'04 Q45 A/C Compressor Clutch -- Servicable??

[off2sobe]

I can't believe such bad luck. My Q has only 230,000 miles, and now the A/C decides to go out...in the middle of October, of all months, when the temps climb all the way to the low to mid 80s. How is a person supposed to deal with these extremes??? IMHO it's way too early for an A/C failure on this fine machine.

Anyhoo...on to the question...

My A/C compressor clutch is shredding. FSM does not give any service information about the A/C compressor internals or the clutch, exept for the highly descriptive diagram with the labels "shaft" and "magnet clutch assembly". I think I see a bearing in the diagram...if I could only....

Anyway, this leads me to believe that the compressor clutch is not serviceable without a compressor rebuild...in other words, I will have to replace the entire compressor instead of just the compressor clutch.

I just wanted to see if anyone had attempted, or better yet, successfully attempted, to change the bearing in the compressor clutch without taking the compressor off of the car (or replacing the compressor entirely).
Modified by off2sobe at 8:17 PM 10/17/2007

[Q451990]

You're referring to the '94? (subject says '04)

Heath

[qship96]

if compressor is original,go ahead and replace entire unit with that many miles on it,otherwise you will be duplicating efforts very soon

[Q45tech]

I'm on my 3rd AC compressor at 317k usually they only function well until 120k or half to a 3rd that milage for remans depending on how much you pay.

Yeah they can last longer than 120k but check the pressures and you will see declines which correspond to reduced cooling.

Some people will put up with almost anything to avoid spending money! Until the wife/girfriend cuts them off until ac is back functioning.

[off2sobe]

Q451990 : You are right...it's a '94! Q45tech: I've been waiting a long time for the A/C to go. As of this summer it was still blowing COLD (37-40 degrees at the vents). I guess my 230k original transmission will be next, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she makes it to 250k. What's the highest mileage you have seen on an original 94 Q transmission?

[maxnix]

What's the highest mileage you have seen on an original 94 Q transmission?

He replaced his perfectly maintained second (OEM new) at 173K as the shifts had degraded by .5 seconds.

Still went another 20K in the replacement car at last report.
Modified by maxnix at 4:47 PM 10/18/2007

[Q45tech]

90-93 vs 94-96 AT systems are so totally different hard to compare lives.

230k is good AT life on any car any make world wide especially a rwd 4,000 lb V8. It's the 14 years that is amazing.

The only thing more amazing is Mom's old 88 Corsica with 50,000 miles and same transmission sold sold 4 years ago to neighbors but it was a 2.0 liter FWD.Mr Put Put as it is stilled called.

About time for your 230k diff to lose viscous or get noisey and your subframe to leak and need replacement.You probably owe the Big Boy $10,000 in future failures. How is Radiator?

[off2sobe]

Bought the car in 2000, with 88k. I spent $10k initially, have spent $5,700 for parts/maint items (all oem). So far that equates to 11 cents/mile, not including gas/ins. Best car I've ever had...reliable, fun, comfortable. I was pretty fortunate to find one in very good shape (southern (no salt), one owner, dealer serviced--extended warranty).

Radiator was replaced a couple of years ago. Didn't leak until I tore off the upper hose connection when replacing the upper radiator hose.

Diff is still fairly quiet--I change the fluid every 2 years.

Subframe bushings are shot...lost one about 3 years ago and the other 3 didn't last long after the first one went. Seems like a heck of a job to replace those--have not found the motivation yet.

The rust spots in the rear door kick panels are starting to show from the outside of the car. Any suggestion on the best fix?

[Q45tech]

11 cents per mile is fantastically low, did you replace shocks every 4 years or 60k? We have accurately determined that early Q need 15 cents.

But then again you have determined that another $5-$8k needs to be spent to return to normal [transmission, ac, others].

8 years x $3,000 per year = $24,000

140,000 miles would have cost ~~$21,000 in an earlier Q with diff, drive shaft, subframe, transmission and ac rebuild mounts suspenion items, hvac, other displays etc.

[off2sobe]

You are right...I'm at the point where she needs some rehab.

I did a rehab a couple years (50k miles) ago (under plenum, belts/hoses, suspension). The only thing I couldn't stomach was pulling out the diff to change out the subframe bushings. She's ready for new shocks, upper links, bushings. She's on her 3rd set of shocks, 2nd set of upper links and 4th set of bushings all around. Heater fan motor talks to me when it's cold, belts/hoses, new bearings in the idler pulleys.

I've considered trying my hand at rebuilding the transmission. $375 for a master kit...worst case I bolt it back together and trade for a nissan reman.

She also needs new leather on the steering wheel and driver's seat...everything else inside is still in pretty good shape.

She's not my daily driver any more so she sits in the garage most of the time now. My son and I looked at a "parts car" 280ZX last weekend...we may be growing a wild hair, we're talking about transferring the guts of the Q *(VH45DE/RE4R03A/R200V) into a Z. We're looking for a Z body for an EV, but it's so tempting to wedge a VH45DE into a Z. We're planning an EV in a 240/260/280.

Take a peak at the future... http://www.plasmaboyracing.com/videos.php

[maxnix]

I did a rehab a couple years (50k miles) ago (under plenum, belts/hoses, suspension). ..... She's on her 3rd set of shocks, 2nd set of upper links and 4th set of bushings all around.

At 60K on my Q45t I am on my 3rd set of upper links. But about 90K for the 3rd set on my standard.

[Q45tech]

Historically across a few hundred Q's the upper links last 30k and the tension rods 60k in ATL Metro but each location will be different because of roads and temperature AND DRIVER.