| | A/C Compressor Clutch Repair |  |
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L67
Fanatic
Name: Matt
Joined: 2007-06-05
Post Count: 1115
Merit: 37
| | Subject: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Tue Jun 08, 2010 5:33 pm | |
| Lately I have been having a metallic grinding noise coming from the engine bay and I have narrowed it down to the A/C compressor. Usually, whenever the A/C is turned off the noise persists, and upon engaging the A/C from inside the car the noise ceases (My A/C also blows nice warm air  ). Anyway, I have been reading around and found other 3800 owners with the same noise claiming that the A/C Compressor Clutch or Pulley Bearing is worn out. My question is, is it worth (and feasible) trying to repair the clutch on my OEM compressor? Does it require opening the refrigerant system, at which point it would be better just to put a new compressor on? I apologize in advance for any errors in this post as I am still not well versed in the world of A/C. |
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Rickw
Expert
Name: Rick
Age: 53
Location: Lancaster, MA
Joined: 2008-09-13
Post Count: 5957
Merit: 96
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Tue Jun 08, 2010 5:38 pm | |
| The clutch assembly is replaceable without going into the A/C system.
It requires a special puller.
If you have no A/C now, I would be sure it wasn't just the clutch. It could also be a problem with the compressor. If that's the case then you will have wasted your money on a clutch, unless you can find a rebuilt compressor without a clutch. |
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L67
Fanatic
Name: Matt
Joined: 2007-06-05
Post Count: 1115
Merit: 37
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Tue Jun 08, 2010 5:39 pm | |
| | Rickw wrote: | The clutch assembly is replaceable without going into the A/C system.
It requires a special puller.
If you have no A/C now, I would be sure it wasn't just the clutch. It could also be a problem with the compressor. If that's the case then you will have wasted your money on a clutch, unless you can find a rebuilt compressor without a clutch. |
Well the air blowing out isn't necessarily hot, its more lukewarm. Could this be a sign that the clutch is not fully engaging? |
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Rickw
Expert
Name: Rick
Age: 53
Location: Lancaster, MA
Joined: 2008-09-13
Post Count: 5957
Merit: 96
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Tue Jun 08, 2010 5:40 pm | |
| It would take some hands on diagnosis to tell what is going on with your A/C system.
Sorry. |
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L67
Fanatic
Name: Matt
Joined: 2007-06-05
Post Count: 1115
Merit: 37
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Tue Jun 08, 2010 5:43 pm | |
| | Rickw wrote: | It would take some hands on diagnosis to tell what is going on with your A/C system.
Sorry. |
I'm not looking for a clearcut solution to my issue, rather just trying to understand the system and how it works. So is it plausible to think that a failing clutch wouldn't engage and activate the compressor properly, or am i way off base? |
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Rickw
Expert
Name: Rick
Age: 53
Location: Lancaster, MA
Joined: 2008-09-13
Post Count: 5957
Merit: 96
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Tue Jun 08, 2010 5:54 pm | |
| | L67 wrote: | | Rickw wrote: | The clutch assembly is replaceable without going into the A/C system.
It requires a special puller.
If you have no A/C now, I would be sure it wasn't just the clutch. It could also be a problem with the compressor. If that's the case then you will have wasted your money on a clutch, unless you can find a rebuilt compressor without a clutch. |
Well the air blowing out isn't necessarily hot, its more lukewarm. Could this be a sign that the clutch is not fully engaging? |
Generally the clutch either engages or it doesn't, no in between.
It is an electric clutch.
Watch under the hood whith a flashlight while someone else turns on the climate control. If you see the clutch engage and start turning then that answers that question, almost. Look for metal shaving stuck to the clutch, there is a strong magnet involved in that clutch and if it has metal shavings all around it, it is a sign that the compressor is operating with too much resistance possibly, or the clutch itself has just gone bad. There are a lot maybe's and if's when it comes to properly diagnosing the A/C system.
The next question is: does your system have a leak and has it leaked some freon out giving you something less than cold air.
This is where a set of gauges will come in to play, to measure the High and Low pressure sides of the system.
I do not know what they should be off the top of my head. The FSM may tell.
Or you can buy a can of freon, R134A that comes with the installation hose, install a can of that for about $10.00 and see if you get colder air out of the dash.
If you are, then you need to pay someone to find and fix the leak(s).
Maybe one of resident mechanics can chime in and offer some better diagnostic advise.
