Well it's finally done it. My compressor died. Called shop and they wanted 800 bux to fix. Now I normally always prefer to do it myself, but in this case I have no experience. Can someone just give me a parts list and a quick rundown. BTW not going to delete it, I live in Alabama and I like a lil escape from hot summers.

 

Go to the parts store and get a new compressor with clutch, oriface tube, and accumulator. Check to see if they have an A/C gauge set and vacuum pump with their loaner tool program, also buy some PAG oil (ask parts guy and they should point you to the right direction) and 2 cans of R134a refrigerant (you need a license to get R12). Follow the directions that come with the compressor and add the right amount of oil. Change the oriface tube (it goes in the pipe going into the evaporator from the condensor, usually under the accumulator) and the accumulator. Most places give you a 1 year warranty when you change all 3 parts together and have them on the same receipt. If you don't have R134a fittings on the gauge ports, you will need those as well. Hook up the gauges and hook up the vacuum pump. Let vacuum pump suck down the A/C system for about 10 minutes (make sure you open the valves on the gauge manifold when you do this). Let sit for about 20-30 minutes. If the gauges did not move, you will be good. If they did move, you have a leak. Find it and fix it and start again. Close all valves on gauge manifold and connect refrigerant can peircer. Hook up one can undo the yellow hose at the gauges slightly until you see refrigerant coming through. Open the blue *** on the gauges (Keep red one closed for this part). After the first can is done, close the blue **** to be safe and get the second can ready. Do same procedure as the first can. Open blue **** and start car with A/C on MAX. The system will take what it needs and you should be good. Close the blue **** and check your pressures. Blue gauge should be between 25-40 and the red gauge should be at 250-350 I believe. Make sure your fans are coming on and the vents are blowing cold.

 

WOW thanks sounds like even I could do this.

 

Yeah. Not hard, just time consuming. But it works. As long as you have the system in a vacuum before you charge it, you will be fine. Don't know how many people I've heard about not doing that and trying to blame the compressor as being bad.

 

not bad either i priced my parts at advance auto parts for the compressor its 149.99 for the accumulator its 39.99 and for the orifice tube its like 3 bux, so repair it for less than 300 bux and keep the rest to put you a nice set of valve covers on it or something that you want really bad, if you have a harbor freight store really close to you there a/c manifold gauges are not bad at all especially if you can catch them on sale. harborfreight.com check out the store locator.