A/C problem

[grandprixgtp_91]

In my bros 91 GTP Auto the a/c stopped working about 5 years ago, im guessing it was because it was empty on r-12, so about a month ago i charged it up and found out the the condensor was leaking, so i replaced that and the orifice and the pressure sensor. now my problem is the compressor wont turn on, i hooked up a scan tool to the car and it detects pressure in the system and the a/c demand is on but the compressor wont trun on. also i replaced the connector that plugs into the compressor because the old one was shot. any suggestions? Thanks

Jake

[RednBlack]

If you are saying that you can't charge it, because the compressor won't kick on, then use an old trick and hot wire it. Can be done by simply running a hot wire to the positive side of the compressor. Just did it to mine and it is cooooool! Oh, don't forget to take the hot wire off after about half charge. An added note....where in the HELL did you get R-12?

[pocket-rocket]

This is the same problem in my 91 (which had ice cold air when I got it that would make your nipples hard in less then 5 minutes, lol), and the 92. The problem with both of my cars is the clutch on the compressor itself is shot. I ended up getting the special clutch puller crap, and putting a different clutch on it, got the air gap right (actually less then it was supposed to, knowing that if it was too close, it would wear off some material), and it slipped really bad. I plan on changing the whole system over to R-134a by next spring (the right way, not by one of those crap ass retro kits (which have a pic of the DOHC on the box, lol)).

[dykz34]

I converted my Z to 134a and it gets really cold. I haven't had any problems with the conversion so I don't see why you would want to change completely over to the newer style.

[pocket-rocket]

I have used the conversion on at least 5 cars and have never had one work right. One of my cars I did it too had the compressor freeze up after putting the new stuff in. Both of my cars are suffering from bad a/c clutches right now, and with the cost of the stuff to fix it, I might as well get some good, low mileage newer parts from junkyard and know for a fact it is all meant to work with R134a You are pretty much the only person I know of that has had it all work out alright. I am glad that at least someone got the kit to work fine for them without problems. I'm not sure why the 91's a/c clutch took a shit. Last time the a/c worked in that car, the clutch was not an issue. I have a friend that messed with his car all summer long in hopes of getting it to work right. He still has to roll his windows down at this point.

[grandprixgtp_91]

They sell r -12 over here in canada its a synthetic kind and you have to have a special liscense to buy it and use it, or be a farmer, well i guess im a farmer cuz thats what i said to buy it. lol. and usually if the clutch is shot you will still hear it click , i get nothing. maybe it is the wires running to it. how do it check that out? thanks

Jake

[RednBlack]

They sell r -12 over here in canada its a synthetic kind and you have to have a special liscense to buy it and use it, or be a farmer, well i guess im a farmer cuz thats what i said to buy it. lol. and usually if the clutch is shot you will still hear it click , i get nothing. maybe it is the wires running to it. how do it check that out? thanks

Jake

Do what I said and run a hot wire to it.

[pocket-rocket]

Or do like I had my friend do before, and tack weld the clutch to the pulley, lol. Since our compressors have a variable stroke design, we don't have to worry about them raising the pressure too much and blowing up the system. I remember reading about it in the Helms manual. My compressor sounded like ass, and the tack weld broke within a couple miles, so I was back to square one. This is one more thing that proved to me that jerry rigging is not the answer, lol.

[RednBlack]

Do the test first. Run the Hotwire to the compressor, just to see if you have clutch lockup. If it is low on Freon and your clutch does lock up, you can fill it. Just pull the hot wire off after about 1 can. It should cycle on it's own.

[bud36light]

As far as converting from r-12 to 134a ive done at least 5 cars with the retro kit. They all have yet to have any problems except for the Escort.Its got a leak somewhere.(im blaming it on a Ford thing). I did my 89 Chevy truck 3 years ago and it will freeze your balls off even tho the sniffer says it has a leak(I didnt use new o rings the time I had it apart). Hey pocket, wonder if you can get the 134a stuff to bolt in to the pre 95 cars?

[RednBlack]

There are kits to retro almost any car to R-134.

[pocket-rocket]

As far as converting from r-12 to 134a ive done at least 5 cars with the retro kit. They all have yet to have any problems except for the Escort.Its got a leak somewhere.(im blaming it on a Ford thing). I did my 89 Chevy truck 3 years ago and it will freeze your balls off even tho the sniffer says it has a leak(I didnt use new o rings the time I had it apart). Hey pocket, wonder if you can get the 134a stuff to bolt in to the pre 95 cars?

I was looking at the sytem on a 95 (or 96 maybe) Lumina w/ a 3100, and the system looked exactly the same as ours. When I say exactly, everything was in the same spot as ours, even where the freon goes through the firewall into the evaporator. I had plans on taking the whole system up to that point (where it goes through the firewall) from a car in the junkyard, and they quoted me the price of $150 for the compressor, condenser, lines and all. I have two or three of the hoses for refilling the R134a systems laying around, and the gauge for finding out what the pressure is in the system so you know if you need to add some or leave it alone, and had planned on getting one of those air operated vacuum pumps off of ebay for about $30 or so to pump the system down.

[bud36light]

$150 sounds good. You better hit that.