My A/C is blowing, compressor is turning but temperature is luke warm. I checked the system and it is full of R12, pressures are showing 100psi on the low side??? should be around 40 and I'm showing no pressure on the high side. Even opened the high pressure valve to check and I've got nothing there. Sooo, I'm taking it in on monday, have any ideas or things i should mention to the tech to keep him on the right track? <BR>Thanks, cuz it's hot down here in Miami<BR>Adam

There is something that is stoping the flow of freon. If infact it is the low side (larger 1/4" fitting) with 100 psi and high side (smaller 3/16" fitting) than the clog is between the compresser and the high side fitting. Just to be sure I would blow thru the lines but odds are you have a bad compresser. The oriface tube would be clogged up too or the freon would have flowed backwards to the high side.<P>More common what happens is the oriface tube clogs up so the low side can reach a vacuum if the switches don't turn the system off and the high side gets dangerous high pressures. <P>If you do have a compresser failure flush the whole system. Replace the oriface tube and drier.<P>Tom

Thanks for the reply Tom. Would it make any difference In the diagnosis if I can see the compressor turning? Or would it still do that if it was bad? Also, any ideas on what a new compressor runs for? <BR>Adam

Before you pay huge dollars at GM for a compressor, check with your local NAPA parts store. I bought a refurbed unit from them years ago and it has worked fine. It was about a third of the price that GM wanted.

With the pressures you described ether you have a cloged/kinked high side line or a bad compresser. Just because the center part turns does not mean it's good. It has little valves, pistons, and seals that can go bad. <P>If you get a replacement compresser make sure you tell them you want it with the clutch too. It may be good but it requires special tools and agervation to change.<P>Tom

[Reatta Man]

I've always been amazed at how much junk can accumulate in that little orifice tube while in what is supposed to be a closed system. <P>If yours is really clogged, I'd suspect that the little plastic bag of desicant (dryer material similar to the little bag of plastic beads that comes in some medicine bottles)has broken due to jarring over the years. If that bag is broken, the system will soon clog up again. The desicant is in that big silver cannister(accumulator)located under the hood on the passenger side. <P>If the orifice tube has what looks like small pieces of black rubber stuck to it, you'll need to completely flush the system. I recommend a pro with the right equipment and who is up on the GM (Harrison) /Ford (Motorcraft) /Nippondenso "Black Death" A/C problems do the repairs. <P>While you have the system apart, replace the accumulator and have all, repeat, all A/C rubber hoses replaced with new rubber. Most good A/C shops can replace the rubber part of your hoses with the new hose that meets the SAE J2064 standard, and use the metal ends from your old ones. This is much cheaper than trying to find and buy new ones, and just as dependable. If you don't replace the rubber, you may be facing another leak from a fully-charged system operating at full pressure. <P>Good luck!<P>Joe BCA #35662

Well, I took the reatta in and had a diagnosis of a bad compressor$$. When the system was opened up and the orifice tube was taken out it was completely clogged by black gunk (teflon from the compressors insides probably). The system was so clogged that along with the changing of the compressor, drier and orifice tube, I also had to change the condensor. At the time we did a flush, vacuum and recharge with r134a and the system is working perfectly now, and cold to!

[kennyw]

not confused anymore but probably much poorer.........What did all of this work cost?..............