A/C Compressor Smoke
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles CA
A/C Compressor Smoke
my car is 02 Z06 with 128k miles.
I was drving to Indy500 in Fontana, CA which is about 50 miles from my house.
I was driving with A/C off initially and turned in on about half way.
When I got there, I've noticed smoke coming out of my hood (A/C still working) so popped the hood thinking that probably little coolant leak.
But the smell wasn't coolant, it was something different, while smoke.
It was coming from in front of passedger side headers.
It was smoking a bit and I got scared, but when I let it rest for about 15 min, smoke went away.
When driving home, I didn't turn on the A/C, and seemed like it wasn't smoking.
But when I pulled up to my driveway, I noticed smoke coming out again.
Can anyone help or possibly point out the issue & solution??
Thanks Corvetteforum!
I was drving to Indy500 in Fontana, CA which is about 50 miles from my house.
I was driving with A/C off initially and turned in on about half way.
When I got there, I've noticed smoke coming out of my hood (A/C still working) so popped the hood thinking that probably little coolant leak.
But the smell wasn't coolant, it was something different, while smoke.
It was coming from in front of passedger side headers.
It was smoking a bit and I got scared, but when I let it rest for about 15 min, smoke went away.
When driving home, I didn't turn on the A/C, and seemed like it wasn't smoking.
But when I pulled up to my driveway, I noticed smoke coming out again.
Can anyone help or possibly point out the issue & solution??
Thanks Corvetteforum!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 65
From: Rochester Hills MI
any oil seapage from any of the ac connections? specifically the connections to the compressor. does it still blow cold? it may be some wires contacting your exhaust. I'd get under there and check all around the headers to make sure nothing is contacting them.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
There is compressor oil in the AC System.. If you have a seal leak on the compressor, it will sling oil out and on to the engine/exhaust system..
If it is leaking oil, it will not last long before it dies from lack of lubrication.
Have an AC shop check the compressor for R-134 leakage. They can also add dye to the system and see where the leak is.
BC
If it is leaking oil, it will not last long before it dies from lack of lubrication.
Have an AC shop check the compressor for R-134 leakage. They can also add dye to the system and see where the leak is.
BC
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
There is compressor oil in the AC System.. If you have a seal leak on the compressor, it will sling oil out and on to the engine/exhaust system..
If it is leaking oil, it will not last long before it dies from lack of lubrication.
Have an AC shop check the compressor for R-134 leakage. They can also add dye to the system and see where the leak is.
BC
If it is leaking oil, it will not last long before it dies from lack of lubrication.
Have an AC shop check the compressor for R-134 leakage. They can also add dye to the system and see where the leak is.
BC
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles CA
How hard is it to change out the compressor?
Will I only need tochange out the compressor and be good?
will disconnecting wire to compressor be temporary fix till I get a new compressor?
Help will be greatly appreciated..
Will I only need tochange out the compressor and be good?
will disconnecting wire to compressor be temporary fix till I get a new compressor?
Help will be greatly appreciated..
Last edited by rkdc5z06; Oct 22, 2013 at 12:07 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 1
From: Katy TX
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 67
From: Bahama North Carolina
[QUOTE=rkd350z;1585238094]
will disconnecting wire to compressor be temporary fix till I get a new compressor?
I would just remove the belt. If you disconnect the wire the ac clutch will still be spinning.
will disconnecting wire to compressor be temporary fix till I get a new compressor?
I would just remove the belt. If you disconnect the wire the ac clutch will still be spinning.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
OH BOY,,, AC repairs require special equipment and skills.
You have to add the correct oil and oil quantity, vacuum out the non condensibles and moisture in the system and add JUST the right volume of R-134.
Use the correct O rings and replace the receiver / dryer and orifice tube.
If NONE of that sounds familiar,,,,,,,,,, leave it to the Pros or crack open the HVAC Tech Manuals.
Its NOT a simple back yard fix if you don't under stand the correct procedure, theory and have the tools. One simple mistake and you will be purchasing another compressor.
You have to add the correct oil and oil quantity, vacuum out the non condensibles and moisture in the system and add JUST the right volume of R-134.
Use the correct O rings and replace the receiver / dryer and orifice tube.
