Help! A/C compressor has 5 miles to live!!

This *****, I need my second a/c compressor in 3 years. I knew it was coming. Today, on my way home the pulley finally failed, a/c stopped blowing cold and within 5 miles the bearings will seize. ( I just made it home, she was smoking, literally)

My question: Can I replace the compressor my self, just the compressor (dont really care about the warranty's, I hope to upgrade my libbby soon.) Can I just disconnect the hoses, slide in a new one, put in some freon and be on my way?

In the mean time, I have been looking for a by-pass pulley so I can drive to work tomorrow. All the parts stores say Jeep should have it in stock (of course, they are closed)

Any ideas?

Took compressor off mine,used a Duralast 827K6 belt. Been this way for a while. There is a how to either here or on LOST about doing this.

Thanks for the belt size, that is a big help. (Duralast.. NAPA and discount auto have that brand? When you took off the compressor, they say "warning, high pressure system" Do I need to take any precautions, or just remove bolts and hoses slowly..

Mine had emptied itself pretty well by the time I did this. Duralast is a zatozone brand. NAPA was twice the price too.

family KJ said:

Thanks for the belt size, that is a big help. (Duralast.. NAPA and discount auto have that brand? When you took off the compressor, they say "warning, high pressure system" Do I need to take any precautions, or just remove bolts and hoses slowly..

Click to expand...

You need to properly recover the R134A,it is as harmful to the ozone as R12 is.You then also need to replace the reciever/dryer,orific tube(a whole line on a KJ),and new o-rings on those connections.Then you need to add the correct amount of PAG oil,vacuum the system for 30-60mins,must hold 28-29in's of vacuum for that whole time.Then using a calibrated scale(or AC machine) add the specific amount of R134A.

Not a DIY project unless you buy the special tools required which is far more then having a shop do all the work.

Recover IT!

X2 as above..
I can't imagine taking a whiff of that stuff....:Nonono:
Helium's not bad though...:insane:

Yeah, been reading about all that... But, can I atleast remove the hoses and quickly put on some duck tape to seal them so I can remove the compressor.. Another a/c job is not a possibilty ($$$) right now.

family KJ said:

Yeah, been reading about all that... But, can I atleast remove the hoses and quickly put on some duck tape to seal them so I can remove the compressor.. Another a/c job is not a possibilty ($$$) right now.

Click to expand...

If you have R134A in the system it still needs to be properly recovered.No matter how fast you think you are it's going to come out very forcefully and your not going to stop it.Could severly hurt yourself at the same time with extreme frostbite,it takes less then a sencond with refrigerant.If it's 90 degrees outside the static cold pressure in your AC system will be 90psi(100 degrees = 100psi and so on) so duct tape will not even begine to hold it anyways.

I guess that is the answer as I was looking for, so I need to drive her somewhere to get the refrigerent removed. Hopefully she doesn't seize

The pics aren't showing for me, not sure if it's cause I'm at work or because the links are broken... but this may help...

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40044

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=43504&highlight=belt

The aftermath...

Thanks for the diagrams...

After a quick evac at the local a/c shop... I removed the compressor, covered up the lines, (duct tape) and installed the smaller belt.. There are a few ways you can route them correctly, in the end I used a 79.5" belt in the route I used.

That black stuff on the floor would be metal shavings from the bearings ofcourse.. Alot more room in there!

Now, do I spend:

$700-800 to fix the a/c,
$500 for new front shocks and springs (just replacements) , Many bad noises going on down there
$100 to fix my passenger regulator so I can use the window

Or:

Maybe it is time to move on.. (Something used, a little newer, and gets double the gas mileage) I drive about 150 miles a day, I dont think my libby is very happy I can re-visit the jeep community in a couple of years.

family KJ said:

Thanks for the diagrams...

After a quick evac at the local a/c shop... I removed the compressor, covered up the lines, (duct tape) and installed the smaller belt.. There are a few ways you can route them correctly, in the end I used a 79.5" belt in the route I used.

That black stuff on the floor would be metal shavings from the bearings ofcourse.. Alot more room in there!

Now, do I spend:

$700-800 to fix the a/c,
$500 for new front shocks and springs (just replacements) , Many bad noises going on down there
$100 to fix my passenger regulator so I can use the window

Or:

Maybe it is time to move on.. (Something used, a little newer, and gets double the gas mileage) I drive about 150 miles a day, I dont think my libby is very happy I can re-visit the jeep community in a couple of years.

Click to expand...

Looking for a LOW priced 2002.

Am I? or you are..

tjkj2002 said:

You need to properly recover the R134A,it is as harmful to the ozone as R12 is.You then also need to replace the reciever/dryer,orific tube(a whole line on a KJ),and new o-rings on those connections.Then you need to add the correct amount of PAG oil,vacuum the system for 30-60mins,must hold 28-29in's of vacuum for that whole time.Then using a calibrated scale(or AC machine) add the specific amount of R134A.

Not a DIY project unless you buy the special tools required which is far more then having a shop do all the work.

Click to expand...

Hey tjkj, why is it necessary to replace the dryer and orifice tube when replacing the compressor? Not doubting you, just curious.

Prospect62 said:

Hey tjkj, why is it necessary to replace the dryer and orifice tube when replacing the compressor? Not doubting you, just curious.

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To keep the A/C compressor warranty.If the compressor fails internally it sends junk to every part of the system and those 2 parts collect the most junk which work it's way to the new compressor and destroy it.You also should replace the condensor also,since 1991 condensors are made so they can not be flushed,smaller tubes and much more tube makes it impossible to flush.

Not a Jeep but a great example,the new VW's use what is called the "1000' condensor" as it actually has over 1000' of tubing.

Thanks for the info man. Scouring eBay as we speak.

Prospect62 said:

Thanks for the info man. Scouring eBay as we speak.

Click to expand...

I'd pass fleabay and actually buy quality parts.

Yea.

Prospect62 said:

Yea, I need to price parts from Napa and then eBay. Chances are we'll be looking at hundreds of dollars difference...

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Yeah most don't know that AC work is very expensive and the average cost of replacing a AC compressor with all required other parts is about $1200-$2000 depending on make/model,and that's with the parts made in china.OE stuff will double that price no problem.It's a luxury item that no matter what will always cost big $$$ to fix it and is truely a "you get what you pay for" type of deal.