A/C Question...Help Please - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

LOW DOUGH · 10-10-2008, 09:44 PM

I am putting a compressor, drier, and the hose assembly on a 99 suburban. I am not going to be charging the system; a shop will do that for me.

My question is: Is there anything special I need to do? Does anyone have any helpful tips, tricks, pics? Do I need to put oil in it if the shop is going to charge it?

I was thinking about the job and wondering if I should do this. I know I can put all the stuff on. Just want to know if there is anything I should do. Any help is greatly appreciated. This is my parent’s truck and I am trying to save them money. I would hate to not do something and mess it up.

THIS BOARD IS AWSOME.

P.S. I know it's not the right year for this section but this section has a lot of people looking at it. And I know there are some real techs out there that could probably help.

**clay68c10** · 10-10-2008, 11:41 PM

Put it together and let the shop do the charge and oil. If they have a good a/c machine it can add oil when they're charging it. They can also tell you if you need to add any. If there was oil on the new compressor you're probably good to go...

**WorkinLonghorn** · 10-11-2008, 12:09 AM

Don't over-tighten the fittings.Hopefully you have the torque specs,if not you should can look them up.I have them around here somewhere if you can't find them.

LOW DOUGH · 10-11-2008, 11:22 PM

Thanks yall. The hose assembly was wrong. It's my fault. The burb has rear air and we had the hose for front only. A week ago I was helping a friend tear down an '89 burb w/ rear air and noticed it had a "T" in the line by the drier that went under the cab and to the back. I should have known this one should/was the same. Didn’t see parent’s burb till today. Of course the parts store didn't carry the line I needed. Had to order it from NAPA. So not doing it this weekend or the next or the next. A buddy of mine is going to do it at his shop. Cool. Thanks again for the info and tips.

ChevyTech · 10-12-2008, 08:25 AM

As clay68c10 said the new compressor could have come with oil in it. The shop may want to put the oil in it so they are sure there is oil in it, and the correct type of oil is used.

I got in the habit of draining the oil out of the new compressors to measure it because I found them to have an inconsistent amount of oil in them. This was in the compressors we were getting at the dealership.

It would be a good idea to talk to the shop you are going to have charge the system, about the oil, before you do the work.

PT'S 70 CST · 10-12-2008, 10:50 AM

The biggest concern to me would be what kind of compressor are you using. If you are going with a autozone,advance or one of those type auto parts stores remanufactured compressors, then you will be making a big mistake. I tried that when my A/C went south on my 94 and wound up replacing the compressor twice before I went to GM and bite the bullet and bought a new GM one. Those stores will give you a 12 month warn. but it will not cover the labor or having it recharged. I am telling you there is no way I will ever try and save $ like that agian. It wound up costing me way more then I thought after replacing advance's junk compressors twice.

PT

**bwood** · 10-12-2008, 09:27 PM

None of the compressors I have installed in the past few years came with oil in them. Both reman and Delco/Delphi. They all have paperwork saying how much to add. On the last few Delphi's they actually had a sticker that said how much.

catch-22 · 10-15-2008, 04:30 PM

I rebuilt the A/C system in my 96 Sierra - did everything from the Evaporator/dryer, Condensor, hoses and compressor. I put in an Autozone compressor which was not filled with oil. I found online somewhere how much oil to put in. I bought a recharge kit which came with the refrigerant and oil, but I also bought extra oil. If you're putting everything in yourself, that's the hard part! The recharge kits are easy - you can't connect it to the wrong ports, the connectors only go to the right one. I don't know how much the shop is going to get for the recharge and oil - but its got to be cheaper to buy the kit and do it yourself. Mine came with a DVD and it was easy. I was very happy when I got cold air out the vents

catch-22 · 10-15-2008, 04:37 PM

Oh yeah - when I tried to take off the connector from the Dryer to the line that goes into the firewall - the entire pipe and connector started to twist. The Nut and dryer is made of aluminum and was fused to the steel(?) hose coming out of the firewall. I ended up taking a sawzall to the nipple on the Dryer, heated it up with a torch and got that fitting off. All the aluminum fittings seemed to fuse their threads. A little heat from a torch made them all come off nicely. I cleaned up all the threads with a wire brush thingy on a drill before I put in all the new stuff

10-10-2008, 09:44 PM	#1
LOW DOUGH I'M TRUCK CRAZY! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sachse, TEXAS Posts: 1,737	A/C Question...Help Please I am putting a compressor, drier, and the hose assembly on a 99 suburban. I am not going to be charging the system; a shop will do that for me. My question is: Is there anything special I need to do? Does anyone have any helpful tips, tricks, pics? Do I need to put oil in it if the shop is going to charge it? I was thinking about the job and wondering if I should do this. I know I can put all the stuff on. Just want to know if there is anything I should do. Any help is greatly appreciated. This is my parent’s truck and I am trying to save them money. I would hate to not do something and mess it up. THIS BOARD IS AWSOME. P.S. I know it's not the right year for this section but this section has a lot of people looking at it. And I know there are some real techs out there that could probably help.

