AC Maintance ?
- Thread starter Ndx
- Start date
- Status
It is suppose to be a sealed system that failed at around 150k miles. Then you replace whatever that was broken (a pipe, a condenser, a compressor, etc).
Nothing to worry about.
Nothing to worry about.
you could try to get the maintenance done. when the compressor starts growling it usually means that the pump is starting to fail. now i have seen growling pumps go for another thirty thousand miles, then it failed and the i had to go replace the customers pump on the side of the road. then have him drive back so i could charge it. the reason i went to the truck is because the belt was taken out as well. i would have a mechanic check it out though
Let Chris142 respond - he is the Mistro of AC here.
He'll likely tell you to leave it alone as long as it's putting out cold air.
He'll likely tell you to leave it alone as long as it's putting out cold air.
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Let Chris142 respond - he is the Mistro of AC here.
He'll likely tell you to leave it alone as long as it's putting out cold air.
Thats what I'd do. If the pump is going south its likely put metal shavings into the lines and the whole thing will have to be opened, cleaned, pump and orifice/valves and dryer replaced. Let it go until it kills over. I'd check to make sure that the drive belt isn't one that would strand you without a altanator or water pump. Rare that thats the case.
Let Chris142 respond - he is the Mistro of AC here.
He'll likely tell you to leave it alone as long as it's putting out cold air.
Thats what I'd do. If the pump is going south its likely put metal shavings into the lines and the whole thing will have to be opened, cleaned, pump and orifice/valves and dryer replaced. Let it go until it kills over. I'd check to make sure that the drive belt isn't one that would strand you without a altanator or water pump. Rare that thats the case.
they have a serparate "stretchy" belt for the A/C compressor on those. have replaced a fair amount of compressors on those for that concern under warranty.
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
they have a serparate "stretchy" belt for the A/C compressor on those. have replaced a fair amount of compressors on those for that concern under warranty.
Are they manually tensioned, and they were overtightened from the factory perhaps?
they have a serparate "stretchy" belt for the A/C compressor on those. have replaced a fair amount of compressors on those for that concern under warranty.
Are they manually tensioned, and they were overtightened from the factory perhaps?
Best maintenance I've always followed is to run my AC every few weeks during winter to keep things lubricated in the compressor. Seems to help with all the cars we've had. Also, never start the car with the AC on. Make it a habit to turn off the AC before you turn the car off.
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Are they manually tensioned, and they were overtightened from the factory perhaps?
not sure exactly how that works. the belts come with a little tool kit thingy.
Are they manually tensioned, and they were overtightened from the factory perhaps?
not sure exactly how that works. the belts come with a little tool kit thingy.
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Let Chris142 respond - he is the Mistro of AC here.
He'll likely tell you to leave it alone as long as it's putting out cold air.
Is it always noisey or just when the AC is on? If it's always noisey then the bearing in the clutch is going bad. Replace it now before it ruins the nose on the compressor where it runs.
If it's only noisey when the AC is on and the radiator fans work... Have the system recovered and weighed. If it was low add a couple of ounces of oil and recharge to specs with a scale.
If that fixed it great. If not then you have a compressor failing. When the compressor fails it contaminates the entire system. You can't just replace the compressor because the new one will get ruined quickly from the comtaminants.
If you catch it early you may be able to just replace the compressor and dryer. If you let it go it's going to get real expensive.
Let Chris142 respond - he is the Mistro of AC here.
He'll likely tell you to leave it alone as long as it's putting out cold air.
Is it always noisey or just when the AC is on? If it's always noisey then the bearing in the clutch is going bad. Replace it now before it ruins the nose on the compressor where it runs.
If it's only noisey when the AC is on and the radiator fans work... Have the system recovered and weighed. If it was low add a couple of ounces of oil and recharge to specs with a scale.
If that fixed it great. If not then you have a compressor failing. When the compressor fails it contaminates the entire system. You can't just replace the compressor because the new one will get ruined quickly from the comtaminants.
If you catch it early you may be able to just replace the compressor and dryer. If you let it go it's going to get real expensive.
The guy that replaced my compressor told me that proper maintenance would be to, every four years or so, pump down the system, replace the dryer bag and recharge with fresh oil. He also admitted that almost no one, including himself does it.
I don't think that AC compressor is failing. For some reason almost all mazda 3's have the noisy compressor. (mazda 3 forum has some good threads about it)
On my mazda the compressor was noisy (especially the first time you engage the AC) since day one, although as the compressor completes a few cycles the noise is reduced, I guess it's because by then the system is fully pressurized. The noise is only present when the compressor engages, you can clearly hear the compressor cycling on and off when standing beside the car. Inside the car you can barley hear it.
After 3 years and 45k miles, the AC works the same and the compressor still makes the same noises, they are not getting any louder, I think it's just how the compressor was designed, that's all.
Hope it helps.
On my mazda the compressor was noisy (especially the first time you engage the AC) since day one, although as the compressor completes a few cycles the noise is reduced, I guess it's because by then the system is fully pressurized. The noise is only present when the compressor engages, you can clearly hear the compressor cycling on and off when standing beside the car. Inside the car you can barley hear it.
After 3 years and 45k miles, the AC works the same and the compressor still makes the same noises, they are not getting any louder, I think it's just how the compressor was designed, that's all.
