The compressor is the heart of the refrigeration circuit. It pumps and pressurizes the refrigerant to move it through the A/C system. Compressors work hard and run hot, up to several hundred degrees and several hundred pounds per square inch of internal pressure. They rely on only a few ounces of lubricant to keep their parts moving. If the lubricant is lost because of a leak, or the lubricant breaks down due to contamination, the compressor will not last. Sooner or later, the compressor will call it quits. The most common symptom of a compressor failure (besides no cooling) is a seized compressor. It will not turn when the magnetic clutch engages, and you may hear squeals of protest from the drive belt. Or, the belt may have already broken or been thrown off its pulleys. Loss of Lubrication Most Common Reason for Compressor Failure Loss of lubrication is unquestionably the most common cause of compressor failure. This can happen when there is a refrigerant leak somewhere in the system that allows refrigerant and oil to escape. Typical leak points are hoses, hose and pipe connections (O-rings and flange gaskets), the evaporator, condenser or the compressor shaft seal. An electronic leak detector or dye should be used to find the leak so it can be repaired. A restriction inside the A/C system can also starve the compressor for oil. Oil circulates with the refrigerant, so if the orifice tube or expansion valve is blocked it may cause the compressor to run dry and seize. Even if a compressor is still turning, it may have to be replaced if it is leaking, making excessive noise or not working correctly. Some compressors are naturally noisier than others, but loud knocking noises can sometimes be caused by air in the system (the cure here is to vacuum purge the system to remove the unwanted air, then to recharge the system with refrigerant). Metallic noises and bearing noise are usually signals that the compressor is about to fail. Compressor Worn Internally A new compressor may be needed if the unit is leaking internally or not producing enough pressure due to bad reed valves, worn piston rings, or worn or scored cylinders, etc.). A worn compressor or one with internal problems will not be able to develop normal operating pressures with a full charge of refrigerant. This kind of problem can be diagnosed with an A/C gauge set. Other Causes of Low or No A/C Cooling Poor cooling can also be caused by a lot of things other than a bad compressor, so do not replace the compressor until you have ruled out other possibilities such as a low refrigerant charge, too much oil in the system, air contamination, a clogged condenser, plugged orifice tube, inoperative electric cooling fan, etc. Compressor operation can be affected by sensors in vehicles with automatic temperature control systems. Some have an A/C pressure transducer (usually mounted in the high side line) to monitor refrigerant pressure and shut off the compressor if pressure gets too high; a compressor temperature sensor to turn off the compressor if it gets too hot; and/or a compressor rpm sensor to monitor belt slippage. Mitsubishi, for example, uses a "belt lock controller" to disengage the compressor if the drive belt slips or the compressor seizes. On 1996 and newer Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars, the A/C control module will disengage the compressor if the refrigerant temperature and pressure sensors do not show a rise when the compressor is being driven. COMPRESSOR CLUTCH PROBLEMS If the compressor is not turning, make sure the magnetic clutch engages when energized. Underlying problems here may include a bad relay, fuse, wiring problem or a defective clutch. If the clutch fails to cycle on and off when the A/C is turned on, jumping the clutch lead with a jumper wire from the battery will show if the problem is in the clutch or elsewhere. If the clutch engages, the problem is the clutch power supply (relay, fuse, wiring, switch or control module). Refer to a wiring diagram and work backward toward the battery to find out why the voltage is not getting through. Many A/C systems have a low-pressure cutout switch that prevents the compressor clutch from engaging if system pressure (the refrigerant charge) is too low. This is designed to protect the compressor from damage in the event of a leak. So if the clutch is not engaging, check the refrigerant charge and the cutout switch. The clutch air gap is also important for proper clutch operation. If the clearance is not correct, the clutch may slip and burn or not engage at all. The specs can be found in a service manual along with adjustment procedures. Generally speaking, most clutches call for a 0.015 to 0.040 inch press fit clearance. DEFECTIVE COMPRESSORS? How often do compressors fail as a result of "manufacturing defects?" Not very often. According to one compressor manufacturer who examined 75 compressors that had failed and were returned under warranty, only two were found to have manufacturing