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Google is your friend. Write up on the job here: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-write-up.html
Parts are available many places, of course, but this kit on Amazon has recieved good reviews, though I have not used it (I got a bargain on a new Delphi from a fellow forum member: https://www.amazon.com/Compressor-Cl...ype=automotive
Tools are the next issue, of course. Wrenches you have, of course, but a gage set and a vacuum pump are a tad less common. Sometimes local Autozones or Advance Auto will have them available for lend. I have trouble that you need new hoses -- unless they are leaking?
That's a good price, but I wonder what brand that compressor is?
Well, bad news. The whole A/C system needs to be replaced. Compressor, condenser, dryer, hoses, everything. Got a quote of $2200.00. I don't know if that's fair or not but it's not in the budget right now. I'm going to look into DIY just to save $$$. Not much on You Tube for this job. Is there any body out there that has done this themselves? I'll take any and all advice. Thanks.
I just went through this. Used the write up in the above link.
It was a lot of work but well worth it. I can easily see how a shop could do crappy job - it will work at first but fail in a year or two. I bought everything from a local GM dealer's online website. Everything needs to be replaced - compressor $454, condenser $158, accumulator $26, orifice filter $8. Yes I could have saved money buying a chinese compressor, but I like the warranty that gm has.
It took me 6 days. I worked for an hour or two, then rested. Pretty much had problems every day that required another tool or more reading or watching youtube. I have a drive up lift (kwik-lift) which helped a lot. But the front passenger wheel has to come off to get to the lower compressor bolts. Had to buy a small scissor jack to lift that wheel up off the lift. O-rings that came with the accumulator were wrong sized. Better have a good assortment of o-rings. You will need a flush kit to hook up to an air compressor to clean out the tubes and the evaporator.
I'm really happy with the cold air. If something goes wrong in the future, I sure I can fix it easily. Overall it was a great learning experience.
A second opinion might be in order. Check local reviews for AC specialists.
I have to agree with this. My local guy charged me about $500 for labor, flush, dryer, and refrigerant. Someone you work with knows a good shop in your area.
Probably not a Tuffy's...
If I wasn't in the process of having a baby would offer to help, it is hot. Used to being drenched in 10 minutes working in the garage, you'll get used to it or by an evap cooler for the garage. Only tricky part is evacuating the system. Get it empty the rest is pretty straight forward.
I'm gonna take it to another place for that second opinion. He thinks he'll be around 1500 or so. If in fact the whole system needs to be replaced. Maybe I only need a compressor, we'll see.
One day I have cold A/C blowing and the next, hot. I used the A/C pro with a gauge and it shows a full system, can't put any more in. The clutch engages but only hot air blows out. DIC codes are B0361 (left actuator door short to ground) and B0441 (left actuator door out of range) What am I looking for?
Originally Posted by 1999corvettels1
Another person in the Phoenix area with a C5 Corvette with broken A/C, I've been trying to not drive it much because it sucks being hot and sweaty, and having that sick from the extreme heat feeling.
My compressor is bad and I can replace it, but it's awful hot to be working on cars.
Debating parking the Corvette and putting my beater grand am back on insurance, then put Corvette back on road around Halloween, when it starts cooling down, fix Corvette A/C in winter when it's cool.
Do you have another car to drive with A/C for summer?
I might just fix my Corvette A/C though, it's easy to procrastinate and I had the Corvette parked in garage from may 2013 to September 2017, it had some repairs needed, new belts and pullies, coolant tank, new battery.
4.5 years and it was supposed to be for the summer! Lol
People kept asking why I drove the POS 1994 Grand Am and didn't drive the nice Corvette in the garage?
Pure laziness and procrastination.
Fix the car at night.
Originally Posted by tommypenguin
If I wasn't in the process of having a baby would offer to help, it is hot. Used to being drenched in 10 minutes working in the garage, you'll get used to it or by an evap cooler for the garage. Only tricky part is evacuating the system. Get it empty the rest is pretty straight forward.
I can sympathize with each of you. We were living in Phoenix in June, 1990 when the 122* record was set. My son was driving me to the old Showcase Pontiac on E Camelback to pick up my Trans Am in his 1976 Granada with NO air conditioning! Thought I was going to just melt into his vinyl seat covers.
Hoping you can all get your A/Cs up and running soon!
I can sympathize with each of you. We were living in Phoenix in June, 1990 when the 122* record was set. My son was driving me to the old Showcase Pontiac on E Camelback to pick up my Trans Am in his 1976 Granada with NO air conditioning! Thought I was going to just melt into his vinyl seat covers.
Hoping you can all get your A/Cs up and running soon!
Yeah, my '99's was broke when I bought it, I thought I could tough it out -- my first 'vette was a '73 with no A/C. I was wrong.
Yeah, my '99's was broke when I bought it, I thought I could tough it out -- my first 'vette was a '73 with no A/C. I was wrong.
Lived in Orlando for many years. I remember the combination of heat and humidity was a pain there, too. They joke about it in Arizona, but I really am much more comfortable in high heat/low humidity than I am medium high heat/high humidity. I'm too old and broken down to try and tough it out any more.
Just checked my a/c temperatures on a 103 degree day. Blowing 49 degrees - feels great.
Here are the parts that needed to be replaced - compressor, condenser, accumulator and orifice filter.
Well worth the effort. The a/c is actually better than when it was new.
The problem is condensers are hard to flush. If they get clogged, it's not coming out. The passageways are small.
If you are spending so much time and money replacing the compressor, replacing the condenser is highly recommended. Mine had a crap load of dirt in the fins.
I'm happy I did. On an 85 degree day, the a/c is blowing 39 degrees. It is the best it ever has been. Better than new.
Well here's the latest update. I found a guy who operates a shop out of his RV garage at his house. Got his name from the local auto parts store where I shop. For $160.00, I have cold air again. The orifice filter was completely clogged. The thing is that the compressor is going bad so no telling how long this will last, I just hope it'll last through the summer. The first shop quoted $2300.00 to replace everything, Walter quoted $1200.00 for the same work. So we'll see if this fix last for a while or not. For now, at least I have cold air.
