my friends 03 ac compressor just blew out something on the end opposite the pulley. the charge was lost and new refrigerant just blows out the hole in question. anyone know what used to be in that hole? thanks

 

I'm not sure if all automotive A/C compressors are like this, but my father used to have a '95 Chevy Cavalier and when he overcharged the A/C the same thing happened. He asked if I would take a look at it and I found it to have a blowoff disc installed (a one-time-only pressure relief device to keep a more expensive component of the A/C system from rupturing should an overpressure situation occur). The hole that it threads into was on the back of the compressor just like you said. I picked one up at the Chevy dealer--don't remember how much but it was pretty cheap. Also, you will want a new seal if it has one (not sure on this, but I believe it had a seal in there on my father's car, just like the seals used on the fuel line banjo bolts on our trucks but maybe a different size). Good luck...

 

thanks for the reply, rupture disk sounds right. will check and see if it's a replaceable part on this compressor and let you know.

 

Also make sure the fan is working properly and that the condensor isn't plugged with bugs and such. Either of those things would cause a high pres. situation. Need to have guages hooked up after the recharge ( high and low) to make sure it doesn't do it again. Also could be the orifice tube ( built into the line IIRC ) clogged causing high pressure too. Fix the cause, not the result!

 

we're both actually in the a/c buisiness. he just bought the truck from one of his roping buddies and it has a history of a/c problems. it was working fine one day and not the next. he didn't here it blow either. condenser and rad are both clean. he tried to remove what's left of whatever it was but didn't get it in the time he had before his MD weekend trip.

 

Huh, I'm in the HVAC business too...never worked on too many cars though (even though I'm certified to work on anything) besides my dad's and my Grand Am when I had to replace the entire compressor. I guess it's all the same in principle though...

 

I'm an A/C guy too and from experience, rev the engine up to 2000rpm, cut it off and watch the radiator fan. If it spins freely more than 4-5 turns, the fan clutch (viscous coupler) could be out. I toasted an a/c system in a 96 chvy truck because the fan clutch took a poop.

Gary

 

turns out it's a relief valve but nobody sells it that i could find. dodge says you have to buy the compressor to get it because their parts breakdown doesn't show it. looks like a sedco valve if anyone knows where they sell those. thanks.

 

I'd try another dealership--I hate it when they pull that lame crap on you saying they can't get it--the whole point of having it (well, besides safety of course) is so that if you have a high pressure-related failure, it will be the relief disc and not a much more expensive part!!! If you still can't find it there or an auto parts store, you should be able to find one at a good salvage yard. Good luck with this...

 

Go to NAPA and ask to thumb thru their A/C catalog. I remember seeing a picture section in the back that you can probably match one up with. It would help to have the old valve with you and know what the thread size and pitch is.

 

Looked thru the parts catalog myself a minute ago, and they are right. Not listed seperately. But it seems to me that when I got a new compressor from DC I had to change over parts from the old one?

 

http://www.primore.com/

Maybe they can send you in the right direction of a retailer.

 

he got it to reseat. he thought some parts blew out but guess not. evacuated and charged, system operational. thanks for all the help.