Where to get the A/C Compressor rebuilt?

[nhromyak]

Where do I get my A/C compressor rebuilt?

Apparently the front seal next to the pulley is splattering oil all-over the engine compartment "horizontally".

Can I replace the seal? Or do I replace the compressor with a rebuilt one?

Is this a good time to convert to R-134a?

'85 coupe
TIA


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Nick Hromyak
'85 Carrera 7 & 9 Fuchs
Havin' Fun in Sacramento

[jsmarcus]

I'm in the same boat. my Nippo leaks and can no longer hold a charge and I'd rather not spend the $ on a new one, since I have other projects in mind. If the clutch is good, anyone know of a way to just replace the other half and reuse the clutch?

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Josh
Black on Black '84 Carrera

[lukeh]

Try calling Hancock Industries at 800-289-8282. I used them and they did great work at a fair price. Another option would be Griffiths at 800-451-7225. Both run ads in Pano and I assume Exellence.

[Rod Walter]

If you guys can wait, I'm going to attempt to repair the shaft seal on my Nippondenso compressor this coming weekend since it, too, is leaking. I have the seal kit coming from ACSource in Phoenix. If this works for me I was thinking about putting together a technical article about the project. From what I've been able to learn it does not look like too hard of a job. By the way, the parts kit ran about $25. This is not a full rebuild, of course, but the compressor seems to be working properly except for a leak around the shaft.

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Rod Walter
'88 911 coupe

[nhromyak]

Rod,
That sounds like just what I need. Of course, I think I still have some R-12 in the system...

Has anyone put in R-134a?
Did you use a kit, where did you get it?
What oils did you use, etc...

TIA
Nick

[Rod Walter]

Nick, I still have R-12 in my system, too. Actually it is still cooling very well for a 911. I'll have the system vacuumed out by a local good ol' boy - anyone can clean out the refrigerant - before Saturday when I intend to disconnect the compressor. From what I've read the Nippondenso compressors are good, reliable units and I'm hoping that just the seal replacement will take care of this slow leak that I have (charged in April and no liquid visible in the receiver/dryer now).

I bet R22Tech or someone else will chime in but I'll give you a non-expert rundown on the R134a changeover. At a minimum you will need to:
1) have a shop perform a thorough vacuum on the system to recover any R-12 and as much of the mineral oil lube as possible,
2) replace the receiver/dryer,
3) check with Porsche about the ability of the Nippondenso unit in your car to handle R134a (with the appropriate new lubricant - either PAG, I think, or another one) - this step is necessary because I haven't seen any definitive answer to this question; but I suspect that with a thorough system vacuum the existing compressor can be used,
4) install a high pressure cutout switch to prevent refrigerant from being released should the system build up too much pressure (this will shut the compressor down under very high pressures),
5) charge with new lubricant and refrigerant to about 80% of the capacity recommended for R-12; this would be about 38.3 ounces of R134a, and
6) check for leaks or have a friendly shop do it with an electronic leak detector.

Not that hard really. Some might recommend that you replace the existing hoses with the newer, barrier style hoses but others say that the mineral oil lubricant in the system has, over the years, created a barrier in your original hoses. I wouldn't replace any hoses unless I was convinced that the old ones were leaking horribly - you can buy a lot of R134a refrigerant for the price of new hoses. The information that I've been able to gather also suggests that your existing expansion valve will work with R134a so that the only parts absolutely needed are the receiver/dryer, maybe some o-rings, a high pressure cutout switch, the new lubricant, and the refrigerant. A lot of the cost is in cleaning the system for 2 - 3 hours since you are tying up a shop's equipment to get it thoroughly vacuumed.

If R-12 ever gets really expensive I'll switch over but you can still find it for $20 per lb. or so.

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Rod Walter
'88 911 coupe

[This message has been edited by Rod Walter (edited 07-24-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Rod Walter (edited 07-25-2001).]