Good Luck |
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Eldo
Addict
Name: Mark
Location: The "other" side of the Golden Gate.
Joined: 2009-04-09
Post Count: 2937
Merit: 96
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Tue Jun 08, 2010 6:08 pm | |
| | L67 wrote: | | Lately I have been having a metallic grinding noise coming from the engine bay and I have narrowed it down to the A/C compressor. Usually, whenever the A/C is turned off the noise persists, and upon engaging the A/C from inside the car the noise ceases |
What you are describing is a classic idler bearing problem. When the pump is stationary and the pulley/hub is freewheeling, you're hearing the worn-out bearing in the hub. When you engage the clutch, the hub and compressor shaft turn as one, so the idler bearing is no longer turning and no longer making noise.
Unfortunately, I have no idea how deep one must go to fix this on a V-5 compressor, and the location makes it very difficult to work on... In the book, it sounds like the hub & clutch come off together, while on the one pump I ever worked on, the old A-6, only the clutch came off with the puller. I strongly suspect that this is a job for an established A/C shop. |
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L67
Fanatic
Name: Matt
Joined: 2007-06-05
Post Count: 1115
Merit: 37
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Tue Jun 08, 2010 6:25 pm | |
| Thanks for all of your responses guys, I figured the A/C was probably too much for the Sunday afternoon mechanic anyway  |
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deekster_caddy
Guru
Name: Derek
Age: 40
Location: Reading, MA
Joined: 2007-01-31
Post Count: 6091
Merit: 83
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:41 pm | |
| A/C repairs are either $100 or $1000. Good luck. |
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L67
Fanatic
Name: Matt
Joined: 2007-06-05
Post Count: 1115
Merit: 37
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Fri Jul 09, 2010 2:05 pm | |
| Will a compressor from another 3800 powered car (L67 or L36) fit a Riviera? |
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AA
Administrator
Name: Aaron
Age: 34
Location: C-bus, Ohio
Joined: 2007-01-13
Post Count: 14467
Merit: 172
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Fri Jul 09, 2010 2:15 pm | |
| Yes, AC compressors from the following are interchangeable:
BUICK LESABRE 1999
BUICK LESABRE CUSTOM (1996 - 1998)
BUICK LESABRE LIMITED (1996 - 1998)
BUICK PARK AVENUE 1996
BUICK PARK AVENUE ULTRA 1996
BUICK RIVIERA (1996 - 1999)
OLDSMOBILE 88 1999
OLDSMOBILE 88 ROYALE (1996 - 1998)
OLDSMOBILE 88 ROYALE LS (1996 - 1998)
OLDSMOBILE 98 REGENCY ELITE 1996
OLDSMOBILE LSS (1996 - 1999)
OLDSMOBILE REGENCY (1997 - 1998)
PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1999
PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE (1996 - 1998)
PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSE (1996 - 1998)
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L67
Fanatic
Name: Matt
Joined: 2007-06-05
Post Count: 1115
Merit: 37
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Fri Jul 09, 2010 2:18 pm | |
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albertj
Aficionado
Name:
Location: Finger Lakes of New York State
Joined: 2007-05-31
Post Count: 4901
Merit: 100
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Sat Aug 07, 2010 7:12 am | |
| For the record here are some (probably) useful posts on AC clutches:
1) a clutch repair (information only - diff type of compressor)
http://www.bernardembden.com/xjs/comclutch/index.htm
2) a chart of clutch problems and causes with commentary
http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/cgi-bin/ryderfp/technicalbulletins/acClutchfail.jsp
3) Other comments (same type compressor as ours)
http://flashoffroad.com/Maintenance/hvac/airconditioning/clutchPullyService.htm
Albertj |
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GMFreak8
Enthusiast
Name: Kyle
Age: 23
Location: Malone, New York
Joined: 2009-03-15
Post Count: 638
Merit: 15
| | Subject: Re: A/C Compressor Clutch Repair Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:48 am | |
| I went through three AC compressor clutches before I finally replaced the compressor. Luckily it was all under warranty. The AC compressor was leaking oil internally, and it was extremely hard to turn by hand. Everyone including my mechanic swore it was the clutch until we took an extremely close look. The clutch would engage if you took a long stemmed screw driver and manually engaged it. Just save yourself the headache and replace the whole assembly. These things seem to go bad on these cars. Cost me about $400 to do it. |
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| | A/C Compressor Clutch Repair | |
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