Compressor Failure

If your car needs a new compressor, it is not as simple as just replacing the compressor and "all is well".

Generally, compressors are very reliable and if your air con is serviced correctly then it should last many years.

It is very rare that compressors fail by themselves and failure can usually be traced to any of the following:

• Prolonged use of the car's air con when it's low on gas - causes oil starvation to the compressor (the picture to the right shows the result of a lack of oil in a compressor)
• The wrong gas in the system - only R134a is approved
  Wrong oil in the system
• Receiver drier (filter) no longer effective
• Receiver drier collapsed internally, releasing all the desiccant balls into the system
• Air in the system causing high pressure - will damage the compressor
• Moisture in the system causing acid and freeze ups - will damage the compressor as well as other parts
• Faulty pressure switches - not shutting down the compressor when required
• Inoperative condenser fan - causes high pressure
• Over-charge of gas - causing high pressure
• Not replenishing oil when changing a/c parts
• Not flushing the system to remove contaminants
• Adding leak repair additives to quick fix leaks
• Incorrect service procedures
• Leaks in the system allowing oil and gas out and air and moisture in
• Too much oil or too little oil
• Not servicing the system regularly
• Wrong tension of the compressor drive belt
• Using compressed air as a flushing propellant - puts moisture into the system
• Poor vacuuming of the system - leaving moisture in the system

This list goes on and on.

Therefore ...

When replacing a failed compressor there are procedures that must be followed as stated on the new compressor instructions. The whole system must be flushed to remove all contaminants and metal fragments that the failed compressor may have deposited into the system.

You may have to replace a condenser that is not leaking due to the fact that contaminates cannot be flushed out. (On newer cars many of these cannot be flushed.)

The TX valve must be replaced, and the dash may need to be removed to do this. The receiver drier must be replaced. (A serious case of contamination in a receiver drier is shown in the above image.)

And finally, the reason(s) why the compressor failed must be rectified.

So, for example, what was a $700 compressor job now becomes a whole lot more. There is no escape from doing the job correctly. Anything short of this is poor workmanship and may come back to bite you and your wallet.

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