Well, this was me driving back home on Saturday afternoon...

 

 

 

Compressor was faultly, & replacing it sorted out my air-con.

 

In the end, I didnt replace the drier as it would have been an absolute ball ache to replace it. It looked like all you have to do is remove the top lock carrier, however, it seems that the whole front needs to come off to access the drier port.

 

I suspected it was the compressor after a little investigation. If the plastic part on the end of the compressor pully wheel can be turned by hand without the pully wheel rotating (engine off), it means the compressor has siezed & you need a new one.

 

btw, I purchased the compressor from Eurocarparts, a Denso one, for £270 inc VAT.

Edited 12 August, 201312 yr by Chris Berry

So the compressor has seized and the system wasn't flushed?

Yes, the compressor had siezed & the system was flushed, 'vacuum' for 45 minutes & then refilled.

I had a drier waiting to be fitted, but ran out of time as the whole front of the car needs to be taken off.... ain't nobody got time for that!!!

The drier will be doing nothing now, the flush will have wrecked it if there was anything left of it anyhow.

How long was the flushing kit on there for?

I have to ask.

The air con guy who did it said that the old drier was probably ok because the system never drained/leaked & remained fully charged even though the compressor failed.

 

If the drier is knackered, what are the signs?

Edited 12 August, 201312 yr by Chris Berry

If you run a flush through the system then the drier gets flushed, this will damage the drier. Receiver/driers contain a material called desiccant. The desiccant is used to absorb moisture (water) that may have gotten inside the A/C system during manufacture, assembly or service. Moisture can get into the A/C components from humidity in the air. This is the “drier” function of the receiver/drier. it is also a filter for the system, so look at it this way. You have just changed a compressor due to internal failure, i.e bits of metal have been distributed around the system, you haven't changed the filter. Imagine doing the same on an engine rebuild.

Well, its not ideal, but its how it is unfortunately.

 

Fingers crossed that the system was clear & the drier wasnt damaged. Hopefully the new compressor wont fail in the next few months!!