I guess I'll just keep throwing money at it.
2006.

• New compressor seals
• New accumulator
• New Orifice
• New O-Rings
• Used Evaporator
• Vac & Recharge

Lasted 2 weeks. Bad Evap
2007

• New Evaporator
• Vac & Recharge

Lasted 2 months. Compressor is leaking
lost about .5 lbs of refrigerant.
2008

• Drop it off to evac.
• Pick up new compressor
• R & R compressor
• Drop it off for vac & recharge

I really want A/C, but this is killing me. I'm staying with R-12. Parts guy wants 350+ for a delphi Compressor. 3 hrs @ 70.00/hr. I'll do the work myself for 210.00. At least it's not the evaporator again. In hindsite I should have replaced the compressor the first time instead of just the seals.
Should I replace the condenser too?

If the condensor is original I would. My decision was easy. It had a rock go thru it.
BTW is it just my imagination or are there more dump trucks driving around w/uncovered loads? It's a law [unenforced] that ALL loads be covered.
I just painted my car this spring and the front end is all full of chips!!!

Sounds like exactly the same items I replaced on my 1989 Riviera. In my case you can add a couple of High pressure hoses.
I read somewhere it may have been on this board that it is best to buy a new GM compressor.
In my case I bought a rebuilt GM compressor and it has been fine.
I elected to stay with R12 readly available on E Bay.
Good Luck

Probably my comment about the new GM compressor. It went bad in just short of a year and was replaced free of charge with no parts and labor. A/C parts are expensive, but after getting them replaced for free, I'll stick with a Buick dealer. But then, I have to sell an 89. Nice cool car.

Tom T

My ac clutch is failing so I'm going to replace the compressor with a delphi from AZ, about 239.00 3mos warr.,

http://www.autozone.com/R,APP171387/vehicleId,1060401/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,2880/partType,00082/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

I'm also planning on replacing the hoses.

Decisions, decisions ..I'm not sure yet of which refrigerant, or oil to use , maybe a variable orifice tube, , have heard that if 134a is used then the high limit switch should be replaced if oing to r134a.

I've heard that gm does NOT recommend flushing the ac system, which is why I'm considering a new condenser.

Consider replacing the Dryer as well.

ackits.com has a ton of helpful info on A/C systems.

I did mine in two stages about 5 years ago. Replaced the evaporator, condenser, dryer, oriface, hoses etc., converted to R134a and about a year later the compressor retired.
Still, 15 years is really pretty decent service.
Only complaint now (and maybe its' the mention of the high limit switch above?) I find ever since going to the R134a the tolerance for outside temperature is very narrow. If the outside air temp. is lower by more then 2 or 3 degrees C the system alarms on low refrigerant. Works flawlessly otherwise. Was sitting in traffic at 98 deg F week before last and the cabin stayed comfortable. No complaints! I think most people here are pretty committed ( or should be committed!) The potential resale value matters not where comfort is concerned.
The other way of looking at this sort of major maintenance is, the car is paid for, if I was driving anything less then 3-5 years old I would be making a car payment so, amortize that A.C. refit over a few of months and
"forged-a-boud it" as they say in New York!

It's cold today. Ice cold, baby. New Compressor is in. They redesigned the seals where the lines connect. I did not have them seated properly, so it leaked like a sieve when they went to recharge it. They fixed that and put a pound in to close the pressure switch. It still said pressure was too low and would not let the compressor run. They did disconnect the battery. Hmmm.... They did not have time to finish it up on Friday. I looked into it on Sat. Well, what do you know? The 10a fuse is missing. Not just blown, missing. I didn't remove it. I put a new one in and it blows cold. Had it topped off yesterday. I'm happy for now. Let's see how long it lasts.

If I were you, I would worry about the Heater working.
Winter is right around the corner for you guys up in WI....

Not yet. We still have September. It's usually hot & humid during the day until October 1st.

woo hoo. It lasted a week before throwing the dreaded 'compresser shut down code.'

I have been lucky. After replacing my condensor,[previous owner did the compressor and the rest] I am still runnin cool! I did go over by my mechanic buddies house and he checked it for leaks using infrared and everything is tight... no leaks!

I reset the code before I left work. No low pressure warning or shutdown. Ice cold. I remember a post a while back about warnings popping up when the outside air temp is low (mid to low 60's). Does anyone remember the fix for that?

I don't remember a fix for the code, but have you considered looking at the ac pressures to check for freon loss?

I have not connected any gauges yet. I only get the warning in the AM when outside air is low 60's. Afternoon it was low 80's. Today was the first time it shut down the compressor. Before I reset the codes the BCM screen did not show low pressure. When I reset the code it was ice cold with now warnings or codes.

Today's update. intermittant low refr. warning only. No shutdown. Outside air temp 69. Controls set to 69 auto/auto.

I am getting the intermittant B446 code in the mornings. Outside temp is below 64. In the afternoon, when the air temp is higher, it is fine. I see the Allante owners have a similar issue. Any real solution for this? It seems like afalse code.

I would say that it is both a false code and low freon. When the temp is low the freon contracts, causing a code. When the temp warms up the freon expands and no code is tripped. I dealt with that for a year until I got a stone thru the condensor. Now that I have a full charge no code is tripped[ambient temp warm or cold].

Not a fix, but what I did in those low temperature periods with my 89 was to set the a/c to econ mode, as I really didn't need it anyway. It is also easier on the compressor.

Tom T

I put the windows down and open the roof,its cheaper.