01 blazer AC compressor clacking

[jstutz]

This is the second AC compressor that i have installed on this vehicle. I bought one kit off ebay for 300 dollars with the new orifice tube and accumulator. I bought one of those 15 dollar vacuum devices from harbor freight that you hook to the air compressor. After charging the system with the proper oil and charge, it clacks very badly as it runs. It started out smooth but after about a day it was very loud. Thinking i got a bad one, i bought another one from AAP and now it is doing the same thing. It works great and has been now for over a month but if you pop the hood you can hear it clack clack clacking away. Im almost convinced im doing something wrong. This one started clacking as soon as it fired up. Its not getting worse or better and is cooling great. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Chris142]

Forget about that $15 vacuum pump. They do not pull down enough to get the job done.

 

[jstutz]

chris, do you feel like this may be the problem, or are you just speaking in general. I know guys who have swapped compressors and not even pulled a vacuum. I cant speak to there long term reliability but it has been working for at least two years now. This is why i thought i could get away with the cheapo vacuum.

 

[Chris142]

If there is any air in the system the compressor can be noisey. How did the O-Tube look?

Are these brand new or rebuilts?

 

[jstutz]

The old one looked good to me but i replaced it with a new one. I didnt see anything on it but if you touched it it had a color of grey or black, i cant remember.

 

[jstutz]

Could i be getting air in the system from the way im charging it. I was thinking when you change the cans, there is a little air in the hose.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: jstutz
Could i be getting air in the system from the way im charging it. I was thinking when you change the cans, there is a little air in the hose.
You need to bleed the line from the can to the guages before you add the refrigerant.

 

[jstutz]

Okay, Chris do you feel like that little bit of air could be cause this. I tried to crack the valve and let a little freeon out first to clear the line but like i said i have had two compressors do this so im thinking it is something im doing wrong. Im about do do my suburban so i just want to be sure that im not messing it up.

 

[mechtech2]

HOw do you know how much total oil is in the system?
Each piece must be accounted for and measured, plus any added oil.
It is always a big question when replacing parts.
BTW, without pulling down vacuum, no AC system will work anywhere near right. If the system was not opened, we can get away with it.