If a compressor went bad and put all the little parts and bearings and **** in my A/C system, would the orifice tube and accumulator catch all of it so all i have to do is replace them, or do i really need a full system flush? I already have another compressor on. This could mean a difference of$200.00 to $700.00 in repairs. Please help.

 

it seems A/C questions rarely get answered, or maybe this is the wrong forum, TTT.

 

Assuming your compressor actually puked its guts into the system, you will need to flush out the guts that are left behind when you replace the compressor.

The orifice tube is only going to stop so much. When you replace it it will clog up again. If you put in an in-line filter it will stop what's still there....until it clogs up or, at minimum, reduces your system's efficiency.

When I replaced my compressor, accumulator, and orifice tube, it cost me $140 to get a flush and recharge. I didn't put in an in-line filter, which are really only supposed to catch the tiny bits that missed getting flushed - not take the place of a flush.

I replaced the parts mentioned for $435. The flush and recharge was, as stated, $140. If you don't get a flush, you'll be buying a new compressor...again, and again, etc.

 

Gotta give us some time...

 

my system is clogged because of a messed up compressor. I got another compressor put on and a shop checked and charged it, they said the compressor is working but the pressure was off on one of the sides which indicated either a leak or a clog. They quoted around $700. I'll scan in the estimate they gave me and maybe somebody could tell me if that is consistent with what usually has to be done when a compressor goes bad.

 

sorry i dont know much about the a/c part of our cars..usually leave that to the experts..thats one part i dont really like to fool with...that and the transmission..

 

I'm the same way about the AC and trans, its all foreign to me. Thats why i'm trying to make sure the shop doesnt screw me.

Anyway, here is their estimate: http://home.comcast.net/~spy2520/estimate.jpg

Is all this necessary, the only thing they know is what i stated above, it wasnt cooling and the pressure on either the high sode or low side was wrong so the figured it was leak. They originally thought it was the evap core because that is the only thing they cant really get to without taking **** apart. I told them a compressor got put in then they said well its more than likely junk from the compressor. Wont a flush and replacing the orifice tube and all that stuff fix this? Why is it so much?

 

There's a lot of labor cost in that estimate.

I didn't change the expansion valve since I didn't have chunks in the system and a flush would take care of the tiny bits.

Did you apply the proper amount of compressor oil (PAG) when you replaced the compressor? This is required. Were instructions about that included with the compressor? The proper amount of oil must be maintained. High or low and it won't act right. Reclaimation/recharge can fix this.

Did you get your system flushed of the chunks before you ran your compressor? All bets are off if you didn't.

If you got your system flushed properly before you turned on the compressor and the system is actually clogged, you may have to get a back-flush if you can get a place to do it, or take off each piece and flush it to find which part is plugged up.

Spend about three days searching for information on the web to learn about a/c system repair. Then decide whether you can do any of it. Then pay to get it done if you don't want to try.

I replaced my own compressor, accumulator, and orifice tube. I got it flushed before I turned it on. I didn't find any chunks when it was apart. Everything works great and it was easy as pie. You should replace your accumulator if you have it apart for anything over a day or two, and especially if your compressor puked its guts. The other hoses can be removed as possible and cleaned with the proper solvent. The evaporator and condensor may need to be replaced if they are shot through with chunks that can't be flushed out.

$.02

 

I got a shop to install my compressor, but they were BSing me about getting everything checked and charged so i ended up going to another shop. I haven't run the new compressor yet, in fact it should have only been in use when the other shop checked and charged the system. I hope that didnt do anything. So should i just replace the parts and get it flushed and start from there? That sounds like it should be the first step to determine if anything else needs to be done.

 

Rehabilitating my a/c was some of the easiest work I've done on a car short of changing the air filter. It was simple remove and replace. I didn't have the equipment to flush the system or to reclaim and recharge. I could't pull the requisite 29in vacuum for 30-60 minutes. I had to get that done at a shop. But I did the other stuff. I overcame my fear of a/c.

The two main concerns I had were that it was full of oil and R134a. It was some sort of majic elixer that would do horrible things if poked or prodded incorrectly. I should have saved my fear for something real, like sassing my wife. If you really care about killing ozones, have a shop reclaim your refrigerant before commencing work. Otherwise, loosen a fitting and set it free. (void where prohibited by law)

The second issue was simply that I didn't understand the a/c system and it all sounded expensive. If I screwed it up I'd be out big bucks, or at least kill something in my precious automobile. Once I understood the only moving part was the compressor, it got much better.

The condensor and evaporator are very expensive. But they are not consumables. They are hard parts and unless you whack 'em or poke 'em they're good to go. Removing them may be a pain but it won't make your car inop of you drop one. Just your a/c.

The lines and hoses can be removed and replaced. They cost bucks but don't fail all that often. Leak detector added to the system is indicated upon recharge and that will tell you if they need replacement. Personally, it would depend on how they looked to me whether I felt like they were failed or failing. Looks aren't everything, but you're betting hard cash either way. Take your pick.

The expansion valve and orifice tube are replaceable as well. Not much of an issue.

The accumulator/dryer feels much more ominous than it really is. Probably because we don't see what's going on inside it. It removes trace moisture from the oil/gas mix. It containes dessicant just like those bags of crystals in our new electronics packages. When opened to the atmosphere it will saturate w/moisture over time. This will degrade your system if not fully vacuumed during flush/recharge. The time left to the elements before replacement is indicated is as little as two hours for Ford systems, I've heard. Easy to replace. $140 where I got mine.

Then there's the compressor. Moving parts. Clutched. Oiled. Electrified. It's just a pump. It pumps oil and gas through the system. It has two basic failure modes. Catastrophic failure and not catastrophic failure. One has bits & chunks the other has flakes or nothing. I got lucky. Mine just had flakes and nothing. The system was easily flushed.

Each part of the system has residual oil. The compressor has oil in it. The accumulator has oil in it. The evaporator and condensor have oil in them. Each part of the system other than the compressor is figured to contain an ounce of oil. If you replace that part, add an ounce of oil. The compressor is different. Four ounces is generally indicated per my compressor instructions. Remember, adding all this oil together it SHOULD NOT EXCEED your total oil charge for your system.

My system wasn't contaminated so I didn't have to remove each part and flush out bits and pieces of compressor. Some people might have to do that. I guess we'll see in the long run whether something diabolical was lurking deep inside my a/c system, waiting to ruin everything in a second.

But I don't think so. I'm confident. Everything works and there's no funny noises yet. (knock on wood)

Spend some time searching the web on GOOGLE.COM for information and you will greatly increase your confidence factor and your bottom line.

Google is your friend.

 

My shop told me my compressor took a dump and I need a new one. Is there anyway to tell without removing it which kind of failure it was? I want to get the parts myself since it will be 10x cheaper and I want to know if I should get the orifice tube and accumulator also.

 

You should definietly get an orifice tube since they are so cheap, mine was completely clogged with compressor **** that i could only describe as "shiny cosmic dust from space". I think the accumulator only needs to be replaced if they know it is f'ed up or if the sytem has been open for a long time. Mine made alot of noise when it went, and then it just stopped making noise and stopped working.