|
|
What is the complexity of replacing the A/C compressor?
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Jimmi328
New User
Jul 10, 2016, 8:55 AM
Post #1 of 7
(1644 views)
|
|
What is the complexity of replacing the A/C compressor?
|
Sign In
|
|
The compressor has failed on my 2000 Grand Cherokee Limited (V-8, 4.7). I can tell because it squeaks and grinds like hell when I press the AC switch inside the vehicle. Is this a difficult job to take on? Being that it sits on top of the engine; it doesn’t look too difficult to me. I’ll probably have to remove the grill to remove hoses from the condenser. I’ve done this before when I replaced the water pump and radiator. From my research I’ll need the compressor ($200), a vacuum pump ($90), gauge set ($50) and R134a ($80). This is better than the $1000 a local mechanic wants. But is saving $500 worth the aggravation?
Can anyone give me any insight of what I’ll be getting into to? I’ve never done A/C work before except to Jerry rig the blend and recirculation doors.
Thank you
________________________________
2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee (V-8)
1967 GTO, 400 with stroker kit, 575 HP
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 10, 2016, 9:35 AM
Post #2 of 7
(1642 views)
|
|
Re: What is the complexity of replacing the A/C compressor?
|
Sign In
|
|
You are getting into far more than you are equipped for. This isn't going to be a simple matter of swapping a compressor. When that compressor let go all kinds of internal metal chips and debris from that compressor went all through the system and has to be dealt with. At the very minimum you need to replace the compressor, condenser liquid line with orifice tube and dryer. You also need to determine how much oil has been lost and replace it to the appropriate components.
When all this is done, now you need a charging station to calculate the exact amount of refrigerant required for this system. You can't have too much or too little.
Now when the system is all back together, you have to fine the cause of the original compressor failure because there is nearly always a cause.
If you mess up on any of these steps you will have another compressor failure and have to do every bit of it over again.
AC repair is not DIY friendly. I advise finding an AC specialist with a good reputation and I don't mean the corner gas station that thinks he knows how to fix AC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 10, 2016, 10:06 AM
Post #4 of 7
(1634 views)
|
|
Re: What is the complexity of replacing the A/C compressor?
|
Sign In
|
|
Same and one more: Same in it's totally not DIY friendly - period.
I have a problem that you were quoted a price that suggests all wrong about it is known and really can't be so easily unless it was an extensive diagnosis.
As HT said you need an A/C tech (professional) with the equipment to get this right the first time. Parts listed if that was all that was known for sure would be great. You really don't know what the cause of it was yet that could ruin your work if you did have all the right equipment to find it needs more than that.
The skinny is if you need this get the right tech and shop to take it on even if expensive - much more possible would still be worth it,
T
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 10, 2016, 11:53 AM
Post #5 of 7
(1625 views)
|
|
Re: What is the complexity of replacing the A/C compressor?
|
Sign In
|
|
No, it's not just a clutch. The clutch fried because of the compressor seizing for whatever reason that was happening. Like I said, there is a whole lot more to this situation than you realize and don't go taking advice from Billie Bob back yard expert or the tire shop that thinks they can make some money with AC repairs even though nobody there has the necessary experience and training.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Jimmi328
New User
Jul 10, 2016, 12:01 PM
Post #6 of 7
(1623 views)
|
|
Re: What is the complexity of replacing the A/C compressor?
|
Sign In
|
|
I’ll just bite the bullet on this repair and take to a qualified tech. At least I don’t have a car payment. (-:
________________________________
2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee (V-8)
1967 GTO, 400 with stroker kit, 575 HP
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 10, 2016, 12:04 PM
Post #7 of 7
(1617 views)
|
|
Re: What is the complexity of replacing the A/C compressor?
|
Sign In
|
|
There are many things you can do yourself without getting into a lot of trouble. AC repair is not one of them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
((BRAZIL)) SSD CHEMICAL SOLUTION UK+27672716140
2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
