Compressor

[MustangBabe]

How do you know when your compressor is out for a/c? Is it supposed to make noise? If so, what kind? I'm just trying to decide if someone is trying to rip me off for my money. Please answer and then I'll tell the rest of the story heh

[wavgby]

this a few examples....what is your a/c doing is it just not getting cold? or what
Growling noise from air conditioner:
The engine runs well and makes no unusual noises until you turn on the air conditioning. Then you hear a growling or knocking noise only when the air conditioning is on. The noise will get louder and more noticeable over time.

Possible causes:

The bearings in the air conditioning compressor are bad: Replace air conditioning compressor.

The clutch on the air conditioning compressor is weak or worn: Replace air conditioning compressor clutch.

The air conditioning compressor is bad: Replace air conditioning compressor.

A control valve in the air conditioning system is bad: Replace air conditioning control valves

[MustangBabe]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. All I'm getting is hot air. When I first bought the car, it worked for all of 2 days I believe (I usually don't run the a/c unless it is EXTREMELY hot)

I don't hear sounds of ANY kind when I turn it on (just tested it a few minutes ago)

I'm assuming there is a leak?

Thing is, I'm moving down to AZ this weekend and I was wondering....should I go to a different shop and just tell them to recharge it, that way I will have a/c at least for a temporary time period?

[wavgby]

when you ask them to recharge it they will have to pressure test it for leaks if it was working, then it had coolant in it if it doesn't now then there is a leak more than likely. I would also think that you should be able to hear the compressor kick in when you fire u the a/c. If the compressor is bad charging it will not help.

[MustangBabe]

What I'm saying is...based on what you described to me about the compressor, it would make a NOISE if it was bad...well, it's NOT making a noise...THEREFORE, is it possible to just charge it and be able to use it for a few days even IF there is a leak in the hose?

[wavgby]

it sure as heck worth a try

[bill94gt]

you could do that and after you get to az you will end up having to replace the condenser/or the accumulator because there was a leak in the line some where the reason is that moisture from the air got in and mixed with the oil in the ac turns it in to an acid you should make sure that the ac shop
you go to does an evacuation so there is 0 vacuum it will end up costing more in the long run
ie. after you get to az where ac is used more often hope this may help as to why it needs to be replaced ...

[MustangBabe]

Originally Posted by bill94gt

you could do that and after you get to az you will end up having to replace the condenser/or the accumulator because there was a leak in the line some where the reason is that moisture from the air got in and mixed with the oil in the ac turns it in to an acid you should make sure that the ac shop
you go to does an evacuation so there is 0 vacuum it will end up costing more in the long run
ie. after you get to az where ac is used more often hope this may help as to why it needs to be replaced ...

after rereading it 2 times....yea that makes sense

[MustangBabe]

Update...took it to a shop today and....

The first thing he looked at was my compressor (which is easy to look at; I didn't know this) took him 30 sec to say yep the compressor is bad and showed and explained to me about it. Bad news: it will cost me around $1000 to fix it = ( He also told me more than likely if I can stand the temps, my car will be ok driving down to AZ in a few days. He said that the compressor can break that belt and if it happens to get this pulley (can't remember the name off hand, though I wrote it down) so that it basically makes it so you don't have a/c. It would only cost me $50 for the part and is semi easy to take off the compressor and install that for the time being IF I need to....crossing fingers that it doesn't happen.

Now, I'm debating if I should get rid of the car once I'm in AZ HOWEVER, I do like the 94's so who's to say if I get another that the compressor won't go bad too??? I owe nothing on this car and it IS a 5.0 .....so I'm leaning towards just pissing out the money in a few months and just get the damned thing fixed. I'm probably going to end up repairing the shit out of it but...that's ok..maybe one day it will be a collector like the fox body LOL

[dee_saleen]

What did he say was wrong with the compressor? Was it leaking? Locked up?