Ron97M3
07-31-2009, 03:42 PM
When I turn on my AC it makes cold but it rattles. I believe that perhaps something with the AC compressor or clutch seized for a moment and perhaps the rattle came out of that. It's been 3 years and the AC still blows cold just a rattle.
I bought a 6-month used AC compressor with clutch off of ebay for a deal a few weeks ago. Thinking $40 used is a lot cheaper than $140 for a clutch or $290 for the whole AC unit. Buying a AC compressor with a clutch on it also
allows me to experience removing the clutch out of the car so I can then
figure out how to do it when the original compressor is still connected with limited access in the car.
Upon reading about AC system service I realize it's a risky business opening and evacuating a AC system. Moisture turns to acid, low oil causes compressor failure, high oil reduces cold, improper r-134a not so cold etc etc. One can make a time bomb for later. :eek:
So I am thinking of first just replacing the clutch which doesn't open my virgin AC system. I can always do the compressor later if the clutch isn't
the rattle problem or if the compressor becomes a bigger issue.
So just now I experienced taking the newer good AC clutch off the AC compressor I bought. Like this ...
1. undo the one bolt and Remove the hub cover.
Note the several thin spacing washers in the cover shaft.
2. Remove the big snap ring securing the rotating pulley.
3. Use ~4" gear puller to pull the magnetic pulley.
Don't think you could pry this off you must have a cheap puller.
4. Remove the inner snap ring holding the ring-magnet in place and pull the magnet.
Note the magnet is held from rotating by a post behind it.
Note: The nice bearing in the magnetic pulley is a big one and it doesn't look like it can be easily pulled or pressed by itself ... there is a race in the way.
These removing steps were easy with a compressor out of the car but doing the snap rings and gear puller with the ac-compressor still connected in the car seems perhaps difficult because of access issues. Clearly I would need to unbolt the compressor from it's mounts to slide it for more access.
Something more to study and consider carefully.
I had a snap ring pliers but had to use a needle nose. The first snap ring requires a really large pliers I couldn't find and the inner snap ring is maybe 1.25 inches down in a hole. Seems maybe big needle nose with a 90 degree bend might get both of these while still in the car. Like look for that tool.
I think I am waiting til fall for the AC-clutch swap .... don't need my AC to
be offline during the heat of the summer. Just thought I would tell you people what it takes to pull the AC-clutch ... with more later.
I bought a 6-month used AC compressor with clutch off of ebay for a deal a few weeks ago. Thinking $40 used is a lot cheaper than $140 for a clutch or $290 for the whole AC unit. Buying a AC compressor with a clutch on it also
allows me to experience removing the clutch out of the car so I can then
figure out how to do it when the original compressor is still connected with limited access in the car.
Upon reading about AC system service I realize it's a risky business opening and evacuating a AC system. Moisture turns to acid, low oil causes compressor failure, high oil reduces cold, improper r-134a not so cold etc etc. One can make a time bomb for later. :eek:
So I am thinking of first just replacing the clutch which doesn't open my virgin AC system. I can always do the compressor later if the clutch isn't
the rattle problem or if the compressor becomes a bigger issue.
So just now I experienced taking the newer good AC clutch off the AC compressor I bought. Like this ...
1. undo the one bolt and Remove the hub cover.
Note the several thin spacing washers in the cover shaft.
2. Remove the big snap ring securing the rotating pulley.
3. Use ~4" gear puller to pull the magnetic pulley.
Don't think you could pry this off you must have a cheap puller.
4. Remove the inner snap ring holding the ring-magnet in place and pull the magnet.
Note the magnet is held from rotating by a post behind it.
Note: The nice bearing in the magnetic pulley is a big one and it doesn't look like it can be easily pulled or pressed by itself ... there is a race in the way.
These removing steps were easy with a compressor out of the car but doing the snap rings and gear puller with the ac-compressor still connected in the car seems perhaps difficult because of access issues. Clearly I would need to unbolt the compressor from it's mounts to slide it for more access.
Something more to study and consider carefully.
I had a snap ring pliers but had to use a needle nose. The first snap ring requires a really large pliers I couldn't find and the inner snap ring is maybe 1.25 inches down in a hole. Seems maybe big needle nose with a 90 degree bend might get both of these while still in the car. Like look for that tool.
I think I am waiting til fall for the AC-clutch swap .... don't need my AC to
be offline during the heat of the summer. Just thought I would tell you people what it takes to pull the AC-clutch ... with more later.