10-10-2008, 11:41 PM	#2
clay68c10 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Centennial, CO Posts: 2,991	Re: A/C Question...Help Please Put it together and let the shop do the charge and oil. If they have a good a/c machine it can add oil when they're charging it. They can also tell you if you need to add any. If there was oil on the new compressor you're probably good to go... __________________ ClusterTruck: 68 C10 Bought in 89, wrecked in 03. Slow low $ rebuild started '17. 6.0 & TKO http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=788602 93 K1500 Short Step, 350, NV4500, EBL flash ECU. Vortec heads & roller cam someday... 05 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. 3” lift & 6-speed 02 E320 the insurance total “free car” 13 Tahoe LTZ

10-11-2008, 12:09 AM	#3
WorkinLonghorn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Studio City, Calif. Posts: 2,886	Re: A/C Question...Help Please Don't over-tighten the fittings.Hopefully you have the torque specs,if not you should can look them up.I have them around here somewhere if you can't find them. __________________ '69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, stereo speakers, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme.

10-11-2008, 11:22 PM	#4
LOW DOUGH I'M TRUCK CRAZY! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sachse, TEXAS Posts: 1,737	Re: A/C Question...Help Please Thanks yall. The hose assembly was wrong. It's my fault. The burb has rear air and we had the hose for front only. A week ago I was helping a friend tear down an '89 burb w/ rear air and noticed it had a "T" in the line by the drier that went under the cab and to the back. I should have known this one should/was the same. Didn’t see parent’s burb till today. Of course the parts store didn't carry the line I needed. Had to order it from NAPA. So not doing it this weekend or the next or the next. A buddy of mine is going to do it at his shop. Cool. Thanks again for the info and tips.

10-12-2008, 08:25 AM	#5
ChevyTech Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,621	Re: A/C Question...Help Please As clay68c10 said the new compressor could have come with oil in it. The shop may want to put the oil in it so they are sure there is oil in it, and the correct type of oil is used. I got in the habit of draining the oil out of the new compressors to measure it because I found them to have an inconsistent amount of oil in them. This was in the compressors we were getting at the dealership. It would be a good idea to talk to the shop you are going to have charge the system, about the oil, before you do the work.

10-12-2008, 10:50 AM	#6
PT'S 70 CST "GO DAWGS" Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Batesburg, SC. 29006 Posts: 5,410	Re: A/C Question...Help Please The biggest concern to me would be what kind of compressor are you using. If you are going with a autozone,advance or one of those type auto parts stores remanufactured compressors, then you will be making a big mistake. I tried that when my A/C went south on my 94 and wound up replacing the compressor twice before I went to GM and bite the bullet and bought a new GM one. Those stores will give you a 12 month warn. but it will not cover the labor or having it recharged. I am telling you there is no way I will ever try and save $ like that agian. It wound up costing me way more then I thought after replacing advance's junk compressors twice. PT __________________ 70 CST SWB 70 NOVA 93 Indy 500 Pace Truck (SOLD) 94 SILVERADO SWB 5/7 drop 2000 Silverado swb 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5 (Surprisingly very fast) 2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali BATESBURG, SC. 29006 29006 Some of my restorations http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/thu...NAME=snapfish/ Restored Tach tins 8 cyl - 6 cyl http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=518185 Contact info(Not my paypal address) DAWGSFAN227@YAHOO.COM God Bless Our Troops

10-12-2008, 09:27 PM	#7
bwood Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Denison, Texas Posts: 1,919	Re: A/C Question...Help Please None of the compressors I have installed in the past few years came with oil in them. Both reman and Delco/Delphi. They all have paperwork saying how much to add. On the last few Delphi's they actually had a sticker that said how much. __________________ 1998 GMC Sierra SLE 1/2 ton 2WD 305 Vortec -Gibson Stainless Cat Back Swept Side -SS Wheels 2005 Honda CRF250R 2006 Honda CRF150F

10-15-2008, 04:30 PM	#8
catch-22 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 36	Re: A/C Question...Help Please I rebuilt the A/C system in my 96 Sierra - did everything from the Evaporator/dryer, Condensor, hoses and compressor. I put in an Autozone compressor which was not filled with oil. I found online somewhere how much oil to put in. I bought a recharge kit which came with the refrigerant and oil, but I also bought extra oil. If you're putting everything in yourself, that's the hard part! The recharge kits are easy - you can't connect it to the wrong ports, the connectors only go to the right one. I don't know how much the shop is going to get for the recharge and oil - but its got to be cheaper to buy the kit and do it yourself. Mine came with a DVD and it was easy. I was very happy when I got cold air out the vents

10-15-2008, 04:37 PM	#9
catch-22 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 36	Re: A/C Question...Help Please Oh yeah - when I tried to take off the connector from the Dryer to the line that goes into the firewall - the entire pipe and connector started to twist. The Nut and dryer is made of aluminum and was fused to the steel(?) hose coming out of the firewall. I ended up taking a sawzall to the nipple on the Dryer, heated it up with a torch and got that fitting off. All the aluminum fittings seemed to fuse their threads. A little heat from a torch made them all come off nicely. I cleaned up all the threads with a wire brush thingy on a drill before I put in all the new stuff



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