Ac compressor kaputt

Lots of opinions and approaches to r134 conversion, all in the archives.

As far as the refrigeration side of Jaguar climate control, it’s all plain as mud. Nothing exotic about it at all.

'Tis the control side where things get a little weird :slight_smile:

Cheers
DD

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Jaguar (and GM) used both.

Make sure your bolts fit before attempting to mount the compressor. It’s struggle enough without discovering that you have the wrong bolts :slight_smile:

Cheers
DD

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Mitch,
I don’t believe that switching over from R12 to R134A is "obvious ". I have recently repaired/restored inoperative R12 A/C systems in three of our Jaguars and had them all seviced professionally with R12 after I made sure that I fixed the leaks (o-rings, hoses, compressor).

The A/C systems in these older cars were designed to work with R12 and from what I have read the R134A conversions don’t cool as well. Search for a recent string from Mel Friedman about this.

I have one more inoperative Jaguar A/C system to fix (1990 XJ-S convertible) and will be keeping that an R12 serviced system as well.

There is a lot to read about R134A conversions in the Jag-Lovers archives.

Paul

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One of my reasons for converting is there is only one shop in town thta
does r-12, and he’s getting old.
It just seems the conversion now is
wiser than a conversion in a few more years.
maybe I’m wrong -
although that would be my first this century (Not!)

On

Mitch,
I don’t believe that switching
over from R12 to R134A is "obvious ". I
have recently
repaired/restored inoperative R12 A/C systems in three of
our
Jaguars and had them all seviced professionally with R12 after I made
sure that I fixed the leaks (o-rings, hoses, compressor).

The A/C systems in these older cars were designed to work
with R12 and
from what I have read the R134A conversions don’t
cool as well. Search
for a recent string from Mel Friedman about
this.

I have one more inoperative Jaguar A/C system to
fix (1990 XJ-S
convertible) and will be keeping that an R12
serviced system as well.

There is a lot to read about
R134A conversions in the Jag-Lovers

My current compressor is a GM

[quote=“davidsxj6, post:10, topic:378172, full:true”]

Wait,
didn‘t they use a different thread for the mount?
I think mine
is metric and not sae. God knows why.
No shortage though,
you‘ll find dozens for cheap.
[/quote]

Jaguar (and GM) used both.

Make sure your bolts fit
before attempting to mount the compressor. It’s
struggle
enough without discovering that you have the wrong bolts

:slight_smile:

Cheers
DD


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Mitch,
I just wanted to point out that you had more choices than to automatically do the R134A conversion.

Paul

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Oh, I understood that. I’m just looking up the road a few years to
continuing R-12 availability.

Mitch,
I just wanted to point out that you had more
choices than to automatically
do the R134A conversion.

Paul


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Mitch,
I converted mine to 134a without without changing anything besides the port valves, the receiver/dryer and the oil in the A6 compressor.

Positive:
Very easy, inexpensive, better for the environment and I can get it refilled if needed in any AC shop.

Negative:
The air is indeed not ice cold as it was whit R12, but adequate nevertheless (and I live in the Southern France where gets quite hot)
The AC hoses weep as the R134a molecule is smaller than the R12, but having said that, I did the conversion in 2009 and it’s still working fine without a refill.
R134a compatible hoses are available though.

If you want to do it the right way you should also change the expansion valve and this would give you better cooling.

Hope that helps,
Aristides

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Aristides

Yes, it does help.
I’ve been kicking back and forth over keeping R
12 or converting, considering my car is 42 (!) years old I’m thinking a
full conversion (hoses, etc) is the best long term solution.
Thanks

[quote=“Mitch_in_Tac, post:12, topic:378172”]
Obviously
at this time I might as well convert to 134a.
[/quote]

Mitch,
I converted mine to 134a without without
changing anything besides the
port valves, the receiver/dryer
and the oil in the A6 compressor.

Positive:

Very easy, inexpensive, better for the environment and I can get it

refilled if needed in any AC shop.

Negative:
The air is indeed not ice cold as it was whit R12, but adequate
nevertheless (and I live in the Southern France where gets quite
hot)
The AC hoses weep as the R134a molecule is smaller than the
R12, but
having said that, I did the conversion in 2009 and it’s
still working fine
without a refill.
R134a compatible
hoses are available though.

If you want to do it the
right way you should also change the expansion
valve and this
would give you better cooling.

Hope that helps,
Aristides


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Mitch,

What is your shop asking for an R12 to R134A conversion?

Paul

Mitch:

Unfortunately, I opine that it is more than a seized clutch. I think the pump seized and the clutch still "ordered’ to engage. Belt went up in smoke.

decades ago, that happened to the AC in my 85 F 150. I had ignored it’s noisy compressor as it cooled perfectly, up to it’s demise…

Yes, the GM Harrison was widely used. Tough and effective. But parasitic… Modern stuff out there…

Carl

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I didn’t price out a conversion (yet), but straight R&R is about
$1000.
Because more is involved, I expect 50% more on a
conversion.

Mitch,

What is your shop asking for an R12 to R134A
conversion?

Paul


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Mitch,
When I looked into an R12 to R134A conversion for my 1987 XJ6 Vanden Plas offered by a local independent shop it was more than $2,000 (although I don’t have the details anymore). I bought a vacuum pump, an o-ring kit, and an A/C manifold setup from Harbor Freight. Then I removed and replaced all the old o-rings and did a vacuum check only to discover that the compressor had a leak. But with a rebuilt compressor the car held 30 in Hg vacuum for a few weeks while I worked on other things on that car. Once that car was back on the road from my other work, I removed and replaced the receiver drier and had it professionally serviced with R12 for about $250. A year later it is still blowing cold in the hands of its new owner.

