Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 00:23:34 -0400
Reply-To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject: Re: Behold, another AC question. Compressor or clutch to blame,
and how do I tell?
In-Reply-To: <37e3f55b050711193748175798@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
A visual inspection is, unfortunately, not very informative when
dealing with the AC. A pressure gauge set is the best tool. It will
tell you, among other things, whether you have pressure in the system,
and if the compressor, is in fact, working. It is possible, but again,
not highly definitive, that you can touch the low pressure fitting
(when the AC is on and the engine running) with your hand, while the
high pressure will be quite hot.
The noise you describe may or may not be the compressor. Often times
I've found that the alternator belt slips (and squeels horribly) when
the compressor is running. Sometimes it is the AC belt that is
slipping. But again, none of this is definitive.
A lack of oil in the compressor could be causing the sound, (and would
mean a new compressor is in your future), but all this is guess work
without some sort of diagnostic equipment.
On Jul 11, 2005, at 10:37 PM, Julia Schrenkler wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> This year has unfortunately seen very few trips (but plenty of in town
> running around) and has been decent weather. But now, now it is hot,
> and my formerly ice cold ac makes a distressing sound which seems to
> transmit through my fillings.
>
> So I grabbed the Bentley and skimmed the archives, figured out where
> the compressor is, had Cindy fire up the engine while I watched and
> there was the noise. Great, found it, right where I was looking. Only
> I don't really know what the heck I'm looking at, or what I should be
> looking for. So here are some questions and I hope you can lead me to
> the path of a forehead-slapping simple fix as well as school me in the
> ways of the AC.
>
> This is an '89 manual trans with factory air, in pretty good condition.
>
> *The clutch part spins merrily - should it? I'm a newb and am not sure
> based on the Bent nor do I have the foggiest idea how this works. The
> clutch part actually seems slightly crusty but not ancient.
>
> *There's a quarter-moon type casing between say, 7 and 2 oclock (going
> from memory) and it has a bit of oily smear on either side. Normal?
> Sign of impending doom? Otherwise the compressor and area is not
> unduly wet, dirty, nor show other signs of leaking.
>
> *Not that I'd know what a bad ac smells like, but there's no weird
> smell - and I know how my engine smells when running happily.
>
> *The belt is in good condition and at a tension that doesn't seem
> loose or overly cranked.
>
> *There's no crazy shaking or other visible signs of distress in that
> area.
>
>
> Thanks for any help gang,
>
> -Julia
> '89 Westy
> Trip archives at http://www.wanderwagen.com
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