[Shotimes] Fixed my A/C!
Mike.Wojton@us.o-i.com
Mike.Wojton@us.o-i.com
Fri, 3 Oct 2003 08:14:37 -0400
Hawaii. Guy I went to high school with lives there, and he moved there
for just that reason. Rarely gets above the low 80's and low humidity.
Of course, there is the whole living next to an active volcano thing. But
what the hey!
Mike Wojton
Toledo, Ohio
-'95 Green MTX 3/01-1/03
ShoShop y-pipe
-'95 White MTX
'96 Brake Upgrade
Putting the F U back in fun.
shotimes-admin@autox.team.net wrote on 10/03/2003 12:18:50 AM:
> Slightly warmer here. It makes me wish I really did move to Atlanta.
>
> I need a place that is btw 70 and 85 year round. If I want snow I'll go
to
> Denver for two weeks in the winter.
>
> Christian Andretta
> 99 SF
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
> [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Kirk Doucette
> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2003 9:01 PM
> To: stevetatro@att.net; shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: [Shotimes] Fixed my A/C!
>
>
> A bit late in the season :) its 42 degrees here right now
>
> Kirk J Doucette
> NESHOC President
> Stormtrooper-97 White
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On
> Behalf Of Steve Tatro
> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2003 5:52 PM
> To: shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: [Shotimes] Fixed my A/C!
>
> As you may recall, my a/c was having problems, and I suspected a bad
> compressor.
>
> Had decided to replace the compressor/clutch, the accumulator, the
orifice
> tube/liquid line, and convert to R-134a.
>
> A co-worker of mine is taking auto mechanic classes at a local technical
> college, and he offered me the opportunity to work there, since there
are
> R-12 recovery machines, R-134a machines, lifts, tools, etc. Also, one
of
> his instructors would be around if any problems arose.
>
> So, yesterday was the big day. We got started about 9:00am. Keep in
mind
> that neither me nor my friend knows absolutely anything about a/c
systems
> ;^). It took us about 4 hours to evacuate the system and get everything
> torn apart. Removed the battery and tray, alternator (so the compressor
> could come out the top like the repair manual said), belt, idle pulley,
> accumulator and line, liquid line, and compressor (those nuts/studs are
near
> impossible to get tools on).
>
> We took a 2-hour break so he could attend class (which was in the same
big
> shop). I tagged along so I could see what they were learning. There
was
> some Civic that wouldn't run, apparently had very little compression on
a
> cylinder.
>
> We then got his instructor to give us some direction, figured out how
much
> oil and R-134a we needed to put in (and where). The instructor then
looked
> at my compressor/clutch on the table, and gave it a whirl. He shocked
me
> when he said "I think your compressor is fine, it's just your clutch
that's
> toast". He explained the melted rubbery substance was probably from an
> incorrect clutch gap creating too much heat, melting the rubbery part. I
> told him about my clutch gap difficulties of last summer, when I
eventually
> removed the smaller of the shims (which seems to be a popular course of
> action). He said I may have brought these troubles on myself, so I gave
> myself one good kick in the arse. Since I had a brand new compressor
> sitting there and the one I had taken out looked like hell and has 171k
> miles on it, I decided I'd just put the new one in. C'est la vie.
>
> We took a one-hour lunch break (when I got to drive my buddy's
S2000...fun
> little car!) and bought a new accessory belt from NAPA. Mine looked
pretty
> bad, although it probably wasn't that close to failing.
>
> Anyway, we got back and started to reassemble. First we put brand new
> o-rings and spring locks everywhere. Poured half the oil required into
the
> compressor, and bolted it into place. Attached the liquid line. Put
the
> rest of the required oil in the accumulator and installed it and the
line
> (man is that a pain trying to fish that big tube into place).
>
> Since I was converting, we had to put the adapter fittings on both the
high
> and low sides. No problem, although the high side (front of the car)
sticks
> up and is probably closer to the hood than I would like!
>
> Got the alternator and new belt put on, battery and tray reinstalled,
and
> fired it up. Started just fine!
>
> Shut it off to put the R-134a in. It was so nice not having to use the
> little cans, rather having a large machine which measures exactly how
much
> you want to put in!
>
> Started the car, went to MAX A/C and watched the high and low pressures.
> Everything was normal, and ice cold air was coming out the vents! The
> clutch kept the compressor engaged just like it should. Job completed
at
> 8:00pm. That's 11 hours minus the 3 hours of screwing around...8 hours
of
> actually working!
>
> Sure, that's a long time. I'm just glad it's done, and I was able to
learn
> something in the process. With each completed job I'm less and less
scared
> of working on cars. Besides, I have an estimate for $1400 to do the
same
> job from the dealer. I spent about $400 on brand new parts and a
retrofit
> kit.
>
> Anyway, moral of the story is this: When your clutch is acting up it
may be
> worth the few $$$ it costs to buy a new clutch assembly and install it.
The
> shim removal should be considered a temporary patch, with the
realization
> that it may cause you additional headache down the road!
>
> That's all.
>
> Oh, did I mention the S2000? Fun little car ;^)
>
> Steve Tatro
> Red/Black '93 with 171k miles
> Cincinnati, Ohio
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