'88 Chevy 3500 A/C

Glenn F.

Member
The air conditioning compressor on my Chevy pickup is growling loudly. In replacing it, is there any way of knowing if I have loose particles in my system which can wipe out a new compressor?

Thanks,
Glenn F.
 
(quoted from post at 19:07:53 07/19/16) The air conditioning compressor on my Chevy pickup is growling loudly. In replacing it, is there any way of knowing if I have loose particles in my system which can wipe out a new compressor?

Thanks,
Glenn F.
ook at screen on orifice tube......that is if it has one.........many, if not most do.
 
I think if you install a new one your going to have to also replace the accumulator and orfice tube or the warranty will be denied. Does yours work?, just noisy, sounds more like the hub bearing. Those old radial 4 compressors always had a bad rattle to them. My old 90 GMC still had ice cold air when I sold it with 286000 miles on it and still had the same rattley comp. on it.
 
(quoted from post at 05:13:06 07/20/16)
(quoted from post at 19:07:53 07/19/16) The air conditioning compressor on my Chevy pickup is growling loudly. In replacing it, is there any way of knowing if I have loose particles in my system which can wipe out a new compressor?

Thanks,
Glenn F.
ook at screen on orifice tube......that is if it has one.........many, if not most do.

Whut he said that's your window if it has contamination you will need a compressor, condenser, hose set and accumulator.

If the expansion tube is not contaminated a compressor and accumulator may be all you need...
 
Typically , after recovering the refrigerant, you disconnect the high side line at the compressor and look for dark residue inside the line. If you do see that you will need to flush or replace other components depending on how much debris is there.
 
As already mentioned, look at the orifice tube, you need to replace it anyway along with an accumulator. Those pancake compressors were known to be noisy but could last a long time, if you have debris in the system then the orifice tube will be clogged with gunk, not just the normal little bit. Most of those trucks usually could benefit from a new condenser if not for another reason besides the fins getting smashed from debris coming through the grill.
 

Key words growling and rattle. On those I don't associate them, normally when they growl its a hub bearing are a mounting issue.
I have seen more than my share that were missing a mount, had the mounts incorrectly attached are the bracing was loose. Its the nature of the beast on his application. Look at the bracing on one its like they kept adding braces till they eliminated the vibration it was putting off. Its not uncommon to see witness marks on them from a loose retainer/brace/mount. Its also possible it has the wrong belt are a bad belt tensioner are idler pulley.

Rattle yes that can rattle but my no means should a new compressor rattle. I got bit by assuming a slite rattle was normal on a new AC Delco compressor.

When those R4 compressors came out they changed the way AC work was performed and escalated the price of AC compressor work. The A6 compressor was very tolerant to slapping one on and moving on but not a R4. The price jumped from a few hundred to 4 hundred and rose from there. :)

If you were doing lots of AC work you learned fast reman was not the way to go. Its a 50/50 gamble to use a reman compressor no matter what the warranty is. I would estimate 99% of new compressor failures are self induced its installer error. Flushing is as big of a gamble I don't flush any more its gets new parts. If I did flush it would be only hard lines are the occasional evaporator.

I am getting fed up with all this damm sealer and magic, cans with some kind of potion they call ICE are what ever... :evil:
 
For sure my compressor is junk. Pulley/clutch is fine. Have not decided for sure which route I am going yet. Thank you to each of you for your input. I will post back when repair is complete.

Glenn F.
 
Compressor indeed proved to be junk. No visible contaminants. I installed a used pump and charged system. Hopefully compressor will last a while.

Glenn F.
 

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