A/C Compressor/Pressure Switch Help VE V6 Series 1

[ANDY22]

Hi all,

I am about to tackle on replacing my aircon compressor due to strong suspicion this is faulty (was leaking over a couple years). Any tips and tricks? Also, could someone please confirm the location of a pressure switch/TX valve? Is there a filter in the condenser that also needs to be replaced? I was told by my auto elec to crack the bolts on the compressor and allow for the gas to drain out before removal and refit the second hand replacement with 2 new seals. If anyone could suggest other fuses and relays to check prior replacement I would appreciate that, basically no power is going to my compressor and a suspicion the internals of the compressor have carked it.

TIA!

 

[shane_3800]

I recommend not doing this as it's against regulations.

Your dodgy auto elec should tell you tbh.

 

[The1]

Officially you can't by regs let the gas out into atmosphere it should be relaimed.

The procedure would go something like this.

Have the gas reclaimed and oil measured that came out with the gas.
Remove compressor and drain oil in measuring cup.
Drain oil from replacement compressor and fill with new oil to the same amount you took out of the old compressor and also amount when gas was reclaimed.
Fit new compressor up.
Have system evacuated and check it holds vacuum for 30mins at least via gauges.
Then reinstall correct gas amount by weight.

 

[shane_3800]

Officially you can't by regs let the gas out into atmosphere it should be relaimed.

The procedure would go something like this.

Have the gas reclaimed and oil measured that came out with the gas.
Remove compressor and drain oil in measuring cup.
Drain oil from replacement compressor and fill with new oil to the same amount you took out of the old compressor and also amount when gas was reclaimed.
Fit new compressor up.
Have system evacuated and check it holds vacuum for 30mins at least via gauges.
Then reinstall correct gas amount by weight.

Incorrect.
You can't measure the oil it's not feasible. Also you should pressure test with Co2 not just vac test both should be done.

 

[Skylarking]

Yep, it is illegal to play with aircon unless you have a ticket, even if all the gas has already leaked out. It’s a pay to train/play type of gig. If you’re caught working on an aircon, you can get big fines

Worse still, fines aside, if you put in a new compressor because the old one has **** itself and started to tear at itself apart so metallic specs have entered the pipework, condenser and passed the filter within the receiver/dryer, your replacement compressor won’t last very long.

If the compressor has **** itself, and that’s usually what occurs if it’s used with no gas or required oil, many manufacturers recommend that the condenser, tx valves, evaporator and pipework are also replaced along with the compressor (a stupidly costly activity).

There are ways to flush the system clean but it requires specialist equipment and vehicle specific adapters, nasty chemicals, etc... Sadly it’s not a DIY activity.

Here is the industry code of practice which should highlight the process that licensed aircon premises should full comply with.; some don’t if they did, any regass would never leak again

 

[The1]

Incorrect.
You can't measure the oil it's not feasible. Also you should pressure test with Co2 not just vac test both should be done.

If your not measuring the oil then the only other way to do it is to flush everything and fill compressor to it's rated full fill, not just a compressor swap.

Yes they do do c02 leak detection nowdays.

Yep, the aircon industry is way over regulated.

 

[shane_3800]

Yep, illegal to play with aircon unless you have a ticket, even if all the gas has already leaked out. It’s a pay to train/play type of gig. If you’re caught working on an aircon, you can get big fines

Worse still, fines aside, if you put in a new compressor because the old one has **** itself and started to tear at itself apart so metallic specs have entered the pipework, condenser and passed the filter within the receiver/dryer, your replacement compressor won’t last very long.

If the compressor has **** itself, and that’s usually what occurs if it’s used with no gas or required oil, many manufacturers recommend that the condenser, tx valves, evaporator and pipework are also replaced along with the compressor (a stupidly costly activity).

There are ways to flush the system clean but it requires specialist equipment and vehicle specific adapters, nasty chemicals, etc... Sadly it’s not a DIY activity.

Ahh the old flush gun...... Yea I've had a face full of hexane/heptane, A/C dye and full olefin oil. I was like a full synthetic mr burns lol

 

[shane_3800]

If your not measuring the oil then the only other way to do it is to flush everything and fill compressor to it's rated full fill, not just a compressor swap.

Yes they do do c02 leak detection nowdays.

Yep, the aircon industry is way over regulated.

Yes you should check the new compressor for oil as some come dry but most are filled 5-10% under system volume these days so you can do a straight swap over if there's no black death in the system.

Realistically its a job left to a pro.

 

[shane_3800]

I've been a mechanic for 13 years its only in the last 5 I've been trusted by auto elecs to do half their job.
I'm now trusted to do the full job.

 

[Skylarking]

When gas leaks out of the aircon sealed system, through a faulty hose for example, it takes oil with it. The amount of oil actually lost this way can’t really be measured. So it‘s either ignored or a loss amount is guessed based on some generic industry guesperiance. Problem is the system may be under filed overfilled as a result.

The correct process would be to spend the time and money to flush all existing oil and clean the system and ensure the new compressor has the full amount when installed. Then the system should be flushed with dry nitrogen and pressure tested before being evacuated and vacuumed tested. Only them should refrigerant be added. Oddly when you try and talk to the aircon guys about the process they use,, they are dismissive and don’t explain why some things aren’t being done by the book. may be the experts want to have some excuse up their sleeve why things still failed after doing their cut price regas... oh, you should have done b, c & d but I tried to keep it cheap for you...

Sometimes I think some aircon guys are professional clowns. (If I hear one more time from a professional that the filter doesn’t need to be checked and desiccant bag doesn’t need to be replaced or the system doesn’t have these components (any more), I’ll crack it with them.)