My New AC Compressor Is In. Be wary of replcmt. belt length.

goatcheez · Post by **goatcheez** » 07 Jun 2011, 19:31

Hi All...

I finally got my new AC compressor installed on my 1996 850 wagon. Not bad. Not great but not bad. The tips on this site helped alot. Need some help though. The guy at Autozone sold me the wrong belt. Too long. And, stupid me tossed the belt in the gargage right there at the store. Doah! Anyway, I did an online search with Autozone, Napa, and Advance, and there all coming up with the same part number. This is the same wrong belt that I've got. Need to know the part number of a readily available belt. Don't wanna have to go to the dealer if I can help it.
It's a 1996 850 wagon (non-turbo) 5 cylinder. Thanks again for all the help and tips!

Gonna finish this up tomorrow. Then it's on to the catalytic convertor, windshield washers, and rear wiper motor.

Thanks again!!

goatcheez

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Jun 2011, 20:24

Your belt might actually be OK, there are two different routings for the Serp belt and the longer belt routing is preferred. I think we have some pictures of the different routings in the repair database.

...Lee

goatcheez · Post by **goatcheez** » 07 Jun 2011, 20:47

Great info!! I'll give it a try tomorrow. Thanks!!

goatcheez

Post by **Matty Moo** » 07 Jun 2011, 23:02

regarding your AC, you're saying "Not bad, but not great". Are you saying it isn't blowing Ice cold, or are you talking about the install?

goatcheez · Post by **goatcheez** » 08 Jun 2011, 08:25

Sorry, I should've clarified. The install was "not bad". I'll find out later today if the work paid off. I'll keep you posted...

goatcheez

goatcheez · Post by **goatcheez** » 09 Jun 2011, 08:32

Update...
It was infact the wrong belt after all. The guy at autozone almost gave me the wrong one AGAIN too. I had looked the part number up online and wrote it down before I went to return the wrong belt. I compared the part number I wrote down to the new belt part number that he gave me and yep...wrong again. Anyway got the right one (finally) and it on with no issues and the AC is blowing cold!! Yeah! Thanks again for the tips!!

goatcheez

Post by **shiloh51933** » 09 Jun 2011, 10:19

goatcheez wrote:Update...
It was infact the wrong belt after all. The guy at autozone almost gave me the wrong one AGAIN too. I had looked the part number up online and wrote it down before I went to return the wrong belt. I compared the part number I wrote down to the new belt part number that he gave me and yep...wrong again. Anyway got the right one (finally) and it on with no issues and the AC is blowing cold!! Yeah! Thanks again for the tips!!

goatcheez

Good to hear you got the right belt size. I'm getting ready to replace the a/c compressor on our '96 850 GLT since the clutch won't kick on anymore. What else did you replace with the compressor? I was thinking of replacing the accumulator/drier, orifice tube, expansion valve, o rings and getting the system flushed. That's what I'm most interested in finding out if you did any of these mentioned and if you didn't do anything else then I want to know how your a/c is working. You stated the AC is blowing cold so I guess it's working properly, just wanna know what exactly you did to get her blowing cold air properly.

goatcheez · Post by **goatcheez** » 10 Jun 2011, 19:52

I got the car cheap so I tried to fix it as inexpensively as possible. I did have a friend who is well versed in AC systems take a look. And he though the rest of the system seem solid. I know that the evaporators are iffy on these cars and had no intention of pulling the dash apart to check it / replace it. So, I found a used compressor online (clutch was locked up on mine), from a used parts vendor I have had good luck with before. Installed "new" compressor and O-rings and ,me and my friend vacuumed out and recharged the system. All in all I put just a little over $125 onto it. It's been a few days and still blows ice cold. If I have to re-charge it once a year cause of a slow leak, so be it. Kept it on the cheap so I'm satisfied. I know some others on this board have done nearly a complete replace of every major AC componet but I didn't want to take the time or make the invest having just bought the car. So far so good. Good luck with yours! If I can be of any help let me know....

goatcheez

Post by **erikv11** » 10 Jun 2011, 20:25

shiloh51933 wrote:... I'm getting ready to replace the a/c compressor on our '96 850 GLT since the clutch won't kick on anymore. ....

Do you know about the shim fix for oversize AC clutch gap?

Basically, measure the clutch gap when the car is off. If the gap is 0.8 mm or more, you simply need to close it manually. You can (a) shim it with zip-ties or bread clips or sheet metal or (b) remove one of the built-in adjustment shims behind the pulley.

I used the links at Volvospeed.com for removing shims from the AC compressor but the links here are probably pretty good too.

MVS AC shim links

goatcheez · Post by **goatcheez** » 11 Jun 2011, 17:31

Yep, I did check into it. But my problem was a frozen compressor clutch. Got a used one cheap so I am good to go. Gotta feeling I may be doing the "shim" trick on this one before too long.

goatcheez