Following my success with our 1987 XJ6 Vanden Plas I followed the same method to get our 1990 V12 Vanden Plas and most recently my 1984 XJ6 Vanden Plas blowing cold with R12 again. I have two more Jaguars to fix the A/C on, but they will have to wait for now while I complete other work.

At this point I got three cars blowing cold with R12 for less than the R134A price quote that I got for one car. It was a lot of hard work on my part, and there are many potential sources of leaks that need to be tested and fixed (o-rings, compressor, condensor, hoses, fuel cooler, evaporator, ?). But overall I found doing some of this A/C work myself more satisfying than throwing more money at others only to be disappointed yet again by warm air shortly afterwards and money down the drain (or into the atmosphere?).

I learned some new things about how A/C systems work (and why they don’t work) plus I got to buy some more fun tools for my garage. :wink:

Paul

Paul,
Just returned from the shop: $900 for compressor ($290), dryer
($30), and labor.
That’s assuming the hoses are good. He doesn’t plan
on touching any fittings except at the dryer and compressor.
If it
doesn’t hold pressure, than I’m shopping hoses.
I asked how much to
swap to 134; $135 lesss, but that’s using the same hoses.
If I
expected I’d have several cars to do I’d invest in the tools, but for a
one off …
Mitch

Mitch,

When I looked into an R12 to R134A conversion for my 1987
XJ6 Vanden Plas
offered by a local independent shop it was more
than $2,000 (although I
don’t have the details anymore). I
bought a vacuum pump, an o-ring kit,
and an A/C manifold setup
from Harbor Freight. Then I removed and
replaced all the old
o-rings and did a vacuum check only to discover that
the
compressor had a leak. But with a rebuilt compressor the car held 30
in Hg vacuum for a few weeks while I worked on other things on that
car.
Once that car was back on the road from my other work, I
removed and
replaced the receiver drier and had it
professionally serviced with R12
for about $250. A year later it
is still blowing cold in the hands of its
new owner.

Following my success with our 1987 XJ6 Vanden Plas I
followed the same
method to get our 1990 V12 Vanden Plas and
most recently my 1984 XJ6
Vanden Plas blowing cold with R12
again. I have two more Jaguars to fix
the A/C on, but they will
have to wait for now while I complete other
work.

At this point I got three cars blowing cold with R12 for less than
the
R134A price quote that I got for one car. It was a lot of
hard work on my
part, and there are many potential sources of
leaks that need to be tested
and fixed (o-rings, compressor,
condensor, hoses, fuel cooler, evaporator,
?). But overall I
found doing some of this A/C work myself more
satisfying than
throwing more money at others only to be disappointed yet
again
by warm air shortly afterwards and money down the drain (or into the
atmosphere?).

I learned some new things about
how A/C systems work (and why they don’t
work) plus I got to buy
some more fun tools for my garage. :wink:

Paul


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I did my conversion to r134a for around $700. That included everything except new hoses, new evaporator and new condensor and also included gauge set and vacuum pump and some other small tools. I can provide a very recent parts list and prices if you want.

That’s near the quote from the shop.
Unfortunately from what I’ve
read, the likelihood of 134 seeping out through original hoses is fairly
high.
And some hoses for my '77 may not even be available anymore!

I did my conversion to r134a for
around $700. That included everything
except new hoses, new
evaporator and new condensor and also included gauge
set and
vacuum pump and some other small tools. I can provide a very

recent parts list and prices if you want.


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On mine the sticker (data plate) says warning metric bolts used or something similar.
Hoses can be made on order so that should not be a problem. If I would change refrigerant I would use the standard valves so no future shop throws a hissy fit when they have to service it.

If you are determined to open the system anyways you can bring the hoses to a place that can make new ones. Doing everything at once spares you the new dryer, evacuation and refill when something isn’t right.

David

David,
I’m opting for a straight-up R-12 rebuild.
There’s an
excellent place in town to get hoses built, if needed. Thanks for the
input.
Mitch

On mine
the sticker (data plate) says warning metric bolts used or

something similar.

Hoses can be made on order so that should not
be a problem. If I would
change refrigerant I would use the
standard valves so no future shop
throws a hissy fit when they
have to service it.

If you are determined to open the
system anyways you can bring the hoses
to a place that can make
new ones. Doing everything at once spares you the
new dryer,
evacuation and refill when something isn’t right.

David


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Having taken in all the advice on this forum, and doing my research, I decided remaining with R-12 was the best route to take.
There is just one shop in town that handles R-12, and of course, he’s clear across town. That meant if I did it myself I’d have to go 15 miles, have the old coolant removed, drive 15 miles home to remove and replace the compressor and dryer, then drive 15 miles to have the system pressure checked before pumping in new R-12. If it failed, and needed new hoses, there was another 15 miles, replace all the hoses (custom made), then back for another pressure test/refill.
OR
Take the car to the shop at 8AM on Monday, wait for phone call: if hoses were needed I’d have to pick up the old ones to be copied and then run them back to the shop - probably 24 hour turn around for the hoses. Then wait for phone call.
BUT
The shop called about 3PMon Monday, the job was done and passed pressure test.
Within the hour I was FREEZING MY a** OFF as I drove home.
Total cost: $320 for parts
$300 for R-12 @$100 per PD.
$276 for labor
$5.00 for dye and oil
$91.70 tax
Total $990.70
I count it as money well spent.
Mitch

Mitch,
Thanks for the update and congratulations on getting your A/C working again with R12 as I suggested.

I hope you have a long time of driving in air conditioned comfort.

Paul