89 AC refresh or replace?
 

Hi All,

Next week i pick up a new to me 89 conv. The car has been maintained great with the exception of the AC which has nit worked or been used in about 10 years. Since it's been in the Bay Area not much need. I have read a bunch of posts about replacement etc but I wanted tonsee what parts I could salvage. Should i have the compressor rebuilt and replace hoses or do I need a new compressor for the new refrigerant? Any and all suggestions welcomed. Will post pics when I pick it up. My son and I are planning a x country drive to get it home.

Contact Griffiths.com and all will be revealed. Also find a good, local, old school a/c shop run by a guy old enolugh to be your father. Added points for grease under fingernails.

+1 on Griffiths

Depending on how bad the A/C system is, start by recharging the refrigerant and checking for leaks. If that doesn't work, consider a fan install or system replacement. These 3.2L Carreras definitely aren't known for their icy A/Cs though..

First thing to do is have someone install a refrigerant high pressure limit switch to open the compressor clutch circuit before pressure gets so high it results in leaks, leaking, O-ring seal bypassing. Convert the system to r-134. If then you do not have enough cooling add a couple of radiator cooling fans to keeping air flow moving through the rear led condensor even with the engine at idle.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2X-10-SLIM-RADIATOR-FANS-MOUNTS-KIT-BMW-3-5-7-SERIES-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem19c5ca38c8QQitemZ11069 2546760QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

if you have a ragtop, why would you want air conditioning?

I'm just going through this process myself. I'd say, with respect, that it's not worth the money to put in a refrigerant, which in all likelihood will simply leak out.

I'm buying the following as a base point:
911 special 1984 to 1989 package [911special1984to1989package] : Griffiths Technical Inc

Which is a drop-in replacement for most of the system which is likely in your car. Assumes your compressor is good. Have spent some time on the phone with Charlie Griffiths. His knowledge and his products both seem good.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the info. Is there any way to check to see if the compressor is still working or are they pretty sturdy?

Another +1 for Griffiths!!

Look on the decklid just above the compressor. If there is a black 'stripe' of oil then the shaft seal is shot and it will leak refrigerant. On the other hand since it hasn't been run in 10 years, even if the stripe isn't there doesn't mean the compressor is OK either. The stripe could have been cleaned off easily enough.

You also have to consider that the system is a quarter century old. So even if it is still functional it's nearing the end of its useful life and there are more modern and efficient components availabe and lots of upgrades that will make the AC a lot better than it when it was new. It just depends on how much you want to spend. If you decide to upgrade, plan on at least $1500 if you do most of the work yourself. You can have cheap or you can have good but you can't have both. Good luck! And congrats on your 'new' 911.

if anyone finds a good AC shop in NorCal that is good at assisting with this sort of project, please post

Convert to r134 and in all likelihood it will be cheaper, less expensive, to recharge the system each spring vs ANY repair or upgrade.

Assuming a reasonable refrigerant charge level there is a sight glass in the rcver/dryer that can be used to determine the compressor is operational. Clean the sign glass well and keep a good eye on it while someone operates the A/C system, turning compressor clutch on....then off.

Shortly after the compressor clutch engages you should see a transition from gas (NOTHING!) to bubbles (plain to see) to liquid refrigerant, NOTHING again. Reverse for compressor clutch off.

If you do not see this transition that might also mean a low, TO LOW, refrigerant level and you shouldn't be running teh compressor at all.

"..it's nearing the engine of its useful life..."

By that measure so is the engine itself and so it would be best to spend that $1500 there.

"..nearing the end of it's useful life.."

That's exactly the words used to describe the state of our office building's HVAC system 10 years ago now, 2 or 3 V-belts, system blower drive belt, changes later. I have a freezer here at home that is at least 30 years old and still working well.

There are only 3 working/moving parts in your A/C, the cabin blower, teh condensor blower, and the compressor.

The only item in that "kit" that is of real or certain value is the hi/lo pressure switch. I would suggest starting with that ONLY, plus a system recharge (obviously) and wait to see if the refrigernat high pressure limit cures the "leak".

This post comes about two hours after I pulled the trigger. Oh well, I'll have peace of mind.

My '88 does have a black stripe above the compressor but upon looking more closely with the lid almost closed it appears to be "debris" from the frictional clutch material. So it seems you might have at least three black stripes on the rear lid above the compressor. The one I have, possible drive v-belt material, and lastly, a shaft seal oil "sling".

If you suspect the latter then I would wipe the backside of the v-belt pulley, nearest the compressor, clean and then check for oil contamination there after a few days of A/C use.

Maybe true if it was $1500 engine....