azalxj

Can anyone steer me to a good write up on how to do this..
2000 xj sport 135k mi

I am looking to order my part asap and want to know if there is anything else i need besides :

compressor, o-ring kit, oil

Had a shop look at AC issue(blowing hot air)

They charged it and said it leaked out
They said Comp blew a relay and at a certain temp the Comp shut off completely.

They wanted $1100.00 for the fix,

YEAH RIGHT!

If all the refrigerant leaked out do i still need it evac'ed?

Thanks for any suggestions, Too hot in AZ in the summer for no AC

hbracing13

You need the compressor, oil, dye and some more freon. Its pretty simple. If it leaked out then you just have to undo the one line at the compressor and unbolt. Some compressor come prefilled so you don't need to add more oil but recommend that your replace the dryer and orfice tube. You don't really need to. As for charging that were you have to know someone with a set of gauges and a vac.
Hook up gauges and open both high and low sides.
Hook up vac and allow to suck down for about 15-20mins
After turn off vac pump and close the high and low side on the gauge manifold. See were your vac is on the low side and allow to side for 10 mins if it drops down you must fine the leak first before goin forward.
If no leaks you'll have to add about 2oz of oil and about an 1oz of dye with a seperate connector.
Open the low side and one can of freon and allow it to suck into the system . On the second can you'll start the vehicle and same thing allow feron to enter the system the clutch will prob be cycling on and off a couple times.
Now the gauges are what you wanna make sure are reading right the low side you want it from about 30-35 psi and high side will depend on temp out side so it about 85 outside you'll multiply that by 2.2 to 2.5 so you'll be around 187-212.

azalxj

Cool thanks for the tips.

Im gonna start with just replacing the comp and the dryer/ orfice.

Charging is gonna be a whole nothr project because i dont have the guage or vac pump for it obviously.

I didnt know if there were more steps to the Comp install sounds straight foward, I appreciate it.

djb383

Google a/c overhaul and use the search function here.....some good reading out there and here. Cleaning/flushing (with a/c flush) the hose manifold, evap and cond are very important along with replacing the accumulator/dryer and liquid line (it contains the new orifice tube). Precisely measuring/adding new comp oil is a must for max cooling efficiency and compressor protection. If the new compressor is factory filled with oil, the oil should be drained/measured and that amount subtracted from the system oil total. When we did our a/c overhaul, we added the measured system total oil (8.1 ozs) to both the new accumulator and compressor (1/2 to each). From there we buttoned it all up and took it to a a/c pro to pull the vacuum and add refrigerant. That's coming up 3 years ago and still get mid 30s on max/recirculate at the center vents.

azalxj

Excellent, this is great info.

s346k

good info in here, as I am in need of a compressor, as well.

any insight on a good replacement? I found a denso (I think) oem replacement on rockauto...is that a good choice?

what would you all recommend? thanks in advance.

djb383

IIRC, we got our compressor at O'reilly Auto Parts for about $225. I think most compressor warranties require a new dryer and orifice tube as they r both filters. Makes sense.

hbracing13

Yup in order to claim any warranty you'll have you show "proof" but can they prove it usually they just return it I've done many compressor and have had no problems so far

djb383

From what I've read, when installing a new compressor, one would want to flush the system, install a new dryer and new orifice tube, add precisely (no guessing) the correct amount of oil not so much for compressor warranty, but rather to get the coldest a/c for the time/money they spend. Also, refrigerant should be added by weight (lbs & ozs) for best cooling performance.

azalxj

Thats the same one I saw, guys at the shop said they were going to get a denso, however tack on some $$. they said denso last a little longer than some other out there, not sure if thats true...

please check to see if this is accurate

Shopping list:
Compressor
dryer/ orifice
tubes
orings
oil

xj will be a chilly refuge on a hot summer day once it starts blowing cold

djb383

FWIW, I believe OE is Sanden, at least on a '98.

djb383

That sticker says oil amount is 240cc or 8.1 ozs (total in the system).

azalxj

SO I am now thinking it is just an issue with the clutch.

which is great i guess because i dont have to buy a new freaking compressor..

how can i make sure of this diagnosis?

I turned the AC on during my lunch break while it was 90 deg outside yesterday and it actually blew cold air, i drove it around for a while, still blew cold. then all of a sudden mile 5/6 15 mins after initially starting it, the air would get warmer and warmer and blow hot..

i then turned it off, after work popped the hood started it, blew cold.. reved it up a little to a constant 2000rpm and i could hear the compressor click on and off. still blew cold air, but what Im thinking is like the shop stated "once ithits a certain temp, it shuts off"

is this the clutch, the compressor, or what?

dont want to buy something that might not be needed..

FACTORY IS SANDEN SAME COMP ON MY 2000

hbracing13

If they said it blew a relay at a certain temp and leaked out, then yesterday you happen to try it and works fine for about 15mins. It possible they were meaning the clutch contacts. But it doesn't make sense why when you had the hood open, you can see/hear the clutch cycle on and off. Which would mean that your just low on feron. Even is so its just the clutch its still cheaper to buy the compressor vs just the clutch. Next time it stops working try to bump the compressor with a blunt object and see if it kicks on and works.

azalxj

yeah, they replaced cooling fan relay?? not sure what that even has to do with the comp.

I will try the blunt object this afternoon (rubber mallet)

what makes me wonder, is they claimed the freon they charged it with "all leaked out" but when i ran the AC yesterday it blew cold... hmm..

thanks for the heads up