A/C pain thread!!!

[bombsquad21]

thanks Matt!

I really hope it is those two, I guess it's just a case of emptying the system then, and finding the seals. Does anyone know if the seals are have vw part no's or is it just a case of finding a size to match?

[beancounter]

2nd hand A/C compressor

My compressor has just majorly shat. Like completely seized. Looking through this thread has given me some nasty indications of the cost of new replacement. (Saturday night, so no chance of phoning around at the moment)

What sort of experiences have people had with second hand compressors? I read in the thread that they have to be "sealed up" after removal?

What is a reasonable price for a second hand unit?

cheers

[madglf3]

So if you can feel the compressor changing the engine speed when you put the AC switch on, then the compressor isn't stuffed? it may just be a minor problem? sorry for the noobish question.
-Matt

[brackie]

Idle-up

So if you can feel the compressor changing the engine speed when you put the AC switch on, then the compressor isn't stuffed? it may just be a minor problem? sorry for the noobish question.
-Matt

G'day. Your car's electronics should compensate for the increased load of the compressor by automatically increasing the idle speed, so a slow down isn't really a good indication of whether or not the compressor is compressing. Look in the glass window on top of the receiver/dryer and you should see bubbles passing. This would indicate that the compressor is pumping the refrigerant around the system, but the only way to be sure that the compressor is OK is to pressure test it.

And yes... If you open your a/c system to the air for any length of time you'll damage it. If the compressor is removed it should be immediately sealed so that no moisture can enter.

[Golf Loon]

I have a second hand compressor here with 103000kms on it for $180
Or I can get your one rebuilt with all new seals for $450 exchange with 6 months warranty.

They all break on the Golf 3s. I usually stockpile em through the winter then sell 4 in a week when summer kicks in

[cusack]

Hi All

Whats the deal with "re-gassing" the AC?

I was under the assumption that if an AC needs to be regassed, then obviously the gas leaked out from somewhere? So shouldnt the first step be to find this leak and seal it? Then regass it? otherwise it'll just leak out again right?

Regards

[MattyT]

I believe its just a natural leak over time. Nothing stays airtight forever.

[madglf3]

G'day. Your car's electronics should compensate for the increased load of the compressor by automatically increasing the idle speed, so a slow down isn't really a good indication of whether or not the compressor is compressing. Look in the glass window on top of the receiver/dryer and you should see bubbles passing. This would indicate that the compressor is pumping the refrigerant around the system, but the only way to be sure that the compressor is OK is to pressure test it.

And yes... If you open your a/c system to the air for any length of time you'll damage it. If the compressor is removed it should be immediately sealed so that no moisture can enter.

Thanks mate, yeah, the load on the revs isnt really too noticable , just a slight slight difference (not really much of a difference on the tacho). So the best bet then is to get it pressure tested and dye put into the system to look for leaks? thanks again for taking the time to help me out-Matt

[beancounter]

I have a second hand compressor here with 103000kms on it for $180
Or I can get your one rebuilt with all new seals for $450 exchange with 6 months warranty.

They all break on the Golf 3s. I usually stockpile em through the winter then sell 4 in a week when summer kicks in

Thanks for the info golf loon.

Must say with winter arriving here in melbourne, have not thought about the a/c again until the windows fog up with humidity.

I must confess how it stuffed up, because that might give some indication of whether it is able to re-conditioned. The A/c had been losing grunt for about 3 months (pretty much as long as i have had the car!). Anyway i had my nose under the bonnet, and was revving the ring out it in the back yard, out of gear, but the a/c on by chance. Anyway this bloomin awefull metallic shrieking noise starts coming out of the bottom of the engine somewhere. so of course i had to rev it some more to replicate the noise, and then on returning to idle, stall.. switch off a/c, runs ok, no noise. switch on a/c, stall.

So does this mean that I have completely minced the a/c compressor?

And could i have possibly avoided this by getting it checked out before it completely ran out of gas?

cheers

bc

(aiming to have calendar month go by with out something going wrong with the golf.!)