GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I found the instruction for a/c compressor clutch replacement and quickly realized that was the source of my problem. I supplied 12v direct to the compressor pigtail (with an insulated wire with an inline fuse) and got nothing. I got the swash plate off easy enough, but the pulley gave me trouble. I banged on the shaft and that slowly let the pulley come off more with each hit. I was able to pull it straight of the last 1/2" or so. I pulled the clutch assembly and confirmed an open circuit in the coil. The part finally arrived from Amazon and when I went to the driveway to install it I found a puddle of oil dripping from the compressor and all the refrigerant leaked out. Dang it. Not really knowing what to do next, I went ahead and installed the new clutch just so I could drive it to work (compressor pigtail not connected) today. I stopped at Autozone and picked up some PAG-46 oil to go with the two cans of 134 I already had on the shelf intent on recharging the system to see if, by some miracle, that would fit it. Now I'm having second thoughts.

Should I just bite the bullet and buy a new compressor, accumulator and expansion valve (about $270-300)?

Argh. I shoulda just borrowed the pulley puller. It gets replaced when you put a new a/c clutch anyway so you don't have to worry about damaging the serpentine belt area.

Sounds like one of my repair jobs! Have you tested the AC to see if it will work? Maybe all of the refrigerant did not leak out. Connect it all up and turn it on to see. If it does not come on like normal, jump the low pressure switch for a few seconds to manually turn on the compressor to see if the clutch is working. If the clutch is working and the compressor is not making a lot of noise, go back to Autozone and rent their vacuum pump and gauges. Then you can pull a vacuum on the system and see if it has any leaks. After pulling a vacuum for several minutes - like 20-30, turn off the vacuum pump and see if the vacuum stays constant. If it does, then no leaks. If it does not, then you probably damaged something. Then it will be time to troubleshoot where the leak is. If it is the compressor, and it has not been open for long, then running the vacuum for several hours should clear out all of the moisture.

Good luck!

Yeah, I have a set of gauges along with a gauge on one of the bottle piercers. I connected it and got ZERO! You can squeeze the upper hose it's so low.I have one of the Harbor Freight air pressure powered vacuums that I can use to vacuum down the system. Sure sounds like I need to order the compressor. I'll just have to wait for another paycheck. Good thing temps only hit 90 in DFW for the next week or so. Thanks either way.

Thomas

New compressor came in the mail from Amazon. Picked up a fresh accumulator at the local parts store. Both have been in now for almost a month with the a/c still blowin' cold. If anyone needs an a/c clutch let me know. I'll sell it for half of what I paid.

nevermind