Air conditioning compressor replacement write-up
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 966
Likes: 9
From: Phoenix AZ
Air conditioning compressor replacement write-up
My a/c compressor gave out earlier this month. I replaced it this weekend and put together a simple write-up on the process. Download it HERE. Let me know if anyone has anything to add.
EDIT: For any of you who had a compressor failure, be advised that you should replace the condenser rather than attempt to flush it. While I haven't had any issues, the narrow passages in the condenser make it difficult, if not impossible, to fully flush contaminants from the condenser. Again, I haven't had any issues, but based on what I've been told and read on the interwebs since putting together this write-up, you should definitely replace the condenser.
Rocco
EDIT: For any of you who had a compressor failure, be advised that you should replace the condenser rather than attempt to flush it. While I haven't had any issues, the narrow passages in the condenser make it difficult, if not impossible, to fully flush contaminants from the condenser. Again, I haven't had any issues, but based on what I've been told and read on the interwebs since putting together this write-up, you should definitely replace the condenser.
Rocco
Last edited by RoccoC5; Apr 27, 2017 at 04:58 AM. Reason: Fixed link. :)
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 29
From: San Rafael CA
Rocco,
When you first said you were gonna take on this project, I thought there was no way you would accomplish this yourself.
Not only was I wrong .... I was WAY wrong. You hit the ball out of the park .... you did a quality job replacing the compressor, but even more impressive, documented what you did with pictures and an amazingly well written "how to" .......
Awesome.
Steve
When you first said you were gonna take on this project, I thought there was no way you would accomplish this yourself.
Not only was I wrong .... I was WAY wrong. You hit the ball out of the park .... you did a quality job replacing the compressor, but even more impressive, documented what you did with pictures and an amazingly well written "how to" .......
Awesome.
Steve
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
GREAT writeup and pics. I believe that I will be replacing my water pump really soon and reading your writeup on replacing the ac compressor I think it would be a GREAT idea to replace the ac compressor when I do. The compressor is original and I have 110k miles on my 98 coupe. Soooooooooooooooo the water pump and ac compressor will get the replacement (I just last week replaced the power steering pump due to a bad pump). The idler bearings I replaced a few hundred miles ago so this should do the finishing items on the engine I should need to get done.
Thanks again for the writeup.
Thanks again for the writeup.
Need to download this to remove the AC from the trackrat.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 37
Thanks for the details Rocco! I have the shop manuals, but your pdf was the tool that really made this simple. I took the parts off Friday afternoon and did the re-assemble on saturday morning. Using your parts list, I ordered many of the items through rockauto. The only tough part was getting that 13mm bolt off of the back of the compressor. As for adders, I used PAG 100 oil and the drain for the 1997 C% is a plastic butterfly valve - same position (passenger side, lower radiator). Be careful to pull and twist or it might break.
Thanks again Rocco! This should get you honorary status in the Corvette Forum Hall of Fame!!!!
Thanks again Rocco! This should get you honorary status in the Corvette Forum Hall of Fame!!!!
I'm just did the replacement too. 1997 Biggest problem I had was that bolt on the back of the compressor too. Working aroung headers though.
I would not have tried it without seeing the DIY from Rocco. And a nice chance for me to learn something about A/C and get some tools for A/C for later. Rocco even answered a question by email as he offered in the DIY.
Really great work on the DIY.
