AC Compressor replacement

wig · Post by **wig** » 30 Jun 2011, 15:51

Hi all, My AC compressor is not cutting in, I have come to the conclusion that the pump or clutch in it has seized, so I have purchased a working one, now all I need to do is fit it! Is there any hints or tips of possible problems in doing this? I'm sure it will be a simple operation on my T5, but I don't want to make a mistake and have to do it all again!

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!

Kind Regards,

Wig!

Post by **pkc303** » 30 Jun 2011, 21:38

Well, if you break the system open, you know to replace the dryer, and add oil, etc.....

Post by **ronaldo2526** » 01 Jul 2011, 17:10

Jack the right side of the car up and put it on a safety stand
Disconnect battery
Take the fan off
Take the radiator cover off
Take the right front wheel and inner fender off (I drilled out the rivets after locking vise grips on the back side)
You need to be able to reach the bolts on the right side of the compressor
There is a hint somewhere on this site that tells you how to make a belt tensioner from a pipe plug (grind the threads flat on two sides to fit a wrench and use the square in to attach to the tensioner arm)
I purchased 2 tools at Harbor Freight, the plastic A/C removal tools and a ratchet wrench that has a speed "T" handle
Don't forget to change the orfice valve too. (Search for posting last week on problems I had with this)
Bolts that hold high pressure lines to the body are hex, not star.
I had to remove the lines from the back of the compressor before I could snake it out the bottom.
It took me a long time, but I didn't know what I was doing.
Put in just a little over 2 - 12 oz cans of 134

The bread clip trick for the clutch worked on my car for about a year. If you can do that it is worth trying.

wig · Post by **wig** » 02 Jul 2011, 15:28

Thanks for the replies! I'm a bit worried about what pkc303 said, about the drier (condensor in the uk i think), but if it works it works, if it don't well I will just get someone in to do it! I have never messed with a/c in this depth before!
I have another compressor to put on, the one on the car is not engaging and as it has not been used prior to me buying the car, i am sure the clutch has seized up, as they do if left unused. I'll have a crack at it, as soon as I can find the time, the summer in england will probably be over by then, it doesn't last long!

I will post any findings and what not when it is done, and whether it works or not!

Once again, thanks for the replies pkc303 and ronaldo!

Wig!

Dan Hanvey · Post by **Dan Hanvey** » 06 Jul 2011, 17:48

How did you know your compressor stopped working? My clutch will engage for 3 seconds, then stop for 5 seconds, then engage again.
Does this mean my compressor is out??

da7 · Post by **da7** » 06 Jul 2011, 22:37

if your compressor have seized, then your belts would probably squeak like crazy when u turn the air condition on which engages the clutch, if your compressor is short cycling, (turning on and off in short time frame) it's most likely low on gas, just needs a regas and maybe a bit of oil too to prevent future compressor damage and seizure, (but you can never know how much oil you need because you don't know how much oil is left in the system) that's why the most recommended way is to have the system drained and vacuumed and refilled with exact amount of oil and freon just to be sure...

wig: how did you conclude your compressor needs replacing?