Finally I have Cold, Quiet, A/C in the 90 Bonneville
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Finally I have Cold, Quiet, A/C in the 90 Bonneville
Ok, to sum up this little adventure. Remanufactured A/C compressors ALL SUCK.
Once upon a time I would never have hesitated installing a overhauled A/C compressor in a car. But the mexican overhauled junk that is being sold by parts stores has changed my opinion forever.
Going back a few months ago, the clutch sheared off the original compressor, probably due to the putz who threaded the serpentine belt on wrong when changing the alternator. ( I broke my own personal rule of letting someone else work on my car.)
So, remanufactured A/C Compressor #1 went on. Made by RediAire, sold by AutoZone. Worked Ok but rattled like a bitch. Tried warranty replaced with reman compressor #2 (Visteon?) This piece of junk had blown seals right out of the box...back it went to Autozone. Remanf compressor #3 (another RediAire P.O.*.) held pressure, but had a short in the clutch coil that blew fuses...back it went too. Reman #1 went back on the car while very unhappy Autozone store manager tries to order me a NEW compressor instead of another remanufactured P.O.*. While it sounded like it was going to blow up when it was running, at least it still worked.
Finally, after two months of waiting, a brand new compressor gets here and I installed it this evening. What a difference. Holds pressure, very quiet (only difference you hear is the click of the clutch engaging and the motor jumping up to high idle.) This replacement was made by CompressorWorks of Dallas, TX. Got kickin cold A/C again without the car sounding like it'* about to throw a rod through to hood.
Ahhh, time for a beer. (or two..maybe three )
Once upon a time I would never have hesitated installing a overhauled A/C compressor in a car. But the mexican overhauled junk that is being sold by parts stores has changed my opinion forever.
Going back a few months ago, the clutch sheared off the original compressor, probably due to the putz who threaded the serpentine belt on wrong when changing the alternator. ( I broke my own personal rule of letting someone else work on my car.)
So, remanufactured A/C Compressor #1 went on. Made by RediAire, sold by AutoZone. Worked Ok but rattled like a bitch. Tried warranty replaced with reman compressor #2 (Visteon?) This piece of junk had blown seals right out of the box...back it went to Autozone. Remanf compressor #3 (another RediAire P.O.*.) held pressure, but had a short in the clutch coil that blew fuses...back it went too. Reman #1 went back on the car while very unhappy Autozone store manager tries to order me a NEW compressor instead of another remanufactured P.O.*. While it sounded like it was going to blow up when it was running, at least it still worked.
Finally, after two months of waiting, a brand new compressor gets here and I installed it this evening. What a difference. Holds pressure, very quiet (only difference you hear is the click of the clutch engaging and the motor jumping up to high idle.) This replacement was made by CompressorWorks of Dallas, TX. Got kickin cold A/C again without the car sounding like it'* about to throw a rod through to hood.
Ahhh, time for a beer. (or two..maybe three )
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Wish mine was that easy.
I am replacing all the hoses and components on my 88 sse and I am finding that many parts are not the same, like threaded fittings and accumulator/dryer. Glad your chillin'. I hope to get mine finished soon. Still looking for one more part.
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Re: Wish mine was that easy.
Originally Posted by spidey3479
I am replacing all the hoses and components on my 88 sse and I am finding that many parts are not the same, like threaded fittings and accumulator/dryer. Glad your chillin'. I hope to get mine finished soon. Still looking for one more part.
Are you trying a mix-and-match for R134a using later model parts, or just rebuilding the system as a 1988 R-12 and just filling it with R134a when you are done?
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Curt,
I helped a friend replace the compressor on his car... It was the H6.... This turned into a totall nightmare... Got a Reman, installed it and it wasn't worth a nickle, at the time we replaced the orifice tube and the reciever/drier.. We charged the system and it wouldn't cool for crapp... we took it off and took it back for another.... They gave us the wrong one this time... Took it back, got the right one... Installed it and went through the crapp all over again, we pumped the system down before we recharged it due to the fact the we had the system open for a length of time... This was by far the best compressor we have ever put on that car... It would freeze us out of the car on a 90F day standing still... It worked awsome...
