A/C Compressor clutch toast?

[FirstDotLast]

Hi all,

I have some very noob questions about my A/C. The A/C compressor has starting making some pretty terrible noises. It's a rattling/scraping noise coming from the compressor. I opened the engine compartment and noticed the clutch slipping occasionally and sometimes the front hub wobbles around. The A/C was blowing cold before this and now of course it isn't. I think the clutch or clutch bearing has gone bad and the compressor isn't engaging any more but I'm not totally sure if the shaft, seal, or anything else is messed up. Also, the noises are there whether the A/C is on or off. I still have the original Denso compressor with R12.

I'm trying to figure out the best way forward and troubleshooting this. I don't see any leaks and this started happening pretty suddenly. Could it be something electrical I should check first causing the clutch to not engage/disengage properly? Is there a way to figure out specifically which components have gone bad? I'm not even sure that if I needed the individual clutch parts or bearing I would be able to find them anywhere.

Do I just bite the bullet and rebuild the entire compressor or buy a new one? And should I switch over to R124a? What would be the best, cheapest way to go about repairing the A/C?

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by FirstDotLast

Hi all,

I have some very noob questions about my A/C. The A/C compressor has starting making some pretty terrible noises. It's a rattling/scraping noise coming from the compressor. I opened the engine compartment and noticed the clutch slipping occasionally and sometimes the front hub wobbles around. The A/C was blowing cold before this and now of course it isn't. I think the clutch or clutch bearing has gone bad and the compressor isn't engaging any more but I'm not totally sure if the shaft, seal, or anything else is messed up. Also, the noises are there whether the A/C is on or off. I still have the original Denso compressor with R12.

I'm trying to figure out the best way forward and troubleshooting this. I don't see any leaks and this started happening pretty suddenly. Could it be something electrical I should check first causing the clutch to not engage/disengage properly? Is there a way to figure out specifically which components have gone bad? I'm not even sure that if I needed the individual clutch parts or bearing I would be able to find them anywhere.

Do I just bite the bullet and rebuild the entire compressor or buy a new one? And should I switch over to R124a? What would be the best, cheapest way to go about repairing the A/C?

Not familiar with R-124a, but, I just replaced the compressor,
hoses, dryer ect...and converted to R134.

Porsche 911 AC Kit | Part Number: 60-84594-RN | Discount AC Parts
^^^^^
This is a good source for a new compressor.

Good luck,

pm me as needed.

Gerry

[T77911S]

i would put gauges on to make sure the pressures were not sky hi.
could be the compressor os going bad

[kuehl]

Originally Posted by FirstDotLast

I noticed the clutch slipping occasionally and sometimes the front hub wobbles around. I still have the original Denso compressor with R12.

You will need to recover the refrigerant, install a new Denso (brand) compressor with clutch, a receiver drier, consider a low high binary switch, along with o-rings, and refrigerant oil. The host here, Pelican, sells compressors, orings, driers.

Before you install new parts you will need to inspect the system for contamination (debris; metal particles, grey matter, gel'd refrigerant oil.

Originally Posted by FirstDotLast

Do I just bite the bullet.

Yes.

Originally Posted by FirstDotLast

Should I switch over to R124a? (R134A).

Unless your car has new barrier hoses, no matter what you put in its gonna pee out over time. So, check your hoses. You could use R134a, the performance will be slightly less than R12, however stock performance with R12 was not that great to begin with; all depends upon how much AC you need.

Originally Posted by FirstDotLast

What would be the best, cheapest way to go about repairing the A/C?

Do it right the first time and don't nickel and dime it.

[FirstDotLast]

Whoops, sorry about the typo, supposed to be R134a. Thanks for the info.

Alright so buying a new compressor seems to be the best way forward then as there isn't an easy way to just repair the clutch/bearings?

From what I'm reading it seems like the conversion requires more things to be changed (mainly the hoses need to be changed to barrier hoses) and even then performance is generally a little worse and leaks more often. I think I'll try to stay with R12 if I can for now.

[kuehl]

Originally Posted by FirstDotLast

there isn't an easy way to just repair the clutch/bearings?

You could take apart the compressor, inspect the internals and if all is good put a compressor seal kit in it, and then find a good used clutch assembly.

Originally Posted by FirstDotLast

From what I'm reading it seems like the conversion requires more things to be changed (mainly the hoses need to be changed to barrier hoses) and even then performance is generally a little worse and leaks more often. I think I'll try to stay with R12 if I can for now.

Not quite. With new orings, drier, barrier hoses you will have less leaks with either refrigerant.

What is comes down to is your budget. You can spend money in bar, at the race track, on a one week vacation, etc. Or, you could improve your AC and get more daily driving with it.

[FirstDotLast]

Originally Posted by kuehl

What is comes down to is your budget. You can spend money in bar, at the race track, on a one week vacation, etc. Or, you could improve your AC and get more daily driving with it.

That's a good point, honestly I don't use the A/C that much since the car isn't a daily but on occasion it's nice to have it especially for defogging the windows. It's more that I don't like things not working perfectly or being broken (especially when they are adding 15lbs!). I'd prioritize spending on other things on the car...suspension parts, new tires, etc.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by kuehl

What is comes down to is your budget. You can spend money in bar, at the race track, on a one week vacation, etc. Or, you could improve your AC and get more daily driving with it.

that's funny, that's what I tell my wife.
I may spend money on cars and working in the garage but at least I am home and not in a bar.