A/C Travails

Posted this on a frugal group, but thought it might interest some
here.

>On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:19:41 -0700 (PDT), James
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I get 30 mpg not using AC but only 25 mpg with it on.
>
>Smaller engines tend to use more fuel with A/C on then the larger
>ones, that much I have learned.

Yeah, but it balances out since it takes more fuel to develop the
initial torque anyway. MPG figures do vary more with the A/C
on small engines.

Now, "How much does AC cost you?"
1997 Lumina
2006(Oct) - Florida - $167 at an A/C shop to refill and dye-test.
Couldn't find leak and was good for remainder of trip.
2007(June) IL - No A/C. Bought dye kit $25, found bad original
compressor shaft seal leak. $283 for rebuilt compressor at Murrays
Auto Parts, $25 for R134, compressor oil, $100 to my kid for the work.
2007(June) - IL -Compressor clutch short blowing fuses, had to rent
a car for my girls who I had promised the Lumina for their Florida
trip. $450.
2007(September) - IL - Swapped warranted bad compressor for another
reman at Murrays Auto, $15 for R134, $100 to my kid for the work.
2007(Oct) Florida - Arrived in Florida 90F and sticky. A/C failed
first day.
$25 for R134 kit at Walmart, but it leaked out in an hour. Had to
give it a try.
Worked out OK as we spent mid days on the ocean and had more fun than
previous years. Quickly found out that you don't REALLY need A/C,
but I prefer not to hear my wife bitch about it.
2008(June) - IL - Bitched to Murrays Auto Parts manager about a refund
instead of a swapped reman compressor, so I could buy a new one.
Two bad compressor strikes you're out.
He preferred not to hear my bitching, so he ordered an OEM factory new
one as the swap at no additional cost. But I ordered a dryer/receiver
too. $30.
More R134. $15. Paid my kid $100 for the work.
2008(June) - IL - A/C fails after 2 days. No obvious dye
indications. Refilled with R134 and a shot of dye. $20. A/C lasts a
couple days, then blows warm.
2008(July) - IL -Kid finds dye indicating R134 leaking from both
dryer/receiver o-ring fittings. Went to local GM shop and purchased
GM o-rings. $2. Murrays for more R134, compressor oil, and a GM A/C
o-ring kit to boot. $25.
2008(4 days ago) - IL - Replaced dryer o-rings with the ones I got at
the dealer. Kid says the o-rings supplied with the Murrays dryer were
not lR134 o-rings. $50 for the kid.
So far so good, cold air with no indication of leak.
But I ain't convinced yet, not until:
2008 (Oct - Florida - A/C works fine
I don't have the heart to add it all up. The kid is a good mechanic
and has A/C gauges, evacuation pump, etc. The vacuum held on the bad
rings with no R134 in the system, but when filled the R134 went right
through them.
Here's some minimal advice if you do your own A/C work.
1. Pop for a NEW compressor.
2. Don't rely on getting the right o-rings with aftermarket parts.

--Vic