Technical Air-con compressor change DIY

[mzhussein]

Hi all,

Some time ago i had a crash, one of things damaged was the air-con compressor, after ALLOT of faffing around i eventually got one that fitted from a 2001 bravo. but it wasn't in the best of conditions, it makes a sort of creaky whining whirr when i use the AC, it still works fine, but a very noticeable noise in a very quiet stilo lol

Soooo i just bought one off the bay for £55 delivered, from a 2003 1.8 stilo, should be fine.

now last time i got it chnaged as part of the crash repair, so at no extra cost, but this time id like to do it myself.

Just want to know whats involved in doing it.

mainly, when i disconnect the AC pipes from it, will all the fluid **** out or do they have self sealing ends? if not would it be possible to change it and only have to do a partial re-gas with one of those off the shelf kits? or am i wasting my time and i should just get a garage to do it?

help please

 

[sixpotman]

Firstly it's against the present laws to vent aircon gas
to atmosphere deliberately, allowed if the system developes
a leak though.
I wouldn't bother with the cans if the system developes a leak
as it will be full of air and moisture.
The system really needs vacuuming out first if your using cans,
or take it to dare I say Kwik Fit as they have the automated aircon
gas vacuum and recharger and charge around £50.00 to regas
the system.
I would however stay with the car and watch the gauges on their
machine just to check the system still holds vacuum and pressure
after being worked upon.

John

 

[mzhussein]

ok, thanks.

I understand the legality of venting AC gas to the atmosphere, if in my system (which doesn't currently have a leak), i wanted to do this as cheaply as possible (been a very expensive month), would it be possible for me to do this without loosing refrigerant?

i.e. are there any stop valves i can close so that when i take the compressor off, all the gas doesn't leave the system? hence only needing a partial re-gas?

 

[Davren]

No, there's no stop valves. It's all or nothing.

 

[mzhussein]

ok, thanks, so i need to budget for a re-gas.

what about the belt, is it re-usable?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

If you were to have the system vent believing it to be drained of refridgerent already but it wasn't what would happen? Would it go bang or affect your skin etc? It's it a liquid or a gas?

 

[Davren]

ok, thanks, so i need to budget for a re-gas?

Yes...afraid so.

If a garage was doing the job, they could extract the old gas and put it back in after fitting the compressor, but they're unlikely to want to take your gas out and put it back when you come back later having fitted the compressor yourself.

what about the belt, is it re-usable

I'm not sure about the 1.8 engine.

If the belt goes around several pulleys and has a tensioner, and it doesn't have any cracks in it, it's reusable.

If it only goes to the compressor, and there's no means of tensioning it, it will be a "stretchy" belt and should be renewed whether it has cracks or not.

 

[gadge]

be VERY careful when dealing with refrigerant, highly dangerous when in contact with your skin, and don't forget its under pressure - i won't even mention what might happen if you get it in your eyes?? i've thought about doing it myself, but for the money, i'ld rather a garage empty it first, just to be on the safe side?

 

[mzhussein]

ok, i had a look this weekend at the AC compressor, and couldn't see how the hell to get it off....im assuming, bumper off, (it has a belt that goes round several pulleys and at least one tensioner)...btw ive had the system "drained" by an A/C regas place next to a car wash for £5....although it thin they just vented it to the atmosphere

I just cant see how to loosen the belt and get at the pipe fixings to remove them form the compressor...i got a quote at a mechanic for £150 plus re-gas...too much for me, he was going on about "special bolts" and its a very hard job etc...is this true?

 

[Peat]

Good old Autodata says under one and an half hours to remove & replace on a 1.8 so it looks like your quote is a touch on the high side (no pun intended!).

 

[Davren]

ok, i had a look this weekend at the AC compressor, and couldn't see how the hell to get it off....im assuming, bumper off, (it has a belt that goes round several pulleys and at least one tensioner)...btw ive had the system "drained" by an A/C regas place next to a car wash for £5....although it thin they just vented it to the atmosphere

eLEARN doesn't say anything about bumper off. Just engine cover, right front wheel, wheel arch liner and under-tray off then disconnect the pipes, remove the belt and disconnect the electrical connector from the compressor, then unbolt the compressor and remove it from under the car.

I just cant see how to loosen the belt and get at the pipe fixings to remove them form the compressor...i got a quote at a mechanic for £150 plus re-gas...too much for me, he was going on about "special bolts" and its a very hard job etc...is this true?

The automatic auxilliary belt tensioner looks similar to my JTD one. You need a long spanner on the centre bolt to release the tension before removing the belt. You'll need a long spanner to be able to get enough leverage on the bolt and hold it while removing the belt. My JTD one was a 15mm spanner size, I suspect the 1.8 one is the same.

Draw a map of the belt's route around the pulleys before removing it, it's surprisingly easy to refit long belts the wrong way.
.

 

[richydraper]

hey guys figured this would be an ideal place to put this lil bad boy... my aircon don't work, the switch switches and lights up, fuse is good but the compressor doesn't engage, checked the 'center wheel' and it spins as freely as id expect, soooo im lead to believe its a wiring issue.

my question is:- is the clutch engagement neg or pos switched?

(P.S. Sorry for the hi-jack)

 

[Shadeyman]

hey guys figured this would be an ideal place to put this lil bad boy... my aircon don't work, the switch switches and lights up, fuse is good but the compressor doesn't engage, checked the 'center wheel' and it spins as freely as id expect, soooo im lead to believe its a wiring issue.

my question is:- is the clutch engagement neg or pos switched?

(P.S. Sorry for the hi-jack)

If your aircon gas presure is too low the clutch will not engage. Your aircon may need re gassing.

 

[richydraper]

would i not get a fault with that?

 

[Yellow Peril]

would i not get a fault with that?

Nope. Had this myself. Air con leaks gas (in my case a split pipe) then compressor knows not to switch itslef on. Absolutely nothing on the dash to warn you (just warm air out of your vents when you expected cold!).

 

[richydraper]

thats it then regas it is

 

[Deckchair5]

Did you hear about the guy who had a flat tyre and went to a filling station to have it fixed. The chap there said "Oh that's easy, you just need pumping up again" Which he did and charged £10 for the task. Next day the tyre was flat again.
"Blow me said the owner, how could that happen?"

 

[mzhussein]

yep, i had the same thing (no AC and no warnings) it turned out after they fiddled they forgot to re-gas it....regas and you'll be away (unless you have a leak )

 

[richydraper]

cheers guys... time to call in a couple of favours i think