A/C comp rebuilder

Indications are that the Delphi A/C compressor on my 2002 360 is bad. Low pressures are very high and Highs are very low which points to a bad compressor or expansion valve. System was evacuated, new filter/dryer(the old was dated 2002 and the A/C has worked perfectly until recently) vac pulled, recharged with 120z, clutch is clicking on and off when switched on and off so seems like a bad compressor.

Can the seals on the compressor be easily replaced with a kit or is a rebuilt compressor the way to go? AND, can anyone recommend a re-builder. I called Ranshu and UAC in Texas and they do not rebuild A/Cs.

 

Thanks. Just what I was looking for. Thanks again.

 

While opening things up in anticipation of the expansion valve and/or compressor replacement I found a more serious problem. A few tiny oil droplets floating in the coolant expansion tank. I frequently check it and this is the first hint ever of oil in the coolant. The heat exchanger has never been changed and I have 28K miles on the car so looks like it is crapping out. Time to change it for sure.
Is it less of a PIA to replace the heat exchanger through the cockpit engine assess panel or by pulling the intake manifold? I have done the belts a few times so that is not hard but the water pump must be pulled to access the HE. I pulled off the intake manifold recently and it took a lot of time but was not hard to do so would that be easier and quicker than doing the job through the front?
I have looked but am not sure where to get the after-market improved heat exchanger. Less expensive is nice but high quality trumps that.
Any pointers will be appreciated. When it rains it pours it seems. My 360 A/C conked out and then the A/C in my H1 conked out. I am in S La, deep South in the swamp, and you cannot move without a fully functioning air conditioner. I am screwed until I get one of these car A/Cs fixed. I can use my wife's car but!!!!!

 

Thank you for the info that I was looking for.

 

Sorry, Brian, I posted the incorrect amount. It was 16oz. The next day I checked again and the pressures made a bit more sense. Static=48low, 60High. Running with A/C on, 78 low, 105 High. Blowing hot at vents, high and low pipes same temp, and sight glass at new filter/dryer clear with no indication of any refrigerant. The 16oz was precharged with dye which ordinarily shows streaks on sight glass. I tried to add another 8oz and but the system would not accept it. It was not flowing in and nothing left the can other than barely rising into the manifold sight glass. The pressures were dead steady with no movement of the needles at all. The clutch clicked on and off when the "stop" switch was switched. The only conclusion is that there is a big obstruction or the compressor is not working.

I now have it on a lift and the belly panels are off but have not examined the compressor yet because I was distracted by the discovery of the oil droplets in the coolant tank. If the clutch is not truly engaging then that might be the problem. The compressor made no noise at all other than the light click when turning the switch on and off. I opened up the old filter/dryer and the screen/fiberglass pad was perfectly clean. No debris at all.

I do not know the anatomy of the compressor but it is not compressing for sure. Could the clutch be slipping or just not engaging the compressor shaft? Maybe the solenoid is clicking but not activating the clutch? I will eyeball the compressor later today with the car running on the lift. I would assume that the trans heat exchanger will not just totally blow up all of a sudden while diagnosing the A/C?

I am in Thibodaux, La near New Orleans so sending it to Austin would be easy.

 

Nope. No temp difference. The compressor is not pumping.

 

I am about to pull the engine access panel since I will install a new heat exchanger so I will be able to see if the clutch is engaging.
Will post my findings. Thanks to all for the help.

 

Seems like I saw that. Hopefully it is only a clutch. Should know in another hour or so.

 

Clutch is engaging. Added the 8oz that failed to go in yesterday but it did go in very slowly today. It sort of slowly flowed in with no hint of being drawn in. No movement at all in the sight glass on the gauge manifold and the sight glass is still empty at the dryer/filter. I tried to add another 8oz and no go. All very strange.
The compressor is not compressing is all I can figure. The static pressures have settled at 100/100. When clutch engaged and running, 80 low and 105 High.

 

So now, 24oz is in the system. Is it possible for the compressor to fail in such away that it no longer compresses? Leaf valves cracked or drive shaft sheared so compressor pins not moving?

 

I suppose the next step is to remove the expansion valve and check or replace it. Could that have caused a total lack of coolant circulation in the system?

 

Thanks Brian. Austin Rebuilders. Next step will be to pull/check/replace the expansion valve. I never have had an A/C problem quite like this one. A real head-scratcher.

 

No temperature changes in pipes, no fluctuation in pressures when running even when the compressor is turned off and on, the clutch engages normally, no noise from the compressor, and nothing is seen flowing in the sight glass. Something is plugged up, or the compressor is not compressing or sucking.