General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Need a new A/C compressor (thoughts?)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 19, 2008 | 03:09 PM
  #1  
Bigmarky's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Exclamation Need a new A/C compressor (thoughts?)

Pretty much at this point if you turn on the a/c, the compressor makes a large knocking sound and just leaks out whatever freon it had in it...

GMparts direct has one for 400bux new (not sure if it comes with the extras though)


-----------------------------------------
where as this one is also new and i think comes with the extras for 400 as well


Do brand names really matter on a compressor? I'd rather not buy a used/rebuilt one as I just want one that can take the abuse from 24/7 usage in Houston

thanks
-Marcus
Reply
Old May 19, 2008 | 03:21 PM
  #2  
2002_Z28_Six_Speed's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,538
Likes: 1
From: Wash, DC
Default

OEM or don't plan on fixing it.

It comes as pictured above. I paid 400 for mine and it has been working for 3 years.
Reply
Old May 19, 2008 | 03:25 PM
  #3  
Bigmarky's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Default

appreciate it, i'll order a new one of gmparts direct
Reply
Old May 19, 2008 | 03:46 PM
  #4  
9000th01ss's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,235
Likes: 2
Default

If your compressor is that bad I hope thats not all you're changing, and I hope you're not just going to swap it out, throw in some freon and expect cold air.

Are you familiar with AC repair?
Reply
Old May 19, 2008 | 04:24 PM
  #5  
Bigmarky's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Default

i was just assuming it was the compressor

i know some folks say the dryer should be changed, in my understanding a dryer is just pulling the moisture out of the air


i just dont understand the whole clutch concept with the compressor?
Reply
Old May 19, 2008 | 06:15 PM
  #6  
9000th01ss's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,235
Likes: 2
Default

The drier (actually the accumulator has the drier built into it) never touches air, the refrigerant runs through it and it removes any air or contaminates from it.

When your compressor goes bad it pumps all the garbage through the system, less than 18 inches away is the condenser, all this garbage usually gets stuck there and cannot be removed or flushed out. If you don't do anything about that, all the garbage from your last compressor can ruin your new one.

What ever debris from the compressor that makes it through the condenser will get stuck in the orifice tube.

The accumulator is a disposable part much like an oil filter in the sense that if you had a rod bearing fail you wouldn't keep the same oil filter on the car even though it has 5 miles on it.

The evaporator usually won't get any junk in it from the compressor but it should be flushed because it contains an unmeasureable amount of oil. Oil circulates with the refrigerant, too much oil effects heat transfer which makes your AC not blow as cold as it should.

To do it right you need to get a new compressor $400, new condenser $200, new accumulator $85, orifice tube $7, seal kit $8, 9 ounces of PAG150 oil $10, two 12 ounce cans of 134a (1.5 pounds) $14.
Flush the evaporator and lines that are going to be reused, install all the new parts, add a few ounces of the oil to the compressor, evap, cond.

Use an inert gas (nitrogen) and a trace amount of refrigerant and do a leak check.

Connect a vacuum pump and let it pull a vacuum for at least an hour.

Add refrigerant.

It will work like new if you do it like this.
Reply
Old May 19, 2008 | 06:41 PM
  #7  
needadvice's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
Default

Don't know how much cash you have to spend...but I got my A/C completely redone by my local Pontiac dealership, compressor and all the other parts, for $800. Came with a lifetime parts and labor warranty. Nevwer have to worry about A/C trouble again and will never spend another penny on it either.
Reply
Old May 21, 2008 | 11:24 AM
  #8  
Bigmarky's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Default

thank you very much for the posts, steered me in the right direction.

tired of not havin real a/c so might as well order it all and do it right
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:22 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE