A/C Compressor Replacement

[hospitalbuilder]

I tried a search, but came up empty. Is replacing a bad A/C compressor a reasonable DYI project? I know I will need someone to claim the freon from the existing compressor and receiver (? I know there is another part I need to change but cannot recall the name) before I remove them and have the new system charged once complete.

The clutch on the compressor failed and I understand that is not a serviceable part, to the extent that I cannot change out the clutch only, I have to replace the entire compressor. It failed about a year and a half ago. I survived the summer here in Denver last year, but have no interest in going through that again. I am also considering selling, and figure that the hit for the A/C not working would be much more than it will cost me to do the repair myself.

So, anyone done this and have thoughts and tips or a procedure to follow? Thanks again for your help.

[Buzzman]

First thing that comes to mind is to determine if the system is still charged or not.If it is, then you will have to take it to a shop that has the proper equipment to drain and reclaim the freon (it's not really freon anymore, but I can't remember what they use now).Anyway, if the system is empty, then you can go ahead and open it up and replace the compressor. You should also replace the compression o-rings where the lines connect to the compressor.After that you'll have to leak test the system and recharge it. I don't know if this is available in your area, but a few years ago I found a guy that had a portable reclaim system in his van, and he would do the draining and recharging at curbside. It was pretty cheap. Not sure if it was actually legal or not, but I didn't really care. It was very convenient at the time.

[fueler]

good luck bro. MY ac compressor clutch froze up too, i decided to take it to a shop. I think i remember him telling me there was a chance that there might be metal particles in the system, depending on how the compressor failed, in which case it would have to be purged and the expansion valve replaced.

Then when he took it apart, it was a clean failure and no metal pieces in the system. I opted for a junkyard compressor and the total job (parts and labor) cost me $200 (very low price), been running fine for about a year now.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Hospitalbuilder: What vehicle? I know that on a '95 PF, the clutch is replaceableIF you can get off. I never could, the '95 is long since traded on the '01, andthe new clutch is out in the garage somewhere.

Now is the real problem the clutch? Or is the compressor frozen?

[benny8]

sucks to hear that they are freezing up on you guys. I definitly have a major beef with my ac compresor the clutch makes that ticking sound everyonce in a while im just waiting for it to freeze up. should be another couple months tho wait for the weather to get a little warmer haha. good luck on the work tho let us know how it goes.

[fueler]

sucks to hear that they are freezing up on you guys. I definitly have a major beef with my ac compresor the clutch makes that ticking sound everyonce in a while im just waiting for it to freeze up. should be another couple months tho wait for the weather to get a little warmer haha. good luck on the work tho let us know how it goes.

mine made a ticking noise for a few years!! before it finally froze up.

[hospitalbuilder]

Sorry it's a 99QX4. I do not think that the compressor froze up, but I really don't know. It started making a loud clicking noise intermittently when the A/C was on. Took me a while to figure out what it was. When I did, I noticed what looks like a flat metal plate on the front of the pulley, slipping, then engaging and slipping again. That was making the noise. I took it to a shop who I have a decent amount of trust in and they told me that it was the clutch, but that I would have to replace the entire compressor to repair.

It was October 07 when that happened and I was in the process of moving from Atlanta to Denver. A/C is less of a need here, but... we certainly have days that A/C is a nice thing to have.