When I bought my 95 2wd pickup earlier this fall, the previous owner told me that the AC had stopped working about 6 months before. Sure enough, the compressor is mostly seized up. When the clutch tries to engage, the center of the compressor might move half a turn, but no more than that. Turning the compressor by hand feels gritty, so I'm guessing the internals are shot.

Based on you folks' experience, would replacing the compressor and the receiver dryer be adequate to get the system back up? If the AC tries to kick on, I assume that there is still refrigerant in the system, so after 9 months it hasn't all leaked out at least. I would have a shop vacuum and fill the AC after I replaced the parts.

Thanks!

 

You'd probably want a shop flush the system in addition to pulling a vacuum. You don't debris from the failed compressor ruining the new one plus any other parts you replace. They should also test the system to see if it holds a vacuum properly.

 

It's probably full of particles from the compressor failure, so be sure to blow the system out thoroughly with compressed air at least, or flush it. I'd be inclined to give it a shot. It's a R134 system, so if you get it cleaned out and replace the parts you mention, and it holds vacuum, it's probably good.

 

When I replaced my compressor, the manufacturers were very clear: there is no warrantee if you can't prove you replaced the expansion valve and flushed the entire system. Since you can't force A/C flush through an expansion valve, I don't see how you could flush the system without doing it in pieces. The hardest part is removing the evaporator, and you're going to have to do that the replace the expansion valve. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...-r134a-284801/

 

So when my compressor started making funny noises, I went through the same thought process, but came to a slightly different conclusion. I looked at the work/cost involved in replacing all those parts vs. the $300 cost of a another new compressor if the debris actually caused an early failure of the first replacement, and decided to take the risk and replace only the compressor. I had a shop evacuate the system, I replaced the compressor, they checked it for leaks and refilled it, and 8 years later it's still working fine. Sometimes you get lucky.

 

I don't think that the evaporator could be that difficult to remove. These trucks had their A/C installed by the dealer, not the factory. When I was in the market for a new truck back in in '92, the dealer told me if I wanted A/C they would have to install it. None of the trucks came with A/C.

 

We used rubbing alcohol and compressed air to clean the lines and condenser.
Removing the evap box may look daunting, but once you start it's not that bad.

You could always remove the high pressure hose going from the compressor to the condenser, clean it, and see if debris comes out. If its spotless odds are the rest of the system is ok.