Since we're talking about Air Conditioning shims with bread clips and wire ties....

[Jonboy74]

I'm curious, for those of you who have done this, how long has it lasted before you finally gave up and shelled out for a new compressor or clutch?

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31203

I did this a couple of years back and this season it started acting up again....

I dove in and put in a couple more cable ties and it seems to be working....but I literally just did it yesterday, and it wasn't hot out today, so....

Thanks,

Jonboy
2002 V70 2.4T
Something north of 260k miles....

[abscate]

Mine lasted 5 years and about 70,000 miles more before the clutch plate gave up and fragmented. I think there are role here with even longer reported success

[amblerman]

Mine lasted two years.
When I took a look, the bread clips were gone.

Instead of moving to the zip tie method (which should hold nicely), I just took clutch plate off and replaced shims inside clutch.

That as last year. Haven't even tried things this year to see if the AC works.. Just driving so little

[abscate]

If anyone needs shims I bought a bunch on one of my FCP orders - I can mail for a stamp vs $9 shopping for a 90 cent part.

I could also give dimensions as any steel washer would do here.

[oragex]

The gap wasn't bad yet, but the bearing on my pulley was making noise at 100K miles, so I went replacing the bearing (with a quality one) and in the process you can remove a shim to adjust the gap (there's 3 shims of different thickness inside). Now at 135K miles, being fine ever since www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAGDkwYSFY4

[kallekula]

my zips has been holding up for at least a couple of years. more like 3-4 I think. And I bought them at HF!

[erikv11]

I have zip tied three P80 car compressors, all are still holding. Longest is past 5 years by now, based on my posts over in that other thread.

[RichCrewe]

I did the zip-tie fix in 2012, still working (though the UK isn't really the most punishing environment for an air-con system.) I did find that I got the same symptoms as a worn air-con compressor clutch (air-con cutting out and not re-engaging without a "rest") when the alternator was failing. I guess when there's low-ish battery voltage, the air-con is the first thing to be switched-off.

[Jonboy74]

Fair enough. So, I might be good for a couple more years (I'm in North Carolina and its been in the 80's the past few days - brutal days are ahead, temperature-wise). Seems to be holding for now, nice and cool.

I figured (maybe incorrectly?) that in order to replace the clutch plate that I would have to remove the compressor from the system, breaking the seal, and it wouldn't be worth it...but (I'm not looking for trouble) if/when the time comes, can it be done without opening the system? I figure if I have to break the seal, then I might as well either replace the AC components altogether or junk the car....because the car isn't worth more than a couple thou....

As a reminder, we're talking about a 2002 V70 2.4T - there's barely enough room to get my fingers down around the clutch plate, and only because I have skinny arms, LOL.

Thanks!

Jonboy

[abscate]

You can ease the compressor off the bracket and create enough space to work on the clutch and do the “ correct fix’ , if you think you want to run the car for 5 I think that is what I would do.

On edit...Easing the compressor back means you do not break the AC lines , so no need to evacuate, pump down, and recharge. You can get a sense of the clearance in peppermint’s video

I was getting ready to do this on my T5 when the clutch nicely grenadednand the compressor started growling, so I did a new compressor. Always a struggle spending for a new part when you wonder how much life the car had, but I will say I could not remember the compressor price yesterday cruising the interstate at 90F with 68F air inside



G’noght J,

Elizabeth