New A/C compressor

[Guest grkman1]

I just brought my 88 Reatta to a local mechanic because I noticed that the A/C seemed to be failing me. I had unhooked the battery and then rehooked it because I know at one time this helped to get it going.

Symptons- Compressor keeps clicking on and off whether the A/C is on or not

-Warmer air comping from the Vents

[Guest grkman1]

Cont'd

The mechanic states that it is cheaper to get a new compressor as compared to a used one, and wants $411.00 for the compressor not counting dryer etc For a total of $971.00 complete with warrantee and conversion.

My questions...before I give the OK, does all this sound right? He used a black light on the compressor and you can see there is a green hue from the front of the compressor and he says this means that it is leaking

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks much

[Reatta45]

George?

(It?s cheaper to use a new verses a used or rebuilt compressor.) ??? That depends on many things? here are a few?.

My 91 Reatta is using a very ?used? compressor right now? something like 16 years plus used. Is mine leaking? Probably? but not to the point that I would even think about replacing it. When and if I ever do replace it, I will price new, rebuilt AND working used compressors. I will consider all three because I will be doing the work myself and if I have a problem as in failure, I will be the one doing the repair. I would consider a working used compressor because that is what I am using now, a very used and still very functional 16 year old compressor.

I think the answer to your question is? what will it cost you over a given period of time to operate with what you have now, how competent is the person working on your car? how sanitary is their work? What percent of this type work are you comfortable doing? How much of this type stuff do you want to learn to do, and how much money do you want to tie up in specialty equipment to do necessary work? I myself find that I enjoy most all automotive repair, with few exception? There fore I don?t mind buying quality specialty tools and equipment. That coupled with seeing the terrible odds of getting good, let alone quality work done, I will almost always do it myself, over the past 45 years I have already made almost every mistake it?s possible to make, and I have accumulated a very big stack of good tools? I find it very hard letting anyone else do anything to/on my cars? as I have seen the results of haphazard routine work? So what is cheaper would depend on your views on all these variables. There are times that I wish I were not so anal about work on cars <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />, but that?s how I am so I live with it? KennyV

[Shelby]

You can get a new compressor on ebay for about $200

Reman and rebuilt are about the same price and are not as reliable.

Make sure your mechanic does a good cleaning on the system and puts in a new recieved dryer and oriice Tube.

[Guest spongebob]

and tell your mechanic to use real R12 in the system, it's much easier on the system and the cost has come down dramatically.

[Machiner 55]

I know exactly... and I mean EXACTLY what you're talking about.

[D-a-n-i-e-l]

the compressor off a 94 park ave ultra mounts up just like the original reatta compressor, but if you were to use the park ave one you could run the newer (134a?) without the bit of loss most of us run into with retrofitting, and it is much easier to get a hold

[Shelby]

The juror is still out if you can use R-12 on a New compressor.

They will not cover them on warranty if you use R-12

Save the planet convert to R-134.

[Guest DTerry]

I haven't had anything with R12 for years, and I can't tell a difference.

[harry yarnell]

As much trouble it is to change out a compressor, NEVER used a used or reman. compressor. Done it in my past many times til I learned. Try e-bay or ackits.com for good deals on new.

[Guest grkman1]

Well I picked up the Reatta...the A/C works great...the only thing is that when I shut the system down, meaning no heating or cooling, I still hear the compressor cycling.

He also said my computer needs changing because it is giving off false info, such as door ajar, fuel low, parking brake on. He said that I may be able to get it reprogrammed and not change it. Is this possible? which computer is he talking about and where in the car is it??

He states that there must be a short in the system to give me these false diagnostic results. and that the cruise control and Antilock brake light are on the same circuit and that is why they are not working

Your opinion

thanks

[Guest spongebob]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The juror is still out if you can use R-12 on a New compressor.

They will not cover them on warranty if you use R-12

Save the planet convert to R-134. </div></div>

if you buy a r12 compressor theres no problem and as for saving the planet..HA! 134 has r22 in it..