[s-cars] A/C Compressor Dead

[Chris Covington]

Mark,

Unless you can figure out a way to change the compressor without removing
any hoses and losing pressure in the system, then yes you'll need new R12.
I'd avoid rebuilt compressors at any cost.  You're better off getting a
used, known-working one, rather than a rebuilt, or else a brand new one.

My compressor died a year ago and I got one off of a '91 80Q with 23K in
the junkyard.  It's been working fine ever since, and if I were to have
gotten that compressor new I surely would've paid much more.

Also, I would avoid "upgrading" to R134a (which has worse performance
than R12) because of the fact that the hoses in your car aren't designed
to use the thinner molecules of R134a, and therefore the R134a could leak
out over time (as the similarly-thin Autofrost did on my 200q20v).  So
unless you know some other people who've successfully converted
stock-A/C-hosed S4s to R134a (for more than a period of a year), or if
you want to purchase all new hoses (which would tolerate the thinner
R134a molecules) I'd bite the bullet and get R12 as well.  If you get a
used compressor, that would pay for the R12 and still save you some $$$
over a new as well.

Cov
200q20v

On Tue, 2 Jul 2002 UrS492 at aol.com wrote:

> Well,
>
>        The verdict is in.  Dead A/C compressor.  Who has replaced this lately
> and what is a typical cost.  It is possible to get a rebuilt compressor, and
> if so, are they as good as new?  Who is a good source for getting this?
> Blau seems high $595, but then maybe that is just wishful thinking that I can
> find it for less.
> One other question,  when this died, did I loose all my expensive R12?  If
> so,  anyone out there with a 92 that has been successful in changing the
> system to the newer AC juice?
>
> Thanks for any help in this.
>
> Burnin in UT
>
> Mark in UT
> 92 S4
> Past:
> 86 Coupe GT
> 92 100 S
> 97 A4 T