is shot, the seal goes bad on them. I don't think you need to pull the engine for the lines at the fire wall. Its not that tight. Good luck.....I'm having A/C trouble too
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 07:47 PM
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VetteMed
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From: Merritt Island, FL
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Bought a new AC compressor, probably going to install it next weekend -- anybody have any installation tips?

Thanks!
Andrew
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 07:51 PM
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Bill Dearborn
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Actually having done this several times myself I would have gotten a good AC shop to do everything. That way you would have a warranty on all the new parts plus the labor. As it is you will have to have a shop evacuate the system and recharge it so you are not saving much and you will not have a warranty on anything except your labor.
Bill
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 08:09 PM
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VetteMed
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From: Merritt Island, FL
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That's not the way I work... never has been. If there's stuff I can do myself, I do it. I hear what you're saying, but now that I have the compressor in my possession, I either have to sell it (at a loss?), or use it. Assuming I go with my original plan, and install the actual compressor myself, what else should I be aware of?

Thanks
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