He made a trip to Rockford, 1300 miles up and back I believe.... By the time he got to Georgia, the compressor clutch decided to fly apart.... He always did keep a compressor Bypass belt in the trunk just incase... He then got another compressor, it doesn't cool that good, but it does work... He has pretty much given up on the reman compressors... And you are right they are all junk..
I think when I do the compressor on the 91 LE, it will get a new unit and not a reman...
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I helped a friend replace the compressor on his car... It was the H6.... This turned into a totall nightmare... Got a Reman, installed it and it wasn't worth a nickle, at the time we replaced the orifice tube and the reciever/drier.. We charged the system and it wouldn't cool for crapp... we took it off and took it back for another.... They gave us the wrong one this time... Took it back, got the right one... Installed it and went through the crapp all over again, we pumped the system down before we recharged it due to the fact the we had the system open for a length of time... This was by far the best compressor we have ever put on that car... It would freeze us out of the car on a 90F day standing still... It worked awsome...
He made a trip to Rockford, 1300 miles up and back I believe.... By the time he got to Georgia, the compressor clutch decided to fly apart.... He always did keep a compressor Bypass belt in the trunk just incase... He then got another compressor, it doesn't cool that good, but it does work... He has pretty much given up on the reman compressors... And you are right they are all junk..
I think when I do the compressor on the 91 LE, it will get a new unit and not a reman...
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Originally Posted by jr's3800
.... He always did keep a compressor Bypass belt in the trunk just incase... He then got another compressor, it doesn't cool that good, but it does work... He has pretty much given up on the reman compressors... And you are right they are all junk..
I think when I do the compressor on the 91 LE, it will get a new unit and not a reman...
I think when I do the compressor on the 91 LE, it will get a new unit and not a reman...
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Originally Posted by spidey3479
mix and match, mostly from Ebay .
You are best served by sticking to one model year for the entire system, even if it is an R12 system originally.
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Originally Posted by clm2112
Originally Posted by jr's3800
.... He always did keep a compressor Bypass belt in the trunk just incase... He then got another compressor, it doesn't cool that good, but it does work... He has pretty much given up on the reman compressors... And you are right they are all junk..
I think when I do the compressor on the 91 LE, it will get a new unit and not a reman...
I think when I do the compressor on the 91 LE, it will get a new unit and not a reman...
The 91 I did a cheapie retrofit kit on 6 years ago, had the system evacuated, not much left, not even enough to kick the compressor.... After the 134 Ester oil , and 3 cans It was nice a cold... I was always supprised at it... On a 90-95F day it would get cold even sitting still.... Fast foward 6 years and it still gets cool, not as good when standing still and I have a light compressor rattle... I figgure almost 16 years and 129k, I am luck I have gotten that much out of the compressor...LOL
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#9
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My experiences with reman compressors have been similar. Last car I tried to use a reman compressor was a Lincoln Town Car. It took me three before I got one that worked well and for longer than 30 days. I recently replaced my Bonneville compressor with a factory new one. Well worth the extra $, IMO.
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AC replacement is a wonderful thing.
It was expensive but I don't regret it at all. With the way summer has been up here this year, similar to the weather you lucky buggers get in FL. My favorite state for sure.
CLM2112- I know what you mean about re-manfactured compressors. They are crap. My 89 SSE saw 4 of them. They lasted a few months and burned out. So frustrating. But what a difference it makes. It totally changes the comfort of the Bonny
It was expensive but I don't regret it at all. With the way summer has been up here this year, similar to the weather you lucky buggers get in FL. My favorite state for sure.
CLM2112- I know what you mean about re-manfactured compressors. They are crap. My 89 SSE saw 4 of them. They lasted a few months and burned out. So frustrating. But what a difference it makes. It totally changes the comfort of the Bonny