AC Compressor

[kevboost7]

I bought the car like this, but the previous owner installed a on/off switch on the dash to turn on the AC compressor. I believe this switch is wired to the engine bays fuse panel. When i switch the AC compressor on, i feel it dragging the engine and it makes a grinding noise.

My question is, should i have the AC compressor rebuilt? is that a possibility? or should i buy a new one?

[GTSBoy]

5 hours ago, kevboost7 said:

is that a possibility?

Yeah, it is possible. But like many related things (ie, alternators), it's getting harder to find anyone who does and will, given the change to just throwing shit away and replacing with new cheap shit from Chinese factories.

If you want to pursue the option of rebuilding, you'll have to dig up an auto A/C specialist or three to find out whether they still do.

[Butters]

If you really want good AC consider the frenchies kit.  All modern gear, works much better and is lighter.  But it is $$$$$$

[kevboost7]

Does yalls AC work?

 

[kevboost7]

5 hours ago, Butters said:

If you really want good AC consider the frenchies kit.  All modern gear, works much better and is lighter.  But it is $$$$$$

I'm looking at it now. The price dosent seem that bad.. a new R32 GTR AC compressor is $500-600 here in the states. It looks like they are using a different compressor though from a Toyota Echo. 

[GTSBoy]

6 hours ago, kevboost7 said:

It looks like they are using a different compressor though from a Toyota Echo.

Absolutely they are. Smaller, modern, efficient > clunky old 80s shit.

[Butters]

I actually think its really good value for everything brand new plus the conversion work all done. Just its more than buying just a compressor.  The billet bracket is a work of art. 

This pick alone, tells you how many decades you are moving forward 

 

[soviet_merlin]

21 hours ago, Butters said:

I actually think its really good value for everything brand new plus the conversion work all done. Just its more than buying just a compressor.  The billet bracket is a work of art.

I did not need to see this! With summer quickly approaching...

Did you just get the compressor with the bracket or the full kit with fan and everything?

In what way is different to the old OEM one?

[Butters]

I got the full kit.

 

The compressor as above is much smaller and lighter.  Also quieter.

Bracket is visually mint and much lighter.

The dryer and heat exchanger(rad) are one unit. Also smaller and lighter.  Much more room for an oil cooler.

The fan I got was a bit Meh and I might change it.

 

And above all else it is more efficient, tested a good 3-4 degree's cooler than the old system, which is a lot.

Disclaimer though - It wasn't a back to back test given different days. It really does feel colder though(always).  And this example is in my car with that crusty looking old compressor, not new vs new

[kevboost7]

The website said you need a AC technican to swap it in. Is that true? How did you fill the refridgerant? Was it easy to install? 

If i just got the bracket and the new smaller AC compressor, would the other components be compatible with R134?

[GTSBoy]

You don't need an AC mechanic to fit it. You do need one to vac the system down and fill it. That's how you get refrigerant.

[Butters]

I installed it all myself,  It was really easy to install.  I got a professional to do the degas/gas.

[R3N3]

I got the full frenchys kit too. Really awesome kit. Easy to install my only complaint was the hardlines I think could be routed differently (I modified mine) but I realise the kit needs to suit multiple applications.

This was the hard lines before I modified them. They were touching the wastegate pipe. I ended up reducing the distance between firewall and first bend. The made it so they tucked along the frame rail.

[Dose Pipe Sutututu]

On 17/09/2024 at 3:22 AM, kevboost7 said:

but the previous owner installed a on/off switch on the dash to turn on the AC compressor

There's probably an underlying issue with the A/C system too.

I recently fixed mine, now it's fully control by the Haltech and car's factory HVAC controller 

Have a squiz here:

 

 

[niZmO_Man]

Dose unofficially becoming R33 god

[Dose Pipe Sutututu]

5 hours ago, niZmO_Man said:

Dose unofficially becoming R33 god

Lol far from it, just another idiot wasting time and money on this shit box.

[soviet_merlin]

I went and got the aircon regassed in the Stagea today and asked the guy about the upgrade to the Toyota Echo compressor. He was saying it is likely not going to be as good. It is newer but smaller and not going to pump as strongly. And it would be better to try and get a new OEM compressor. He was saying that the improvements people are seeing may be more likely due to regassing the system. I thought it was interesting to hear.

Going by the sticker the system in my car was last checked in 2015. Gas was at 50% which is apparently beyond terrible. Under 80% is where efficiency already falls apart.

Anyways, with fresh gas the AC is now bloody freezing. I think it may be working a bit less hard as well. I need to drive it a bit more to try it properly. Previously on hill starts it would utterly bog down the car. I'm hoping this is a bit better now.

The frenchies kit looks great, but $1400 for the compressor upgrade alone makes it a bit of commitment. Very much so compared to a $150 regas.

[GTSBoy]

I don't know if anyone was seriously suggesting a retrofit of an Echo compressor in place of a more-or-less working original comp. You'd have to change the hoses at the bare minimum to do so, and that will definitely add significant cost. I had to get my hoses modded when I did the engine transplant and chose to use the Neo's AC over the even older R32 comp. That was startlingly more expensive than expected for what looks like a simple welding job, and a massive pain in the arse when it turned to have a pinhole leak in the weld too.

The Frenchie's kit is for people who have next to nothing of the original system or have more than that but some of it is a bit shit and better off thrown away than salvaged. If you've got 90% of the system, you just patch it up. Mine is currently degassed because it apparently has a big leak somewhere. If I find it is the compressor, I will be looking to take my spare comp to a shop to assess and/or recondition, rather than contemplating a retrofit to anything off-brand.

Edited September 23, 2024 by GTSBoy

[Butters]

Guess I should be hunting down one of these big ol ford units then for max flow .... 

I've had fresh gas in mine and it was never as cold as it is now .

The compressor could have been trash though, like I said I am one example with a bunch of unknowns. 

[soviet_merlin]

12 minutes ago, GTSBoy said:

I don't know if anyone was seriously suggesting a retrofit of an Echo compressor in place of a more-or-less working original comp

...

I don't think anyone did. But it still made me consider. For me personally it wasn't clear whether the AC experience in my car was shit because it is an old system, or because it wasn't maintained. Looks like it may have just been the latter.

I see some more modern setup being sold as an upgrade and I wonder whether it would make it drive like AC in a modern car. Where you don't really hear it or notice it. But maybe that's asking for too much as well.

 

11 minutes ago, Butters said:

Guess I should be hunting down one of these big ol ford units then for max flow .... 

I've had fresh gas in mine and it was never as cold as it is now .

The compressor could have been trash though, like I said I am one example with a bunch of unknowns.

Haha, stick it in a Nissan Cube and you end up with a driveable fridge

I'm not doubting your experience. Just thought it was interesting to hear the AC technician's thoughts on it.