Got a new AC compressor installed, no good?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 1,087
Likes: 392
From: Florida
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Got a new AC compressor installed, no good?
I ordered a reman gm ac compressor kit with everything including the expansion valve and condenser etc. It blows cold air when moving but at idle it is only “cool”. The shop said the compressor tested bad at idle, something about 50psi but works fine when the rpms increase ever so slightly. Will this compressor last like this or get worse? The shop owner doesn’t seem to think it will go bad just won’t blow cold at idle. Anyone? Labor came to $1300 and not trying to do it over again.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 35
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma
I’ve never heard of a bad AC compressor causing AC to not work at idle only. If it was defective i’d imagine it wouldn’t work at all. Make sure fan kicks on with AC, sounds more like an airflow issue. Have another shop take a look at pressure levels as well
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,631
Likes: 4,076
From: Cape Coral, Florida
I’d check and see if your AC fan is operating…your condenser needs airflow over it at idle to keep things working properly…it’s good to know what the high and low side pressures are too.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 1,087
Likes: 392
From: Florida
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I could hear the high speed fan kicked on, also weird the car seems to run hotter when moving. Usually runs 192 consistently while moving, now it’s 217-222 moving. They rechecked the pressure on the high and low side, told me the compressor isnt building pressure at idle most likely because the pistons in the compressor aren’t sealing properly.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 1,087
Likes: 392
From: Florida
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,575
Likes: 1,107
From: Ex DPRK, now just N of Medford, OR
A/C operation is science...
Take it to an automotive A/C specialist.
All the failure modes are straightforward to diagnose.
No need at all for an 'I think it must be the....' diagnosis.
Take it to an automotive A/C specialist.
All the failure modes are straightforward to diagnose.
No need at all for an 'I think it must be the....' diagnosis.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 399
From: ARKANSAS
Check the car's cooling system. Obvious stuff like Coolant level, leaks etc. May be some air in system. My son's Camaro SS 6.2 (2016) Had weird A/C issues as well as the fans staying on even when car was shut off. It was a coolant level sensor.