It's HOT in AZ!!!! (not any more!!!)

border man · Post by **border man** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:54 am

My A/C went out.....AGAIN!! Twice in two years. I was on my way to El Paso and all of a sudden nothing but hot air, then smoke. When I pulled over the pulley/clutch was smoking pretty bad. I was able to limp the truck back home, but it's making an ugly grinding noise from the compressor. Any guesses? Looks like another $1000.00 down the drain on this thing. GMC= Give us More Cash.

Well I finally bit the bullet and took the truck to the stealership. When it was all said and done, I walked out of there $1,300 lighter.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:05 pm

If the clutch is bad and the compressor is still good then just replace the clutch.

If warranty is covering things then it's ok to let them cover a $1000 compressor, but if you are paying for it then there really is no reason to pay $1000 for a new GM compressor when you can get a new Ready Aire or similar compressor for well under $400.

Even a new clutch is less than $200.

I also had 2 go out my CC during the first 50k miles, but both of them were replaced under warranty.

Steve

border man · Post by **border man** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:20 pm

It was 861 the last time, with a non ACdelco comressor at the stealership. So I was thinking the same. Is the clutch do-able at home?

I'm not a brand basher, but this is ridiculous.... I have had two Ford Tauruses and neither has ever had any of the problems I have had with my first GM. 1990 taurus with over 230,000 miles and my current 2000 taurus with 130,000. This truck 2000 with only 92,000 miles has gone through 2 alternators, 2 a/c compressors, fading paint, cheap shocks, crappy third world cracking plastic trim. and other stuff I can't recall off the top of my head

Oh yeah crappy radio that swallows cd's. Time to get rid of this thing and get something more reliable like a KIA.

(off soapbox now)

border man · Post by **border man** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:14 am

Well I finally bit the bullet and took the truck to the stealership. When it was all said and done, I walked out of there $1,300 lighter.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 9:20 am

Dayem! Warranty on the work?

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 9:52 am

Be sure to keep the condenser clean. Bugs and road debris build up. Temperatures and pressures rise.

An AC system does not cool air. It removes heat. That is the way you must think about it. The condenser is where the heat is transfered to the air.
Most of the time when there is an AC problem, operator maintenance is what I blame. I clean everything up good and then look for problems.

In your case the clutch took a dump. As bad as it was , replacing the compressor is a must. The seals may have been cooked and start to leak. When replacing the compressor , you must install a new filter dryer (dehydrator), the orifice tube, and clean the system.
Parts usually run close to $500 and labor more than parts.
You paid a little more than you might have around here, but 'tis the season and it may have been a "supply and demand" thing?
You demand a supply of cool air