If NONE of that sounds familiar,,,,,,,,,, leave it to the Pros or crack open the HVAC Tech Manuals.
Its NOT a simple back yard fix if you don't under stand the correct procedure, theory and have the tools. One simple mistake and you will be purchasing another compressor.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
This thread made me curious about the AC seals in these cars. I have always been told to run the AC occasionally to keep the seals from drying out, if it isn't used often.
I wonder if dry seals are a known problem with these cars. It would seem I would have discovered it before this post if the seals were prone to failure, since these cars sit around a lot for a lot of owners. And I have been reading about C5's since I bought the car .
I do know that my 03 had an AC repair just before I bought it, at about 85,000 miles.
I once had a 94 Ford Explorer with a bad AC design, all the connecting seals in the system would fail after about 5 or 6 years. It gets your attention whenever the subject comes up, after something like that. Keeps a fellow curious.
I wonder if dry seals are a known problem with these cars. It would seem I would have discovered it before this post if the seals were prone to failure, since these cars sit around a lot for a lot of owners. And I have been reading about C5's since I bought the car .
I do know that my 03 had an AC repair just before I bought it, at about 85,000 miles.
I once had a 94 Ford Explorer with a bad AC design, all the connecting seals in the system would fail after about 5 or 6 years. It gets your attention whenever the subject comes up, after something like that. Keeps a fellow curious.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles CA
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles CA
[QUOTE=BigGun;1585238730]
Thats a good point! and it might free up few HPs 
Should I just go all out Racecar now and remove the A/C system???????? jk not yet!
Im going to disconnect the a/c belt this weekend
Should I just go all out Racecar now and remove the A/C system????????
jk not yet!Im going to disconnect the a/c belt this weekend
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 1
From: Katy TX
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles CA
OH BOY,,, AC repairs require special equipment and skills.
You have to add the correct oil and oil quantity, vacuum out the non condensibles and moisture in the system and add JUST the right volume of R-134.
Use the correct O rings and replace the receiver / dryer and orifice tube.
If NONE of that sounds familiar,,,,,,,,,, leave it to the Pros or crack open the HVAC Tech Manuals.
Its NOT a simple back yard fix if you don't under stand the correct procedure, theory and have the tools. One simple mistake and you will be purchasing another compressor.
You have to add the correct oil and oil quantity, vacuum out the non condensibles and moisture in the system and add JUST the right volume of R-134.
Use the correct O rings and replace the receiver / dryer and orifice tube.
If NONE of that sounds familiar,,,,,,,,,, leave it to the Pros or crack open the HVAC Tech Manuals.
Its NOT a simple back yard fix if you don't under stand the correct procedure, theory and have the tools. One simple mistake and you will be purchasing another compressor.
Thank you for your input!
Happy Friday!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles CA
This thread made me curious about the AC seals in these cars. I have always been told to run the AC occasionally to keep the seals from drying out, if it isn't used often.
I wonder if dry seals are a known problem with these cars. It would seem I would have discovered it before this post if the seals were prone to failure, since these cars sit around a lot for a lot of owners. And I have been reading about C5's since I bought the car .
I do know that my 03 had an AC repair just before I bought it, at about 85,000 miles.
I once had a 94 Ford Explorer with a bad AC design, all the connecting seals in the system would fail after about 5 or 6 years. It gets your attention whenever the subject comes up, after something like that. Keeps a fellow curious.
I wonder if dry seals are a known problem with these cars. It would seem I would have discovered it before this post if the seals were prone to failure, since these cars sit around a lot for a lot of owners. And I have been reading about C5's since I bought the car .
I do know that my 03 had an AC repair just before I bought it, at about 85,000 miles.
I once had a 94 Ford Explorer with a bad AC design, all the connecting seals in the system would fail after about 5 or 6 years. It gets your attention whenever the subject comes up, after something like that. Keeps a fellow curious.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 1
From: Katy TX
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles CA
yeah, I've already printed them out with color printer and was just going through 20 pages of work...
It sure seem difficult, not the wrenching part, but dealing with hazardious material and specific amount of fluid & liquid required...
I'll just drive my car with a/c compressor belt disconnected. Untill I save up.....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles CA
I believe it is still nice and cold, Just didn;t want to try to turn it on and mess it up... Could it be low a/c fluid?