Air Conditioning Compressor

[Kep]

Very Sad... The AC compressor on my 1995 5SFE died on me. Can someone tell me a quick and easy way to make sure that it didn't throw any metal into the rest of the system before I put another compressor on?

Scenario - Last month I noticed the AC clutch had plastic oozing out from between the pulley and the compressor. Since I had another clutch from my 1990 I swapped it out with much hope that it was the clutch and not the compressor . The replacement lasted about a month and did the same thing. The compressor had been chattering so it was about time for it to die.

So now I am looking at replacing the compressor and maybe adding the R134 in myself. However I don't have a way to evacuate the system. Any suggestions? Also, can someone provide the weight of R134 speced for this car?

How important is it to put in a new drier?

Thanks,
Kep

[toyomoho]

Did the clutch magnetic starter melt? Did the compressor actually seize up?

There is no sure way to tell if debris is in the system. It will accumulate in the expansion valve and condenser. Toyota does not recommend flushing these out, flushing uses Freon or a flushing liquid.

Given this may be an older style condenser you may be able to flush but he valve should be changed.

To be absolutely sure you are left with replacing the condenser and expansion valve.

The drier is there to remove moisture in the system. Is it standard to replace it if the system has been opened. If changing drier add an additional 0.5 oz of lubricant oil.

For compressor replacement add 29.98 +/- 1.76 oz of Freon. Add lubricant 4.9 oz. Use the oil designed for R134A NOT R12.

The system needs to be evacuated to remove the moisture. If not removed the moisture can freeze up the expansion valve.

Evacuating th system uses a vacuum pump. Some clever folks have re-plumbed an air compressor inlet to act as a vacuum pump.

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by Kep

Can someone tell me a quick and easy way to make sure that it didn't throw any metal into the rest of the system before I put another compressor on?

Disconnect the compressor clutch wire.

It's going to be unclear how much debris made it to the expansion valve. Maybe none. I would imagine most went into the receiver dryer and condenser (as toyomoho says). Flushing the condensor is not really possible as you can't get enough flow and force through the cooling channels. I would suggest you replace the receiver dryer and condenser. Wait and see if you have performance problems before getting into the evaporator and the expansion valve. You may be able to install a filter before the new compressor to protect it. Try acsource.com for compressor. Since this is a 95 and you need to do a major overhaul I would recommend you replace any o-rings you have access to while you're in there. Vacuum pumps are about $150 so you could get a local shop to pull the vacuum and refill with freon and oil, that would save you most of the labor. Put the receiver/dryer on last to reduce moisture accumulation.

[Kep]

Thanks guys. I'm not certain if the compressor froze up or not. The plastic cover around the electric magnet of the clutch melted. Twice now. I am speculating that the compressor was taking too much force to spin and that the metal plates of the clutch were slipping because of that. I'm thinking that this would then create enough heat to melt the plastic. Sound about right?

Before observing the melt down I noticed no cold air and the AC light blinking. I shut the AC off and waited a couple of minutes and then tried to restart it. It was when tried to restart it that the fuse blew just like the previous time. I looked at the compressor and saw the melted plastic. I can't say for certain that the compressor froze or was just getting stiff enough for the clutch to slip.

For now I plan to remove the AC pulley and get a belt just to drive the alternator. Next week I will figure out how I can best replace the compressor and whether it makes sense to flush things out or replace them. I really didn't want to do this this summer. It's 95 degrees out here.

Any other pointers are welcome!

Kep

[xtremeskier97]

Originally Posted by Kep

...I really didn't want to do this this summer. It's 95 degrees out here.

Any other pointers are welcome!

Kep

You're tellin' me! I dont have A/C either, and it's just as hot here!