I got my Cav about a month ago
2200 SFI
Manual
83,000 Miles
And until recently was running great.
Problem is: With out a doubt the compressor clutch.
I had a mechanic and my parts guy (I can get parts real cheap) tell me replacing the clutch on my AC is a bitch and im better off replacing the whole unit. Parts wise its only a 35 dollar difference in the cost to me. Is this a job I can do myself? A shop quoted me 310 for the job and wouldn't do only the clutch "because it is too hard to do it to justify a 100 dollar difference". How is dealing with the refrigerant's? Hard? Expensive?
Also, how do i know if my suction port is 5/8ths or 3/4. Its a 50 dollar difference in the cost of the compressor.
Is this a simple bolt on bolt off job? Or do i need special tools, and knowledge?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
what i would do (and have already done): run the non a/c belt.
if, however a/c is a must, buy the non a/c belt, go get your a/c system purged, go home, remove compressor (its just three bolts and the two for the lines), go back to the parts store, get teh proper ccompressor. if they're any good they can match it up. while you're there, buy enough refrigerant to do the refill, or if you''re not comfortable with this, have it refilled at a shop after you're all done. go home, inverse of removal is installation.
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Rich Grayo Jr. wrote:what i would do (and have already done): run the non a/c belt.
if, however a/c is a must, buy the non a/c belt, go get your a/c system purged, go home, remove compressor (its just three bolts and the two for the lines), go back to the parts store, get teh proper ccompressor. if they're any good they can match it up. while you're there, buy enough refrigerant to do the refill, or if you''re not comfortable with this, have it refilled at a shop after you're all done. go home, inverse of removal is installation.
You can charge the system yourself, but its a VERY good idea to take it to a shop and have the system evacuated (ie air sucked out) beforehand to eliminate any moisture (they will do this anyway if they charge it for you). Also, I've heard that some parts stores won't honor a warranty on the compressor unless you also buy an accumulator/drier at the same time, those are cheap though, about 30 bucks or so.
Greg Z. wrote:Rich Grayo Jr. wrote:what i would do (and have already done): run the non a/c belt.
if, however a/c is a must, buy the non a/c belt, go get your a/c system purged, go home, remove compressor (its just three bolts and the two for the lines), go back to the parts store, get teh proper ccompressor. if they're any good they can match it up. while you're there, buy enough refrigerant to do the refill, or if you''re not comfortable with this, have it refilled at a shop after you're all done. go home, inverse of removal is installation.
You can charge the system yourself, but its a VERY good idea to take it to a shop and have the system evacuated (ie air sucked out) beforehand to eliminate any moisture (they will do this anyway if they charge it for you). Also, I've heard that some parts stores won't honor a warranty on the compressor unless you also buy an accumulator/drier at the same time, those are cheap though, about 30 bucks or so.
exactly what i was trying to say. i know advance will not honor the warranty if you dont buy the extra parts.
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Will the compressor fail (or be more likely too) if i don't replace the accumulator?
How much should an EVAC of the system cost? How about a recharge (if i do it myself)?
Recharging just requires a few cans of R134a right? I can get one with a gauge ive read, correct? Any special tools?
-you need 1.5 lbs of refrigerant
-you need 266ml of refrigerant oil
the compressor wont fail if you dont buy the other parts, but i work for autozone and if you didnt buy the other parts they will void your warranty. the recharge with oil is only about 30 bucks and yeah it basically just is some cans of r134a and r134a oil, i put how much you needed for your vehicle.
Pour the oil into the accumulator, and put a little into the compressor too, 2 cans of refrigerant is the proper quantity (24 ounces). A shop will charge you 30-50 bucks to evac the system. To charge AND evac, expect to pay about 100. Also, once you get the compressor and accumulator/drier installed, have it evacuated IMMEDIATELY, or the drier will be ruined within a very short period.
That price is a hell of a deal, Pep Boys wants over 600 to do the same thing with my car. Screw that, I'm buying the compressor and drier, installing it myself, and making a quick hop to Firestone to get it evac'ed and charged. (I also get tot ake advantage of my sisters O'Rielly employee discount, 120ish bucks for the compressor and drier, unbeatable)
that is a pretty good deal on that repair though, i was quoted $550 as a rough estimate. Oreillys has a better employee discount situation than autozone by far, we get owned at work!
Well its good to know i got a good deal. i could have gotten the compressor for 135 (or 185 if it was a 3/4 or 5/8 suction port) and 100 for evac and fill. would save....well....2 hours labor.
Got it done today. 444 out the door.
Gah. poor again.
jy compressor ftl. the a/c system is a VERY sensitive group of parts.the three systems to never get junk yard parts for: fuel (except injectors), a/c, and cooling. BUT, yes, thats the proper amount of oil.
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