Worn out '90 NA6 A/C resto - input please

Jace · Postby **Jace** » Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:44 pm

My car has non working a/c that is still R12 based and probably never got regularly used (for maintenance) by the PO.

I had an auto elec. attempt a re-gas, but he said no luck, needs a new compressor and seals. Didn't charge me for the failed attempt and quoted me a max of $1000 to get it all working as it should, with R134a conversion.
I'm confident I can do a compressor oil change, replacement, and replace the o-rings myself. But this hot weather just makes me want to pay somebody else to do it!

Have you sourced your own replacement items through parts stores or stealerships?

How much have you payed for a replacement compressor?

Anybody got a model number for the compressor itself?

Just how good have you got an old system working?

I can probably source the parts at cost prices through family friends, it's more a matter of whether i can be bothered to do the work myself.

Trying to not buy pressies for my car until it's more comfortable (cold inside!)

TIA

Uncle Arthur · Postby **Uncle Arthur** » Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:16 pm

$1000 sounds about right, given the parts and labour required.

I had my (1991) AC re gassed a couple of years back, requiring a new condenser, some new ac hose to be installed, regas.... cost me around $600 from memory.

Last summer the clutch on my compressor died, so just before Christmas I bought a 2nd hand (compressor needing repair though it seems, but clutch fine) compressor from MX5 Plus ($150), but all I needed was the fully operational clutch. I still have the left over compressor body if it is any use to you to get rebuilt (if indeed that can be done). Alternatively Richard told me MX5 Plus has more in stock.

Took it to a local mechanic who charged me less than $400 to degas, dismantle the existing compressor and reinstall the replacement clutch, regas, and test.

So all up it cost me over $1000 to get it all done, but would have been less it I could have only done the whole job once, rather than in bits and pieces and in some cases twice.

Jace · Postby **Jace** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:27 pm

Thanks mate.

I wouldn't buy 2nd hand bits with the ability to break down, I'd much rather buy new stuff once.

If my family friends weren't off work with a broken back issue then I'd have already got this done!

GP · Postby GP » Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:28 pm

Mine stopped working a bit over a year ago, Needed much more than a compressor. Condenser, Evaporator, filter etc. Cost $1100 which only included a recon compressor, New compressor was about $1000 by itself. This was done by an aircon company i've known for 30 years and they gave it to me cheap :shock:

Would not consider doing this without the equipment and skills

Jace · Postby **Jace** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 12:43 pm

I guess I'm a bit more confident then.
From what i've found a new compressor should be at max $650, so unless that was a dealership spare parts price i'd say you were getting ripped.

GP · Postby GP » Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:33 pm

No mate, I priced the parts myself. Been doing my own mechanicals all my life.

I guess I'm a bit more confident then.

Good luck

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:59 pm

Just be careful when trusting sellers of second hand units. My dad bought a used compressor from a bloke who seemed genuine and assured him that the compressor worked fine (it was out of his written off vehicle). Then my old man got it installed by somebody else who told him it was broke. Didn't get either of those costs back.

Jace · Postby **Jace** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:56 pm

I need a replacement compressor, update oil and connections for R134a and replace all the local o-rings then get it regassed... none of that sounds too comlicated to me!

Still thinking i CBF, each hot day that passes I feel more and more like just checking it in to get fixed

Jace · Postby **Jace** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 7:23 pm

I figured I'd post my findings for the forum info value (search tags: air-con a/c air conditioning NA6 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 )

I got a new Nippon compressor through a family friends auto elec business, for $696 including a new receiver/dryer (the lil can in front of the radiator).
The compressor came with O-rings for the small plates that adapt the fittings to it (took them off the old compressor and cleaned them in petrol, then put them on new compressor)

The little flat plates on the new compressor came installed to keep the oil in, they came of and got replaced with the little 90˚ adaptor plate things

The oil is bright green and... really oily. Obviously there's zero gas pressure in the system, tested this when i bought the car by giving each valve a poke. One single wire to plug into the compressor itself, etc etc ithink i've covered any questions. Oh, there's apparently 3 different types of B6ZE a/c compressors, i'm guessing a different one for FWD applications and maybe a different one between the p/s and non-p/s cars...?

As of this arvo I have working A/C, blows at 5 to 6˚C. Re-gas was $90 for me but is usually just over $100 i believe?

SO all up it was basically $800 (had to buy some o-rings from Bursons as well). Sucks what little power the car has pretty badly but because it's my daily i'm fine with that.

If you have questions, PM me. Hopefully this info can help people in the future.