AC Repair

["Al Powell" <apowell@agcom.tamu.edu>]

 "Rossato" <rossato@erols.com> sez:

I have had some real bad luck with my A/C system in a 1987 5000S 
wagon (2.2L non turbo).  I've sold the car, but on the condition 
that the A/C run and it's starting to eat up my wallet!

The A/C did not run.  I was told there was plenty of Freon, but the
compressor was seized.  I had a junkyard compressor installed.  The 
shop was low on freon, but the compressor  was running.  I could see 
the clutch engaging and disengaging after a few seconds.  This would 
repeat after a minute or so.  I was advised that this behavior was 
related to low freon so I brought it to the shop to top off the 
refrigerant.  After adding a pound and a half of R12.  The compressor 
clutch burned out.  I was told the clutch was probably bad in the 
junkyard compressor.  

**Two problems I think are present at this stage:
1)  You did not replace the accumulator and filter screen.  Both are 
required as part of this service.  Your problem may be in one of 
them...like a blockage!!  
2)  If memory serves, the system should have been evaluated FIRST 
before being re-charged.  That's moot at this point.

Well this left me with some choices, none really good, but more 
importatnly I am concerned that I ahven't really found the root cause 
here.  I started calling all sorts of sources for a rebuilt 
compressor preapared to pay for a new installation.  One call led to 
a shop that could sell me just the clutch ($120 Hancock Industries 
800-289-8282 if anyone is interested).  

**Why not get one in a wrecking yard??  Get the whole compressor with 
the clutch on it; swap the clutch; use compressor as door stop.

Further conversation led me to believe the clutch wasn't bad in the
junkyard compressor, but that it burned once the pressure came up with the
full Freon charge.  I was told that the clutches rarely fail on their own,
being rather simple elecro-magnetic devices.  The casue of the problem is
more likely a restriction in the system, I was told.

**See comment above on accululator (drier) and screen.  

So, who has any suggestions?  I would gladly put in a compressor, if I knew
it wasn't going to burn up the clutch immediately upon reinstalation.  I
believe I can replace the clutch, but the same logic applies.  Is a
restriction likely to cause this problem?  If so, where?  How can I
determine this?

**See AGAIN comments above on accumulator and screen.  Change ALL 
three, plus installing clutch from wrecking yard.  Do it right and 
you probably won't have a problem.  NAPA is a good source for a 
compressor at low cost.  I bought one for my 1984 5KT at NAPA for 
about $110 in 1989.  I know you don't want to spend the $$ to do all 
the above parts, but doing it right once is cheaper than re-doing it 
- as experience shows.


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Al Powell                        Voice:  409/845-2807
107 Reed McDonald Bldg.          Fax:    409/862-1202
College Station, TX 77843      
Http://agcomwww.tamu.edu/agcom/satellit/alpage.htm
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