Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

cementhead on Mon March 09, 2015 12:38 PM

Year: 1991
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Suburban
Engine Size: 5.7
Refrigerant Type: R134a

Hello everyone,
I have a 1991 chevy suburban I rebodied with a hummer h1. I have installed a Chinese evaporator/heater core in the cab. I have all new ez-clip lines and fittings and a new drier with a trinary switch.. I have a new parallel flow condenser with an electric fan. I have no idea if the ac worked on the original truck. I would like to use the compressor that is on the truck. Is there anything I can do to check it? Should I do anything to it before I hook everything up. Is it a bad idea to use the old compressor? I have no experience at all with air conditioning.

HECAT on Mon March 09, 2015 7:54 PM

Well if you want to risk all your new stuff (a new compressor is not that expensive). Drain the oil from the compressor and inspect the oil. Turn the compressor and hold your thumb over the suction port and see if it can produce suction. Since your experience is limited, I think a bigger hurdle is going to be determining the correct amount of oil and refrigerant this system will require.

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jsmitty on Tue March 17, 2015 10:47 PM

See what the oil looks like in the compressor as HECAT said, then yank the orifice tube (will be near condenser inside section with dimples - remove the line there, & use needle nose pliers to remove it - it's held in place by 2 o-rings that are attached to the tube itself - usually takes some effort to get it out). If there's very little debris in the screen, clean it up and run it. If there's chunks of metal in there - lots of them - I'd replace the compressor and condenser, then flush the hoses out real good.

But, before we go that crazy, see what the oil in the compressor, & what the o-tube looks like first. You might just get away with 3-4 oz. of oil in the compressor (flush it with oil first) and a re-charge, if the o-tube & compressor oil (and function) checks out ok.

Edited: Tue March 17, 2015 at 10:48 PM by jsmitty