So here's the story guys: About a month ago I noticed a noise in the engine bay which sounded like bad bearings or maybe a loose pulley. So while I was at my mechanics to get some other work done, I asked him to check it out for me. He quickly diagnosed it to be the A/C compressor going bad. After I got home I did some searching and found out that a few others have had similar problems as well. I decided to use the A/C anyway because someone on here said that it'll cost the same to fix whether it is replaced now or when it dies.
Fast forward a week. I get in my car in the morning and get warm air blown in my face. There's a whirring noise coming from the engine bay, and something (oil/refrigerant?) is splattered all over. From what my mechanic told me, the bearings inside the compressor failed and it pretty much blew to s***. My mechanic took of the belt and I went on my merry way to look for a new compressor.
Now I've been doing some searching and found that the compressor might have shot metal shavings throughout the system as it failed. How likely is that? Anyone who had this happen to their cars care to comment and share stories? If indeed I have metal shavings in the system what else would need to be replaced? I've read somewhere that the expansion valve and the condenser would need to be changed... If this is the case then this is getting really expensive.
The best compressor that I managed to find was a re-manufactured unit on ebay for $200+40 shipping. Others are selling them for $350+. I'm also kind of scared to buy a used unit from a scrap yard as it might be about to fail as well.
Any help, and input is greatly appreciated because I want to get this fixed asap, but do not want to blow insane amounts of money either, and this heat is driving me nuts!
A/C compressor questions
Re: A/C compressor questions
If you have a stock compressor, I think that it is a V6 piston with a variable plate offset to control the pressure. If it is blown as you say. most of the metal fragments are still in the housing, the dryer must be changed. Examine it when diss-assembling, anything past the dryer must be small, so investigate the down side of that dryer for metal chips.
The compressor out, can you turn it over by hand, if so after evacuating and capturing the R 134A verify the compressor sucks and discharges.
If indeed you have a bad compressor, check your compressor drive system and pulleys, the idler and the main crank for squareness and play and the belt for material being rubbed away.
When a new compressor is installed verify whether it has been oiled with proper oil and quantity. If you have downstream contaminants within the dryer check the hoses and condenser and the cooling evaporator inside the truck. And yes it is now an expensive repair, but it must be done correctly.
When charging a cooling system use the proper freon and amount...it's labelled on the compressor. The replacement should be the same as the damaged unit. Check out the complete A/C system.
The compressor out, can you turn it over by hand, if so after evacuating and capturing the R 134A verify the compressor sucks and discharges.
If indeed you have a bad compressor, check your compressor drive system and pulleys, the idler and the main crank for squareness and play and the belt for material being rubbed away.
When a new compressor is installed verify whether it has been oiled with proper oil and quantity. If you have downstream contaminants within the dryer check the hoses and condenser and the cooling evaporator inside the truck. And yes it is now an expensive repair, but it must be done correctly.
When charging a cooling system use the proper freon and amount...it's labelled on the compressor. The replacement should be the same as the damaged unit. Check out the complete A/C system.
Re: A/C compressor questions
Thanks for the reply ARKQX33V6.
I'm not too car-savvy, so could you tell me where the dryer is. Are there any online service manuals for our cars?
There shouldn't be any refrigerant left in the system as there was something splattered over the engine bay after I noticed that the A/C ceased to function. I am sure that the compressor is gone because it was making a weird noise before it failed, and was also vibrating quite a bit. After it failed it was making a rather loud whirring noise and the A/C stopped working. The belt is almost new as it was replaced with the other accessory belts when the timing belt was being replaced.
I'm not too car-savvy, so could you tell me where the dryer is. Are there any online service manuals for our cars?
There shouldn't be any refrigerant left in the system as there was something splattered over the engine bay after I noticed that the A/C ceased to function. I am sure that the compressor is gone because it was making a weird noise before it failed, and was also vibrating quite a bit. After it failed it was making a rather loud whirring noise and the A/C stopped working. The belt is almost new as it was replaced with the other accessory belts when the timing belt was being replaced.
Re: A/C compressor questions
When R134A or any gas used as a medium for heat transfer as in a compressor oil as Compressor oil is also put in. This oil as used to lubricate the internal parts of the compressor. A reddish brown colour of the oil may be what you saw splashed all over the engine bay when that compressor died.
Modern air compressors work in a very clean environment internally not like garage air compressors and as a result these compressors cannot withstand much dirt, water in liquid form. So that is why a dryer is added externally to keep water vapor out from forming water as a liquid.
Running a modern air conditioning compressor without oil will create a catastrophic failure in the mechanics of the compressor. When replacing a failed compressor the complete air conditioner internals will need to be evacuated, cleaned, and sealed, all part of the normal routine.
Modern air compressors work in a very clean environment internally not like garage air compressors and as a result these compressors cannot withstand much dirt, water in liquid form. So that is why a dryer is added externally to keep water vapor out from forming water as a liquid.
Running a modern air conditioning compressor without oil will create a catastrophic failure in the mechanics of the compressor. When replacing a failed compressor the complete air conditioner internals will need to be evacuated, cleaned, and sealed, all part of the normal routine.