bigdeano

How long should it take for me to swap out A/C compressors?

Voodoo, pics will be taken and posted tomorrow for everyone's entertainment

VOoDOoGTX

hahahahahahahahahahaha. do you have 134a? or hotshot?

bigdeano

R12 was in it. Vac'd it out, gonna switch it to 134a once I get the compressor you hooked me up with on and vac it again. Just wondering how long it'll take so I know how much to drink tonight based on when I need to wake up in the morning haha.

billthe3

If you've already had all the refrigerant sucked out and are only swapping out the compressor, it shouldn't take more than an hour or two. I think it only took me maybe 4 or 5 hours to pull out, rebuild and reinstall my compressor.

Be aware that you should install a new reciever/drier when you recharge the system, as having the old one open to the air during the process of swapping out compressors will contaminate the ___ (forgetting the name) inside it that extracts all the water moisture from the refrigerant in the system.

bigdeano

Thanks billthe3. Answers my question then.

VOoDOoGTX

pulling a vac will remove all the water. but replacing the can will kep any materials that may have entered the system durring shipping and installation of the compressor from getting into the compressor and ruening it

bigdeano

replacing the can?... I'm intoxicated but what can't think of a can in the system?....

VOoDOoGTX

under the driver side headlight. its a silver can with a sight glass. im a dummy i should have thought of it to begin with and sent one with the compressor.

lee101315

Dont forget a few minor things when switching to R134a

Flush out the out R12 oil (mineral ). Empty out compressor to install esther oil

The receiver drier (under the headlight) should be changed

The expansion valve, which no one EVER mentions, has a smaller orifice for R134a gas. When you remove the R12 valve, compare it to the R134 valve and you'll see what I mean

The lower the low side pressure is (while system is completely full of refrigerant), the lower the temp will be in the evaporator. Most refrigerant gases are well below the freezing point while at 2psi or vacuum...something we wont see on our cars

bigdeano

Someone told me if I plug the holes on the compressor with my fingers I should feel vac in one and pressure in the other when I spin the pulley. Tried this, don't feel anything. Is that a true test and the compressor is bad or should I go ahead and put it on the car and see what happens?

*Edit* There's a wire on there to power the compressor, do I need to hook it up to 12 volts to do this test?

griffiths

From start to finish for a DIY .... 3 hours.
Car up.
Tools out.
Compressor out.
Oil change.
Compressor in.
Swap drier.
Look over.
Car down.
Tools away.
Becks time.!

VOoDOoGTX

it takes 4 hours with the sheep gloves on

marky522

Inside the drier is "Dessicant" and tha tis what becomes saturated by being open for too long.

Mark

billthe3

Yeah, thats it. I knew it was something like that, but I could never remember what it was called. In the class where we learned about all that stuff I ended up just calling it the cholostomy bag.

Bri Bro

The wire is the clutch for the A/C, just connect it to positive 12VDC and negitive to the case and you will hear the clutch pull in. Do you have oil in the A/C unit?