A/C

[TheCutt]

Hello everybody, I have a problem with my air conditioning in my 92 cutlass supreme convertible. I was cruising through town with the top down, i was starting to look like a lobster, so i pulled the top up and turned the a/c on. It worked for a few minutes, then it started to blow warm air. So i turned it off. Pull up to a light and my engine compartment is smoking and now it seems like the compressor is making a weird sound. So if anyone has had a similar problem and could help me out, as im not sure what to do now. I'd appreciate any advice. I searched pretty good, but no one has said anything about the compressor making any noise. If i would had done the l67 swap this would have never happend.

[GnatGoSplat]

I could be wrong here, but I'd say your compressor is toast!

 

[Turbo231]

Compressor or clutch. Pick one out of a junk yard and see, but it sounds to be a compressor problem. I don't see how doing a L67 swap would have helped anything, compressors fail all the time, regardless of engine.

[SigEpCutlass]

I could be wrong here, but I'd say your compressor is toast!

 

 

I agree Shawn. I'd say you torched the clutch of the A/C compressor if it smoked on you. You're gonna need a new one I think.

[TheCutt]

Yeah, i was hoping it wasnt going to be the compressor, but i knew it most likely was. Thanks for your help everyone. How much are they brand new and would it be worth the gamble of getting one out of a junk yard? Is there a seperate clutch assembly that can be replaced instead of replacing the whole compressor or is it all in one? I was just joking about the l67 swap, but i dont think i would have had as bad a luck with that engine or its accesories as i have had with this 3.1. I have pretty much replaced everything, and im just looking forward to driving it more.

[GnatGoSplat]

Clutch is the part on the front of the pulley. If the clutch is working correctly, with engine RUNNING it should stay stationary with the A/C OFF. The pulley will spin, but the clutch won't. Then turn A/C ON. If the clutch is working correctly, you will hear a click and the clutch will spin with the pulley.

 

If clutch spins + air is warm, then your refrigerant leaked completely out. If that happens, my guess would be the shaft seal gave way. If it makes noise with A/C on and off, then your pulley bearing is shot. A bad bearing can overheat and cook a shaft seal too.

 

Anyhow, a junkyard compressor is definitely a gamble. You never know how long it would last. Might last a few years or a few days. Brand new is prohibitively expensive. I'd get a decent refurbished one with new seals and bearings.

 

[paulo57509]

When you get the fried compressor off and you notice debris in the hose connections, you have a lot more work ahead of you than just a compressor R&R.

 

Black Death:

 

http://www.autoacforum.com/messageview.cfm?catid=20&threadid=9178

 

This happened to my Lumina. Some hours and a bunch of money later, I had the system rebuilt and ready for charging.

[95oldsVan]

I agree about the possibility the compressor is shot...however,important to know...a fully charged working system can still blow warm IF the main fan does not come on at a/c request.

 

This is happening to a friends car we just replaced the compressor and etc.His compressor was toast like yours,smoked up and everything...new A/c parts worked great for 2 days then quit.Began blowing warm..we tested everything and noticed the the main cooling fan quit working on a/c request.We tested the main fan and its fine,comes on when engine reaches operating temps etc.Be sure after your repairs you do,that when the a/c is commanded on,that the main fan also comes on with it.If it wont pull the heat out of the condensor,it wont cool down inside the car.