Air Conditioning R&R
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 0
From: Clear lake TX (From LaPorte)
Air Conditioning R&R Ok so car is getting old, and I have had little problems with A/C in past. I had the car down and motor removed for a few years, but kept AC unit closed and compressor attached to accessory bracket.
Upon putting engine back into car the AC did not blow cold. When checking at shop when dyno tuning, they said the system had no r134 charge. They charged it (with real ac gauges), but did not put a vacuum on it. A/C worked great, blew cold.
I noticed under the car a few days ago the compressor was leaking oil. I knew that I was going to have to replace it or the seals in it. Yesterday I started car and belt was squeeling, and looked and compressor was locked up.
So basically I want to do a A/C overhaul on my car. I am curious what I need to replace other than the compressor. (I have an A/C vacuum pump and appropriate gauges to refill. )
I am guessing O rings and dryer in addition to compressor, but like to do things right and want opinions. Also can your seals on your compressor be replaced?
Also what is good way to flush system for new parts?
Upon putting engine back into car the AC did not blow cold. When checking at shop when dyno tuning, they said the system had no r134 charge. They charged it (with real ac gauges), but did not put a vacuum on it. A/C worked great, blew cold.
I noticed under the car a few days ago the compressor was leaking oil. I knew that I was going to have to replace it or the seals in it. Yesterday I started car and belt was squeeling, and looked and compressor was locked up.
So basically I want to do a A/C overhaul on my car. I am curious what I need to replace other than the compressor. (I have an A/C vacuum pump and appropriate gauges to refill. )
I am guessing O rings and dryer in addition to compressor, but like to do things right and want opinions. Also can your seals on your compressor be replaced?
Also what is good way to flush system for new parts?
I used that canned flush you can get at the part store, I flushed out the condenser and all the lines, new compressor and drier. Had a friend with a vacuum pump, put a vacuum on it and "suicide" charged it. Fine all last year, got some real gauges on it this year, a little top off, great this year too.
Only problem I have and sorry for the hijack, does the fan get weak over the years? A/C is frigid at the vent, but with the fan even on full blast it doesn't seem to come out of the vent very far, like you can only feel it blow halfway to the person? Air is coming out of all the vents, but like I said in my case doesn't seem to travel far enough.
Any parts store should have a oring set for the car.
Only problem I have and sorry for the hijack, does the fan get weak over the years? A/C is frigid at the vent, but with the fan even on full blast it doesn't seem to come out of the vent very far, like you can only feel it blow halfway to the person? Air is coming out of all the vents, but like I said in my case doesn't seem to travel far enough.
Any parts store should have a oring set for the car.
Depends on the oil, some compressors will already have the proper amount of oil, but if it does it will be labeled as so. The compressor I bought was like this. Instructions specified to not add any oil as the proper amount was already in the compressor.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 0
From: Clear lake TX (From LaPorte)
Ok so I understand that some compressors come with oil, and some dont. At what point is the system flush done? After system flush you add oil correct? If the compressor has oil in it already, how do you flush then?
It would seem easier to me to dump oil and go from there? Maybe I am confused?
Also whats the best way to add oil? And what compressors are not cheap junk? I am looking at delphi, but not sure where its made now.
It would seem easier to me to dump oil and go from there? Maybe I am confused?
Also whats the best way to add oil? And what compressors are not cheap junk? I am looking at delphi, but not sure where its made now.
Last edited by 97LT1; Sep 6, 2010 at 01:23 PM.
TECH Addict
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa, OK
Remove the old compressor, but don't put the new one in yet. Remove the orifice tube, but don't put new one in yet, do reconnect the line. Remove the dryer, don't put the new one in yet.
Flush the system in reverse direction of normal refrigerant flow, this will get all the old oil out of the system. It will also get all the trash your failed compressor put into the system. Flush every place that you took apart a line. The trash (metal particles mostly) is why you flush, not old oil. You'll probably have a ton of it trapped in the old orifice tube, too. When you flush, cover the line opposite of where you introduce the flush with a rag so that you can catch any metal/dirt/whatever. Keep flushing until you don't see any more crap in the rag.
When the flush is done to your satisfaction, install the new orifice tube, the new compressor and the new dryer. Add oil as required...oil in an A/C system is free to circulate throughout the system, and a good bit of it ends up in the dryer. This is why you have to add more than what comes in the compressor.
Here is what Alldata has to say about recharging a '96 T/A with oil.
Flush the system in reverse direction of normal refrigerant flow, this will get all the old oil out of the system. It will also get all the trash your failed compressor put into the system. Flush every place that you took apart a line. The trash (metal particles mostly) is why you flush, not old oil. You'll probably have a ton of it trapped in the old orifice tube, too. When you flush, cover the line opposite of where you introduce the flush with a rag so that you can catch any metal/dirt/whatever. Keep flushing until you don't see any more crap in the rag.
When the flush is done to your satisfaction, install the new orifice tube, the new compressor and the new dryer. Add oil as required...oil in an A/C system is free to circulate throughout the system, and a good bit of it ends up in the dryer. This is why you have to add more than what comes in the compressor.
Here is what Alldata has to say about recharging a '96 T/A with oil.
Compressor Model [02] HD6/HR6-HE
Oil Charge (FL. Oz.) When Replacing Component
Compressor [03]
Evaporator 3
Condenser 1
Receiver & Dehydrator [12]
[02] Fixed displacement compressor.
[03] Drain oil from old compressor and measure, then drain new compressor. If more than one ounce is drained from old compressor, add same amount to new compressor. If less than one ounce is drained from compressor, add two ounces.
[12] Drain oil from receiver and dehydrator assembly and measure. Add same amount of oil to new receiver and dehydrator assembly, plus one ounce.
Oil Charge (FL. Oz.) When Replacing Component
Compressor [03]
Evaporator 3
Condenser 1
Receiver & Dehydrator [12]
[02] Fixed displacement compressor.
[03] Drain oil from old compressor and measure, then drain new compressor. If more than one ounce is drained from old compressor, add same amount to new compressor. If less than one ounce is drained from compressor, add two ounces.
[12] Drain oil from receiver and dehydrator assembly and measure. Add same amount of oil to new receiver and dehydrator assembly, plus one ounce.