Hope it helps.
Last edited:
Kestas
Staff member
Originally Posted By: johnd
The guy that replaced my compressor told me that proper maintenance would be to, every four years or so, pump down the system, replace the dryer bag and recharge with fresh oil. He also admitted that almost no one, including himself does it.
I don't know where he got that. I've never heard anybody in their right mind recommend any kind of maintenance other than clearing debris from the condenser, and if possible, from the evaporator, and exercising the unit once in a while, such as during the warmer winter days. Other than that, leave it alone if it's working.
Sometimes the refrigerant needs to be topped up if it's not cooling as well as before. And if it needs topping up too often, say more than once in a season, then the leak should be found and fixed.
The guy that replaced my compressor told me that proper maintenance would be to, every four years or so, pump down the system, replace the dryer bag and recharge with fresh oil. He also admitted that almost no one, including himself does it.
I don't know where he got that. I've never heard anybody in their right mind recommend any kind of maintenance other than clearing debris from the condenser, and if possible, from the evaporator, and exercising the unit once in a while, such as during the warmer winter days. Other than that, leave it alone if it's working.
Sometimes the refrigerant needs to be topped up if it's not cooling as well as before. And if it needs topping up too often, say more than once in a season, then the leak should be found and fixed.
Maintenance on A/C:
-Make sure the compressor belt is in good shape and proper tension
-Once a year take a garden hose and flush out dirt/dust from the radiator and condenser
-Make sure fans are coming on when compressor is running
-Make sure the compressor belt is in good shape and proper tension
-Once a year take a garden hose and flush out dirt/dust from the radiator and condenser
-Make sure fans are coming on when compressor is running
nobody is going to recommend getting the system pressures checked and having the refrigerant topped off as normal service? This should be done on building a/c systems also.
Originally Posted By: johnd
The guy that replaced my compressor told me that proper maintenance would be to, every four years or so, pump down the system, replace the dryer bag and recharge with fresh oil. He also admitted that almost no one, including himself does it.
That would be correct advise if you plan on keeping the car for the long haul {over 8-12 years or more} periodic dryer replacment keeps the moisture out of the system, which when combined with the oil becomes acidic and eats away at the condensor, evaporator,compressor seals, all O rings, and lines.While the system is evacuated, the oil removed is examined for color and debris and replaced with fresh oil. following this procedure every 4 years or so will extend the life of every component in the system,insure exact weight of refrigerent is in system,and cost about $150 to perform.
The guy that replaced my compressor told me that proper maintenance would be to, every four years or so, pump down the system, replace the dryer bag and recharge with fresh oil. He also admitted that almost no one, including himself does it.
That would be correct advise if you plan on keeping the car for the long haul {over 8-12 years or more} periodic dryer replacment keeps the moisture out of the system, which when combined with the oil becomes acidic and eats away at the condensor, evaporator,compressor seals, all O rings, and lines.While the system is evacuated, the oil removed is examined for color and debris and replaced with fresh oil. following this procedure every 4 years or so will extend the life of every component in the system,insure exact weight of refrigerent is in system,and cost about $150 to perform.
Last edited:
How does moisture get into a pressurized system?
Originally Posted By: qship1996
Originally Posted By: johnd
The guy that replaced my compressor told me that proper maintenance would be to, every four years or so, pump down the system, replace the dryer bag and recharge with fresh oil. He also admitted that almost no one, including himself does it.
That would be correct advise if you plan on keeping the car for the long haul {over 8-12 years or more} periodic dryer replacment keeps the moisture out of the system, which when combined with the oil becomes acidic and eats away at the condensor, evaporator,compressor seals, all O rings, and lines.While the system is evacuated, the oil removed is examined for color and debris and replaced with fresh oil. following this procedure every 4 years or so will extend the life of every component in the system,insure exact weight of refrigerent is in system,and cost about $150 to perform.
My 1993 camry with 229,000 miles has never had anything done to the closed system and still puts out perfectly cold air. I couldn't imagine taking apart the lines and drier as preventative maintenance.
And, I'm pretty particular with caring for my car, with plenty of fluid changes, etc.
But leave the AC system alone - other than the belts and keeping the condensor clean.
Originally Posted By: johnd
The guy that replaced my compressor told me that proper maintenance would be to, every four years or so, pump down the system, replace the dryer bag and recharge with fresh oil. He also admitted that almost no one, including himself does it.
That would be correct advise if you plan on keeping the car for the long haul {over 8-12 years or more} periodic dryer replacment keeps the moisture out of the system, which when combined with the oil becomes acidic and eats away at the condensor, evaporator,compressor seals, all O rings, and lines.While the system is evacuated, the oil removed is examined for color and debris and replaced with fresh oil. following this procedure every 4 years or so will extend the life of every component in the system,insure exact weight of refrigerent is in system,and cost about $150 to perform.
My 1993 camry with 229,000 miles has never had anything done to the closed system and still puts out perfectly cold air. I couldn't imagine taking apart the lines and drier as preventative maintenance.
And, I'm pretty particular with caring for my car, with plenty of fluid changes, etc.
But leave the AC system alone - other than the belts and keeping the condensor clean.
- Status