a/c noise

[helibrian]

when i turn my a/c on the belt makes a squeeling sound.I already changed the belt and upon further infestigation it seems like the magnetic clutch stops the pully from turning when the a/c is on, any one had this problem

[EricN]

Your compressor is seized.

[Mystery Machine]

I'd have to agree with Eric - it sounds like your compressor is goosed!

The pulley will spin freely when the AC is off, but when you switch it on, the clutch engages and if the pump is seized will stop the pulley in its tracks, causing the belt to impersonate a swine at the slaughterhouse!

Sourcing a 2nd hand one from a breaker is probably a cheaper option than looking to get your refurbed....but that's based on the prices/availability here in the UK, I'm not sure if roles might be reversed on your side of the pond? (UK not good with AC stuff - we don't have it fitted much....but plenty of access to 2nd hand L300 parts)

Best of luck with it....

[Schwa]

Try (Dodge/Plymouth/Eagle) Mitsubishi Colt/Vista (or other cars they made in the same years) AC compressor from a junk yard - apparently they're the same.

[helibrian]

thanks for tips. if you change the compressor do you have to recharge the system?.I've never worked on a/c systems before.Hopefully I can find one.

[jessef]

Take the one you will replace it with to an AC shop and have them swap it out and recharge the system.

[marsgal42]

Like so many of these things. sometimes you really do need to know what you're doing. Unless you have the facilities to discharge the air conditioning system properly, you need to take it to a pro who can discharge it for you.

You can swap the compressor yourself once this is done, but do you really want to mess with refrigerant that could give you frostbite if it drips on you? Do you really want to discharge that much freon in to the atmosphere (which is illegal, BTW)?

If nothing else, plan for a new receiver/dryer. A good idea any time you crack the refrigerant loop, and these things are 15 years old, so you might as well while you have the system apart.

...laura

[torchard]

Yup, would totally agree. Find a replacement compressor and take it to a proper shop. CC Autos is likely to have a unit. You'll pay some bucks to have it done right, but you'll get a fully operational systerms afterwards, including new friendler refrigerant, new seals, etc. Besides, I don't know if you can even buy refrigerant over the counter anymore. Apparently they've really tightened up (rightfully). I did have some difficulty finding someone in town who could remove my old stuff though.

or you could hit it with a hammer. can make a world of difference sometimes i.e. therapy.

[marlcam]

Do i need to do anything with the Air/C gas for maintenance?

I read in a UK Mitsubishi site that owners should get the air/c system gas (freon--R12) refreshed or refilled every five years. For newer models (2000 models +) it may be required even more often. However, I haven't heard anyone else saying this. My mechanic (CVI Automotive, Richmond, BC) says there is no requirement to touch the gas. ALso this would involve specialists and enviro concerns.

The site says the gas can lose its charge or break down somehow over the years. Obviously with 16 yr old Mitsubishis this may be a concern. Or perhaps it's an alarmist view. I'm not evaluating the link, but see what you think: http://www.airconditioningforcars.co.uk ... .htm.--How long does refrigerant last? Could it lead to a seized Air/c compressor like Helibrian's?

[mararmeisto]

First things, first: you can't get (or at least you shouldn't be able to) an R12 recharge in this country because it was our piece of paper the international community all signed onto - The Montreal Protocol.

134A is a suitable replacement, not quite as cold by most accounts, and the only other thing which has to be changed is the lubricating oil (which is suspended in the coolant). All of this will be captured/changed properly by a certified refrigerant technician. The refrigerant does break down after time - or get used up, as it were - or it slowly leaks out of the system. As you point out, a +15-yr-old car has the potential to lose it charge.

If your A/C NEVER gets cold, it's either lost its charge or there isn't any/enough refrigerant left in the system.

That awful squealing you hear is probably the compressor and the refrigerant probably didn't wreck it, wear and tear did. It's a belt-driven compressor (pump) with bearings on the shaft, and the bearing are likely the failure, causing the shaft to sieze. Unless all the refrigerant leaked out, taking the oil with it (which lubricates the compressor), causing the compressor to sieze.

[marlcam]

Re recharging the refrigerant:

The mechanics (Butch and Edwin at CVI) removed the air/c compressor. In the process they called in a air/c specialist and had the freon removed. They charged me $70 for this portion. I suppose this is reasonable.

Now the compressor is seized and simply replacing the bearing won't solve the problem. Earlier when it seized, the pulley screamed and smoked. As my non-mechanic friends tried to determine the exact reason, the belt broke and smoke cleared up. The experts got a rebuilt compressor from Lordco. I'll let the Delica members know the part number when I find out and see if it's the same (for future reference).

I don't know what number freon corresponds to: R12. R134a or something other. Does anyone know? When I get the new compressor installed, I will need new gas. Probably a new trip by air/c specialist and another fee. Oh well.

I am still wondering what an owner should do, if anything about a vehicle's air conditioning system. If the vehicle has old freon from Japan, is it impossible to recharge it? If this is so, it is probably wisest to just do nothing unless something breaks.

Can the bearing be inspected and/or replaced before the whole thing seizes and the compressor dies? I.e. does preventative maintenance work here?

[EricN]

-Freon is r-12 you will be getting r-12a or r-134a.
-Your next ac fee is going to be the $70 plus the cost of the gas ($100-$150 ish??) and a retrofit kit ($60 ish??).
-Compressor bearings can be replaced before they go bad but it would take too much energy to explain how and you probably wont find any shop interested in doing it for a lack of ability to easily source new seals and orings. The compressor is actually pretty simple though (take apart your old one and look inside).
-Best thing for the ac would be suck it dry when you first get it, add a little more oil, recharge it and use it. Other than that, not much can be done.