a/c clutch tragedy
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New User
Joined: Jul 2003
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a/c clutch tragedy
while driving in hot weather, the a/c went from cold to warm. started to smell burning. i turned off a/c and pulled over. a/c clutch was smoking. how hard to change out ac clutch, if its not welded to shaft by now. any links, it doesnt show how to change it in my chiltons manual.
TIA
chuck
TIA
chuck
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
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a/c clutch tragedy
I'm no expert, but this sounds like the compressor failed what is called "black death" where it ceased but the engine continued to turn it thus liquifying all of its internal seals and spewing this black mess throughout your entire system. These compressors are supposedly prone to this. I hope that I am wrong in which case you may need a special wrench to get the clutch off of the shaft, but if you did have 'black death' the <i>entire</i> a/c system will need to be replaced or internally steam cleaned.
Here's hoping I'm wrong, good luck.
Here's hoping I'm wrong, good luck.
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New User
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a/c clutch tragedy
what is the easiest way to find out if it is BLACK DEATH? do i let out a little bit of freon out the valve thingy? dont want to let out too much if that is not the problem (plus it is r-12). or should i take it to a shop? thanks again
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
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a/c clutch tragedy
'Black death' would manifest itself as a thick black goo throughout the system and the compressor being impossible to turn by hand. If you can get the clutch off and it turns, then you're prolly in the clear. If you can't get it off and it doesn't turn, I'd take it to a shop.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,539
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From: North Texas
a/c clutch tragedy
I toasted an A/C compressor clutch a while ago when I used to drive a TownCar.
I went to a junkyard and picked up a clean $40 compressor. I made sure it was still hooked up to the A/C system in the car so the internal seals would be good and the compressor spun internally.
I had the system flushed, new dryer installed, new fixed oriface tube put in, and converted to 134A and all was well.
My F-150' A/C system was rebuilt by me last fall. I changed the low pressure line, high presure line, liquid line, evap core, dryer, all o-rings, it was flushed and had 134A put in. My compressor's internal reed valve is gong bad but the rest of the system is nice, sealed, and cold.
Good luck and it is not as bad as it seems. If you can change out all the parts and just take it somewhere to get flushed/filled.
I went to a junkyard and picked up a clean $40 compressor. I made sure it was still hooked up to the A/C system in the car so the internal seals would be good and the compressor spun internally.
I had the system flushed, new dryer installed, new fixed oriface tube put in, and converted to 134A and all was well.
My F-150' A/C system was rebuilt by me last fall. I changed the low pressure line, high presure line, liquid line, evap core, dryer, all o-rings, it was flushed and had 134A put in. My compressor's internal reed valve is gong bad but the rest of the system is nice, sealed, and cold.
Good luck and it is not as bad as it seems. If you can change out all the parts and just take it somewhere to get flushed/filled.
Posting Guru
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a/c clutch tragedy
If I may jump in here on this topic, my compressor makes a clicking noise like bad tappets, I've taking it back to the guy who retrofitted it 134A and he keeps saying the compressoer is fine he thinks it the clutch making that clicking noise, the system seems to work just fine other than that clicking noise, anyone have this problem?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Newport News USA
a/c clutch tragedy
Yep, same problem here. And it was also after I retrofitted to 134a. Clutch, I just haven't gotten around to swapping it out. Fairly simple process, especially since the A/C system doesn't get opened up, so no worries about losing freon.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Newport News USA
a/c clutch tragedy
I've been told that it may have been due to improper amounts of oil when recharged. I know that too much oil is just as bad as too little oil, but which one it is... got me. I really have no idea how to check how much oil is in the system once it's charged, if there even is a way.
Posting Guru
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a/c clutch tragedy
As far as the oil goes, it sounds like the compresser is oiled by the freon that runs through it, And what I was told is R12 carrys the oil much more efficently than 134A, the a/c man told me for every 10% your system is down the oiling quailitys of the compresser is down 40%, the guy said he adds extra oil to the system when using 134A, it's funny you should say that about the clutch making noise due to lack of oil cause no long after mine was retrofitted the clutch started making noise, but changing the clutch sounds like a 300.00$ item and the whole compresser with clutch is 500.00$ what do you do
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Memphis, TN
a/c clutch tragedy
It's not really oiled BY the refrigerant - there's oil added in WITH the refrigerant. And if you use the right oil (PAG-42 for all Fords), it lubes the compressor fine. The problem is that ALL the kits come with PAG-100 (for GMs) or ester oil. Those will kill a Ford compressor.
omni
I bet yours has the wrong oil in it.
omni
I bet yours has the wrong oil in it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: North Texas
a/c clutch tragedy
Hmmm...if my clutch is bad instead of my reed valve that would be great. The compressor that is on there was rebuild between '97-99 so I would not think anything internal could have been wrong.
I thought it was that valve as it is made of plastic. But what would make my clutch make noise also?
I thought it was that valve as it is made of plastic. But what would make my clutch make noise also?
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