Wrong Mechanic???

[JohnMiz]

88 Reatta - had ac charged and clutch started burning/belt slipping. Told compressor went bad. It was OK until this year when diagnostice disengaged it for lack of freon.

Did the mech screw up or could the compressor go like that? I told him to release some gas and the compressor ran OK although it didn't stay on constantly - more like on-off, on-off - on for 20 sec off for 5. what am i dealing with here? Anyone know?

Thanks much for any insight at all.

Newbie JohnMiz

[Barney Eaton]

I purchased a 36,000 Reatta last year and the compressor froze the next day.

In my case I believe it was inproperly converted to 134. The conversion had been done about 10 months earlier and the accumulator was not changed. This is a critical oversite and the old oil is not compatable with the new. It just happened after I purchased the car.

It is unlikely that the mechanic could do something stupid that would cause it to fail.... according to the manual (1C-8) "Normal compressor "on" time - vehicles operating above 15 mph will be controlled to a minimun "on" time of from 2 to 6 seconds before the BCM will request the clutch to disengage"

[Shelby]

I think you did.

If he gets the pressure to high it will buy up clutch and if he gets it to low it will burn the compressor.

[JohnMiz]

What are the correct pressure settings for the AC in an 88 Reatta?

[harry yarnell]

If the mechanic charged the system with liquid refrigerant, then it could lock up the compressor temporarily. No real harm (probably none).

As for pressures, they're temperature dependant, but you aim for 28# on the low side for R-12. A little higher for 134.