Vp Aircon compressor problems

[Huntington]

Hi Guys,
I've been searching like crazy for a thread that details what I need to know, I have found some relevant info but nothing complete.

I just brought a VP ute V6 5 speed, runs great, was pretty happy with the purchase, over the past two days we thought we would take her for a long cruise to see if any bugs came out, after about 600km, I starting getting a bad whiring noise coming from the ac pump, it is there contstantly regardless if the ac is on or off, so im thinking it is the pulley bearing. from the area of the pulley there is also a spray of thick oil that has been forced out while it's spinning, its left an arc shape mess in my clean engine bay.

I picked up a second hand compressor, but dont think i need to replace the whole thing now, would i be better of replacing the whole thing or just the bearing? is it alot of effort to replace the compressor? and can i do it myself? or do i need to take it into a shop to have the gas dealt with?

If i can do it myself I will, even if it means regassing it a few weeks later, if it needs to have the gas issue dealt with immediatly, I will have to just get the shorter belt and forget it for a few weeks, bit short on cash after paying for the ute and rego.

[Cheap6]

As the noise is present with the A/C off I agree that the bearing for the pulley is dying/dead. With the drive belt off you should be able to feel any roughness in the bearing and how freely it spins while turning the pulley by hand. You can check the compressor bearings by spinning the compressor clutch plate.

Replacing the pulley bearing is straightforward. Your search might have already brought up a previous post of mine describing how to do that. Replacing the compressor is a little more difficult but you will be able to DIY most of it.

Start by having a workshop remove the refrigerant that is currently in the system. Then it's really straightforward; remove both hose connectons and the 4 X 13mm head bolts for the compressor to mounting bracket. Drain the old oil from both the old and replacement compressors, measuring how much comes out of the old compressor. Add that amount of fresh compressor oil into the replacement compressor and install it. The oil has to be compatible with the refrigerant being used.

New 'O' rings will be needed for the hose connections. Ideally you would also replace the receiver drier but it's probably not worth doing that on a car that is nearly 20 years old. There is a dessicant in the receiver drier so avoid leaving the system open to the atmosphere for any longer than is necessary to swap the compressor.

Then have the system checked for leaks and regassed by a workshop.

You are not meant to work on car A/C systems without a licence but I can't see the problem in doing it in the way in which I have just described.

[Huntington]

Ok, so I got in there and did the change over myself, I was a touch naughty and didnt have the gas evacuated, mainly since I knew it was empty any way, as I found a split hose. I went back to the wreckers and got the hose that was from the unit I had brought and presto. It's an easy job, two 12mm bolts holding the hose connections down with a couple of rubber O rings sealing her up. I got a couple of new ones for next to nothing. The 13mm bolts holding the unit to the block are incredibly hard to get to, you need a small ratchet as there isnt much space behind the head of the bolts. Once undone she slides out through the bottom of the engine bay, didnt need to remove anything else. When putting on the new unit, remember to put the 2 bottom bolts into the unit before putting it in place as there isnt enough room to put them in once it is in place. Now she just needs to be tested for leaks and regassed, in the meantime, it runs quiet at least which was a big bonus. The old unit was completly shagged, cannot spin her by hand, and there was alot of iron filings floating in the oil. All in all easy job that I could of worked out myself, but always best to ask first just incase