Burban AC woking good finaly

**sysmex** · 06-19-2008, 09:19 PM

It always had plenty of freon but just wouldn't cool enough. Replaced the compressor, accumalator and expansion valve along with a system flush and vacuum. Now its ice cold and I'm in south Florida!

**skivhere** · 06-19-2008, 09:46 PM

Did you do the work yourself? How much did it cost you and where did you get the parts?

My compresser is toast (according to a few mechanics I have spoken with), so I am looking to replace the same items you did.

**unplugged** · 06-23-2008, 01:51 AM

I just had the same thing done on my 93 burb. Last year I just replaced the compressor on my own and had my mechanic charge the AC. It started leaking last fall, but I didn't need it that much so it wasn't a big deal. Put new R12 in Feb. and all gone by April. So I paid almost a grand to have the compressor, accumulator, expansion valve and a fresh charge of R12 and now it's ice cold. I probably could have shopped the price around, but I try not to do that with my mechanic. He's honest as the day is long, and that's worth whatever he charges. Going to try and see if AutoZone will honor the warranty on their compressor.

**Skarch** · 06-23-2008, 09:36 AM

Make sure you guys are using new and not remanufactured compressors. Two reasons for this:

1. For some reason, when they rebuild AC compressors, they mnever are quite the same, like at best they might be 85% of spec. Its not this way with most remans, but the AC compressor is unique in this issue. I found this out after I had the compressor replaced for the third time in 6 months.

2. The new ones are actually a upgraded design over the stock compressor. At least they were on my 97 burb.

**skivhere** · 06-24-2008, 05:45 AM

I have had a little luck with mine. I was quoted anywhere from $800-$1200 to fix mine. This included replacing the compressor, accumulator, etc, etc. Anyway, there is a store not too far from me called "Parts Depot" which deals in AC Delco parts. I hadn't dealt with them in a while, but I remembered that I could get factory parts at a good price, so I stopped in and got a quote. For a new compressor, accumulator, in-line filter, expansion plug, and freon...$319.97!!! Better yet, just found out my neighbor has the vacuume, gauges and all the know-how to do the job! Dammit, I might actually have AC again!!!

BTW, Parts Depot #757-853-7270...not sure if the ship or not, but I figure it couldn't hurt to call. They are in Norfolk, VA

**sysmex** · 06-24-2008, 09:48 PM

I had first gotten my leaky compressor rebuilt for $150.00 but it never work good enough as stated above. I went back and they installed a new one for $650.00 with labor minus a $150.00 credit for warranty on the rebuild. This place is a big operation dedicated to A.C. only.

**BuckeyeBandit** · 06-25-2008, 07:21 PM

when you recharge the a/c on these front and rear units, do you just fill the same way? or is there something special you have to do?

**IrishBrewer** · 07-09-2008, 11:33 AM

Vehicles with front and rear units typically just have an extra evaporator unit but it is all part of the same system so it is evac'd/charged just like any other system. You do have to know the oil and refrigerant capacity of your system so that if you replace any parts, you know how much oil to add and when you charge it to know how much refrigerant to put in.

An overcharged system will not work right so when charging it is best to evac the system, check for leaks then recharge it by weight. It is better to have a system that is sligthly undercharged than one that has too much refrigerant. Some people fine tune the amount of refrigerant in it by adding/removing small amounts while monitoring the temperature of the air coming out of the registers.

**Crawdaddy** · 07-09-2008, 02:22 PM

I really need to learn A/C theory...I play the refrigerant level by eye. When the pressures on the high and low side look about right, and the A/C isn't taking any more...it's full.

I really need to replace my compressor and hook the rear A/C back up after fixing it. I'm considering filling it up at that point with propane. I've read that it does just as well as R-134 and is actually colder and safer. Supposedly R-134 is corrosive and R-12 and propane are not. I don't know...