defects. The rest failed because of problems such as too little oil in the system, air in the system, contaminants in the system, or "installer error." The latter category included using the wrong type of compressor lubricant, not using enough lubricant, using non-approved flushes to "clean" system parts, and using cross-contaminated refrigerants. Debris left over from a previous compressor failure was the most common cause of repeat compressor failures. Use the Correct Compressor Oil Always use the type of lubricant recommended for specific compressors. This is especially important with rotary vane and scroll-type compressors. A replacement compressor may or may not contain lubricant from the factory. In some cases, the shipping oil must be drained before the compressor is installed. In other cases, the compressor may contain a POE or a PAG oil lubricant that may or may not be compatible with the vehicle requirements. Follow the compressor suppliers installation instructions to the letter to avoid warranty problems later on. Before adding fresh oil to a system, all the old oil should first be removed. This will prevent cross-contamination of lubricants and reduce the risk of overcharging the system with too much oil (which can cause cooling problems). Always refer to the OEM oil capacity chart for the vehicle application. The following is a list of recommended lubricants for R-134a import compressors: Behr/Bosch rotary compressors – Ester 100; Behr/Bosch piston compressors – PAG 46; Calsonic V5 – PAG 150; Calsonic V6 – PAG 46; Diesel/Kiki (Zexel) DKS, DKV & DCW – PAG 46; Hitachi (all) – PAG 46; Keihin (all) – PAG 46; Matsushita (all) – Ester 100; Mitsubishi FX80 – PAG 100; Mitsubishi FX105 – PAG 46; Nihon (all) – Ester 100; Nippondenso 6P, 10P, 10PA, 10P08E – PAG 46; Nippondenso SP127, SP134 & 6E171 – PAG 46; Nippondenso TV series – PAG 125; Panasonic (all) – PAG 46; Sanden SD500 & SD700 – PAG 100; Sanden SD710, SDB, TV & TRS – PAG 46; and Seik-Seiki (all) – Ester 100. FLUSHING AFTER A COMPRESSOR FAILURE When a compressor fails, it may spit metallic debris into the A/C system. Most of this debris ends up in the condenser where it can block tubes and interfere with efficient cooling. Some of the debris may be carried to the orifice tube or expansion valve and create a blockage. Debris can even be blown back into the suction tube. If not removed by flushing, it can be sucked back into a new compressor and cause it to fail. Flushing the hoses is always recommended following a compressor failure. Flushing the condenser is also recommended. But with many condensers, replacement is the only sure-fire way to get rid of contaminants. Older serpentine-style tube-and-fin condensers can often be flushed successfully, but parallel flow condensers are very difficult to clean. So too are newer style condensers with extremely small extruded tubes. For these kinds of applications, the condenser should be replaced. It is expensive, but not as expensive as ruining a new compressor because of residual debris or sludge in the old condenser. After flushing, install an in-line filter after the condenser to trap any debris that might still be inside. The filter will prevent anything that works loose from being carried to the orifice tube. You should also install a filter screen in the suction hose at the compressor inlet to protect the new compressor from any debris that might be upstream inside the suction hose or evaporator. Another reason for flushing is to remove residual oil from the system. This is necessary when retrofitting an older R-12 system to the new ozone-safe R-134a refrigerant, but it is also a good way to make sure the system contains the right amount of oil. Simply adding oil to the system to replace that which has been lost is a guess at best, because there is no way to know how much has been lost due to leakage. Estimating a couple of ounces here and there for replacing an accumulator, receiver/drier, condenser, compressor or hoses is not a very accurate means of determining how much oil needs to be added to the system when it is recharged with refrigerant. Flushing gets rid of all the oil so the exact amount specified by the vehicle manufacturer can be added back to the system. What happens if there is too little or too much compressor oil in the system? Not enough oil in the system will reduce compressor lubrication and may lead to premature failure. Too much oil in the system can puddle in the condenser and obstruct the flow of refrigerant causing a drop in cooling performance. Other parts that should also be replaced following a compressor failure include the accumulator or receiver/dryer, and the orifice tube or expansion valve. The former contains a bag of desiccant that traps moisture and acts as a filter to protect the system. A new orifice tube or expansion valve is recommended because the small hole in this metering device can become easily plugged with debris. An aftermarket "variable orifice tube" can improv…

Fonte: AA1Car.com