Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

echeeves on Wed April 10, 2013 10:36 AM

Year: 2001
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Silverado
Engine Size: 5.3
Refrigerant Type: R134A
Ambient Temp: 75
Pressure Low: 28
Pressure High: 165
Country of Origin: United States

Compressor would fail to engage after 10-20 min of operation. tapped clutch with hammer and bam!, it would stay engaged.
can't find a replacement clutch for the delphi part #1136607 anywhere, so new compressor will go on.
Problem is, all replacements show a 4 groove micro ribbed pulley while the O.E. is v-belt.
What are my options?

GM Tech on Wed April 10, 2013 11:38 AM

When I get these in, I take a shim out- takes about 10 minutes-

Never seen a vee-belt application on a 5.3L - Has yours been modified for some reason? Have you owned it since new?

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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......

Edited: Wed April 10, 2013 at 11:39 AM by GM Tech

echeeves on Wed April 10, 2013 11:57 AM

It's my brothers truck; was bought used. he hasn't done anything to it, but who knows.
We pulled off the clutch plate and didn't find any shims; only a thick felt washer. it is press fit.

iceman2555 on Wed April 10, 2013 5:09 PM

The compressor utilized on this vehicle was never supplied with a 'V' belt. Someone has 'done something' to the truck....like maybe change the engine.....or modified the compressor mounting system......something is amiss.

GM clutches are press fit for air gap clearance. Failure to engage and a simple 'tap' on the drive is typically a voltage supply problem or excessive air gap. Set air gap about .015 and check voltage drop across ac clutch to determine voltage supply to the clutch assembly.

Good luck

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

NickD on Thu April 11, 2013 6:43 AM

Was going to comment on GMTech's post, didn't know GM made a compressor in over the last twenty years with a shim in it. Did a quick search, both V and serpentine belts are are available for this vehicle. If GM runs short of parts, no telling what they will put in. They didn't run short of parts when they were making them.

They sold both Delco and Delphi to private investors, those investors thought they were going to get rich, until GM insisted on buying parts from them a below manufacturing costs.

Guys buying brand new Cruze's are complaining about heater core leaks, and even compressors that are darn near stalling the engine when they are turned on. So far, I have been lucky, but watching those like a hawk. With the heater cores, using over 167 sources spread all over China for these parts. With less than a thousand miles on my car, had to have the entire electric power steering rack replaced. Insisted on looking on the new one before they put it in. Did get one made in the USA, so far, after 14K miles, it has been good.

GM Tech on Thu April 11, 2013 2:29 PM

That application was a denso unit- on the 5.3, not a delphi- Denso uses a shim, and no press fit- it has a splined shaft- it may feel like a press fit when trying to pull it off- there is no puller for it for that reason, it is supposed to slip right off- and, I've never seen one without a shim-- unless someone had pulled one out already

GM uses shims since around 2002 MY on all the CVC applications- where the compressor is made by Delphi- so press fits are gone.

Someone may have "gotten fed up" with belt jumping and tensioner rattle- (which this application is well known for) and installed a vee-belt somehow trying to avert the complications....

-------------------------
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......

NickD on Thu April 11, 2013 5:53 PM

Should get it in my head that Delco and Delphi are history.

chris142 on Sat April 27, 2013 3:09 PM

Ya those trucks only came with 2 serp belts. never a v belt.

mk378 on Sat April 27, 2013 7:18 PM

If it's a shim type with all the shims already removed and you still need a smaller gap, you could grind off some of the back of the clutch plate hub so it goes on further. Sounds like it's already some sort of jury-rigged setup anyway.

iceman2555 on Sun April 28, 2013 10:25 AM

Since it has been several days since the first post. Was the vehicle repaired and if so, what was completed. If still in the repair mode, what is the air gap of the driver/clutch pulley? Also perform a complete evaluation of the compressor electrical, voltage supply, voltage drop test, and the coil resistance. Post your results.

-------------------------
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson