Air Con: quick ideas for faulty aircon

[big_ben]

And the situation moves on again.........

Real nasty noise on way to work yesterday, anything over 2k revs and the car sounds like it is about to expire big time. Crawled home, removed serpentine belt (to confirm it wasn't a crank problem) and defiantly nailed it down to the AC compressor. Feels like a bearing has gone on there.

At the same time my wife informed me the post had arrived containing an ultra violet torch I ordered. Add batteries, look under bonnet and OMG.... it looks like a bomb has gone off behind the compressor

At the moment I'm gagging on the potential expense of my options (I plan to get rid of the car in a few months). Can not take compressor out altogether, cheapest new is about 200 euro (I'm in Germany) but then it would just not make sense not to spend the extra to get it gassed up so add another 100- 150. Going used off ebay just to keep the other ancillaries running is risking exchanging rubbish for rubbish and loosing a lot of time in between.

Have I missed any other options?

question... is it likely the only thing holding it together in the first place was the pressure in the system.... would running a second hand compressor empty likely just end in the same scenario?

[KBB]

There is a "blow out disc" in the back of the compressor to save the condenser and pipe work in the event of an over pressure. I would be looking at the cause first before replacing the compressor.

[ThomasG]

I'd say- don't run it.

Turn the AC off. The pulley (and so your dodgy bearing) will spin, but without clutch engaged- internals will be still.

That, of course, still means that you're likely to need new compressor.

But maybe first check pulley bearing?

It'd be much cheaper not to change the compressor at all!

Now, when it comes to bearings and internals of AC compressor I may not be the best person to talk to- limited knowledge, yet I sounded my idea, hopefully someone more experienced will cut in now and either support or stamp it into ground.

Whatever he'll do- you'll have a starting point

[big_ben]

Thanks for the replies. To confirm one point from above, the Clutch had not been engaged for a couple of days before due to (i assume) lack of pressure in the system and will not engage anyway even if AC switch is on.

The comment about the internal workings of a compressor sparked my imagination and after a bit of googling I found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFC5jMhUm4s

I'm now thinking that since the clutch can not engage, the compressor itself is pretty static, therefore my problem ( the noise problem and rough spinning of the pulley) can only be traceable to the bearing first described at 3:24 in the video.

Logical?????

If it is then that part is potentially a much cheaper fix and I can live with opening the windows on hot days for the rest of this summer.

[big_ben]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

I'd say- don't run it.

Turn the AC off. The pulley (and so your dodgy bearing) will spin, but without clutch engaged- internals will be still.

That, of course, still means that you're likely to need new compressor.

But maybe first check pulley bearing?

And now I read it again ThomasG hit the back of the net at the first attempt

[rogereld]

I had a leak from the condenser last summer which resulted in complete loss of air con gas. Because it was hot weather we had the air con switched on. First the interior cabin fans increased their speed. Then nasty grinding noises from under the bonnet. We had been running the compressor without refrigerant, which also contains oil for the compressor pump. Without the oil the compressor seized. We stopped to investigate, and could not re-start the car because the auxiliary drive belt was trying to drive a seized compressor and made the car stall as soon as it engaged, which in hot weather was about one or two seconds after starting the engine. Switching off the air con allowed us to drive the car, but a replacement compressor was needed, and also a replacement condenser because the loss of refrigerant was due to a leak probably caused by a stone hitting the lower part.

You have probably damaged the compressor by running it without oil so will need to replace it. do not replace the compressor and try to run it without any refrigerant gas.

[ThomasG]

Originally Posted by big_ben

And now I read it again ThomasG hit the back of the net at the first attempt

Not much into football, sorry. At least until in-laws are visiting, as then I'm aware that there's always someone chasing one ball or another and I have no access to TV.

Anyway.. It took me a while to decypher what you said here

Did it work out in the end?


Or by "first attempt" you mean removal of compressor and fitting 2 alternators?

[ASt85]

I'm fairly certain I've read a post on the forum which refers to Volvo - via Volkswagen Audi Group or Renault supplying a shorter serpentine/aux belt for non-aircon model V70's (very few in UK) which bi-passes a seized aircon compressor' with a damaged and non-disengaging clutch.
However the only reference I can find to it is on another site:

http://auto****e.com/topic/27284-vol...-aux-belt-mod/

[big_ben]

@ thomasG ...... Not found out yet, part arrives tomorrow (I hope). Will let you know.

If it doesnt solve it then I will take a long hard look at the shorter drive belt option and removing the compressor all together as a make shift solution till the car goes to the great "recycling yard" in the sky.

[big_ben]

And it is fixed

New AC compressor clutch fitted and I really can not remember the car being so quiet when running, that bearing must have been on the way out for years! The 60 miles to work this morning was pure relaxing bliss.

Discovered one of the AC pipes had split, hence the no cooling. I will not be throwing money into fixing this.

Many thanks for the comments / help on this thread, for a while back there I was fearing an expense I could not justify.