A/C Woes...

BlackDawg · September 9, 2006

Well...whenever I start the motor I get this real LOUD clacking sound, like the fan blade is slapping something. Not all the time but a lot of the time. Ran my hand around where the fan goes (motor off guys ), found nothing and all the blades were a-ok. Noise went away after reving for awhile. Intermittent problems are a drag cuz of course it would not make the noise when I went to the stealer. Finally, about 2 weeks later, the A/C stopped blowing cold air (humph!). Maybe related and now I have something to go on. Stealer says A/C belt is gone, must have broken off...tensioner is also kaput. $313 dollars later. No more clacking sound sound so says the stealer. OK, happy me .

Fire up the beast this afternoon, clack, clack, CLACK!!! CRAP,CRAP,CRAP!!! Drive straight to the stealer. Get the mechanic out there. Finally he hears the same thing. Tells me to turn off the A/C. Sound goes away. Stealer says "A/C compressor is on its last legs". Keep A/C off until the compressor is replaced". "How", says I, "much is the new compressor?". Stealer says: "Come over here and sit down, can I get you a coffee or a cool drink of water?". "No", says I. "Just give it to me straight." $950 for the part, $140 for labour, another $100 for the coolant (decharge/recharge), some more for the tax man and you are just over $1,500 bones.

I just spent over $300. Do the math. So, my question to all you good truck owners out there is...should I look for a used compressor and replace this myself? Maybe get the stealer to decharge/recharge part?

Any advice would be surely appreciated!

Marshrat · September 9, 2006

Well you took that well and with excellent humor!

Now come over here and sit down. Can I get you a beer?

You can do this yourself and save some money even if you have to rent the tools. I guess you would spend around 500-700 bucks for the compressor and parts, can't tell not knowing what vehicle you have.

I would not bother with a used compressor. I'm a commercial refrigeration tech and have sent many of my best friends away until they produce a new compressor for me to replace. I also despise working on auto A/C systems.

First you going to have to rent or buy some tools. Don't even try it unless you have a vacuum pump(usually can rent) and a set of A/C gauges. You will have to blow out all the lines with nitrogen or clean dry compressed air.

You HAVE to replace the accumulator and orfice tube with the compressor. Add the specified amount of oil with half to the compressor and half to the accumulator. After evacuatting system with vacuum pump for an hour and checking for leaks you must weigh in the freon by weight label under the hood. After that you should have a reliable new A/C system. Don't guess with the refrigerant or oil amounts or it won't work.

You can do it!

Well...whenever I start the motor I get this real LOUD clacking sound, like the fan blade is slapping something. Not all the time but a lot of the time. Ran my hand around where the fan goes (motor off guys ), found nothing and all the blades were a-ok. Noise went away after reving for awhile. Intermittent problems are a drag cuz of course it would not make the noise when I went to the stealer. Finally, about 2 weeks later, the A/C stopped blowing cold air (humph!). Maybe related and now I have something to go on. Stealer says A/C belt is gone, must have broken off...tensioner is also kaput. $313 dollars later. No more clacking sound sound so says the stealer. OK, happy me .
Fire up the beast this afternoon, clack, clack, CLACK!!! CRAP,CRAP,CRAP!!! Drive straight to the stealer. Get the mechanic out there. Finally he hears the same thing. Tells me to turn off the A/C. Sound goes away. Stealer says "A/C compressor is on its last legs". Keep A/C off until the compressor is replaced". "How", says I, "much is the new compressor?". Stealer says: "Come over here and sit down, can I get you a coffee or a cool drink of water?". "No", says I. "Just give it to me straight." $950 for the part, $140 for labour, another $100 for the coolant (decharge/recharge), some more for the tax man and you are just over $1,500 bones.

I just spent over $300. Do the math. So, my question to all you good truck owners out there is...should I look for a used compressor and replace this myself? Maybe get the stealer to decharge/recharge part?

Any advice would be surely appreciated!

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