Woot! Got my A/C back!!!

[Busted Knuckles]

Guys, I've been suffering through the last 4 Georgia summers without A/C, and couldn't take much more. So, I went on a hunt. I found a replacement compressor(link) on eBay for $146.89 with $16.00 flat rate shipping. I then went to RockAuto.com and ordered a Four Seasons Receiver Dryer/Accumulator for $10.15, a Four Seasons Expansion valve for $10.88, and a Four Seasons o-ring and Gasket set for $7.45. Once everything was in, I went to the local parts store, and got 2 cans of R-134a for $14.99 each, a belt for $15.99, and a box of Nitrile gloves for $15.00.

The compressor was pre-charged with oil, but I added 2 oz. of PAG oil just to make sure. The compressor was from China, but I still decided to roll the dice. I had to swap over my factory mag clutch connector, just the wire end connector and crimp it to the new mag clutch lead, and the compressor manifold plate from the old compressor. I replaced as many o-rings as I could reach, using the Nitrile gloves to handle the green-coated o-rings and gaskets. Swapping out the expansion valve was a bear, but the receiver dryer was a cinch. I rented an A/C vacuum from the parts store, vacuumed the system, ran it for 30 mins once it hit 26 in hg, then loaded it up with the first can of gas. Once the can was getting low, I started up the engine and flipped the A/C to high/recirc. The compressor started to turn on/ turn off until it sucked the can dry, then it stayed on. I added the second can, and now I have cool- crisp A/C!!!

All told, this fix cost me less than $300 and a Saturday afternoon. If anyone else is interested in the compressors, the guy still has 3 at the time of this posting, and he ships the rather quickly. I got mine in about a week. Rockauto also shipped quickly, and I was ready to go within 10 days of ordering parts.