Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

The HC Show on Sun August 29, 2010 9:07 PM

Year: 2000
Make: gmc
Model: sonoma
Engine Size: 4cyl
Refrigerant Type: sailor jerry's
Ambient Temp: hot
Pressure Low: ?
Pressure High: ?
Country of Origin: United States

Hello experts,
My problem I'm encountering is:
Monday everything going fine. Tuesday morn. a/c isn't working. Tuesday mid-day I'm hot. I check on the compressor, I find the hub is out about 1/4" from the pulley. I go to a/c parts store to ask them wth. Dude looks at it and tells me to remove the nut (on the shaft) and put a socket there and tap the hub with a hammer to get the hub back in correct position. I know, dumb answer. I should of removed shaft nut, thrown it away, got a gm hub installer remover tool and used that, not a hammer tap. Anywho... I go to remove the nut and that shaft immediately snaps off. Now there is no thread left on the shaft to put that handy dandy hub installer tool on. So I figure I must now go back to that ac parts store, here in Phoenix, and buy a replacement compressor and clutch. So before I do that, I look inside on the shaft and can see the key and keyway. It looks like it's in it's proper position. (best I can tell) So I decide to get that hammer back and try to hammer the hub back into place using a 2X4 to soften the blow. Low and behold it worked, but only for an instant, it quickly came back out to it's 1/4" gap. My questions are this, What do you think caused this problem to begin with. And why after my hammering it did the hub go back into position but come back out. Any ideas of what I can do or try now? I mean besides skipping off to parts house and making a purchase. That much, I've figured out for myself. I'm hoping for other options.
Oh did I need to mention the compressor is not running of coarse the clutch is not engaging. Sorry I forgot to say that.
Thank you all for your time. hasta

ps. Ok it really uses r-134a. The Sailor Jerry's if for me.

mk378 on Sun August 29, 2010 9:48 PM

Whatever holds the shaft into the compressor, or the shaft inside the compressor, may have broken. Can you just push the shaft and plate in and out by hand? If so, time for new compressor. There is a better store in Phoenix you can go to.

The HC Show on Wed September 22, 2010 4:04 PM

No, cant just push it in with my hand. Takes a hammer swing.
Anyway, thank you for trying.

GM Tech on Wed September 22, 2010 4:18 PM

broken shaft

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The number one A/C diagnostic tool there is- is to know how much refrigerant is in the system- this can only be done by recovering and weighing the refrigerant!!
Just a thought.... 65% of A/C failures in my 3200 car diagnostic database (GM vehicles) are due to loss of refrigerant due to a leak......