Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

atikovi on Fri June 10, 2011 4:39 PM

Year: 1979
Make: Chevy
Model: G30 van
Engine Size: 350
Refrigerant Type: R12

I picked up a 1979 Santana camper and thought I'd see if I could revive the A/C. Don't know how long it's been inop and it's missing the belt. The idler and compressor clutch bearings felt fine and I could turn the compressor easily by hand so I put on a belt. Turned the engine on and it didn't make any bad noises. So I jumped the clutch and it engaged fine. Had it on 15 seconds or so just to test. Afterwards I see in the back of the compressor at an electrical connector that it's leaking red fluid. Can that be sealed or do I need a new compressor?



Edited: Fri June 10, 2011 at 4:42 PM by atikovi

mk378 on Fri June 10, 2011 5:12 PM

That looks like an overpressure switch, it can be removed but the system pressure has to be zero first. They seal into the bore with an o-ring, likely the o-ring is cracked or blown after all these years, or the switch itself is cracked. Really you should consider replacing all the o-rings. Red dye was sometimes added to the oil for leak detection back in the R-12 days. Don't run the compressor with no refrigerant.