Hey, guys. As some of you know, I’ve been hunting a squeak for a while.
I’ve replaced the idler and belt tensioner pulleys.
I’m down now to the AC compressor.
You can’t buy the pulley or clutch separately for this compressor. And the compressor is $300-$500 at AutoZone.
I went ahead and pulled one from a junkyard today and it seems to be in good enough condition, but the issue I’m having now is that I’m not sure whether or not it would be better for me to try restore this compressor and then change the entire compressor. OR if it would be easier to try and remove the pulley and change them out.
My answer depends on what kind of equipment you have.
If you have A/C gauges and a vacuum pump, AND you feel the new-yo-you compressor is in reasonable condition,
(Was the system still closed up when you removed it? Always a good sign. If not, were the comp ports covered?),
I would remove the current one, install a new receiver/dryer or accumulator, and orifice tube if there is one, vacuum down the system and install the freon charge.
If you have the tools to change the clutch, then that would be the cheaper way to go as long as it could be with the comp installed, but would require a bit more technical attention.
If you have to pull the comp to do the clutch swap anyway, I would go the first route.
Honestly, I would much rather just do the clutch, but I have no clue how to get these pullies off of these compressors. I don’t see any bolt holes other than the 10 mm bolt in the center.
If anybody here knows how to remove the clutch or pulley off of these, please let me know.
I have rebuilt a couple ompressors back in the day just because. It isn’t that difficult but people don’t recommend it because they think they cannot handle it. No special tools other than a 3 arm puller and a couple other tools. Can’t remenber specifically as it was many moons ago. The problem is finding the proper rebuild kit and hoping the guts are in good shape. That’s critical because you do not know how the ac system was treated by POs.
The Isuzu compressors, from the one I busted apart from my '95 Rodeo 3.2, is a vane type vs piston which I had on past Alfa Romeo v6s. That Rodeo compressor was S-H-O-T. The PO ran it dry or something as all the vanes were gone and the guts were locked up. I had to flush the whole system because the plbg was full of metal shavings. Yup, now I have the auto flush kit and fluid which is good as I needed it not long ago as I fully rebuilt this current Rodeo ac system.
When I did the compressor, I used a later MY compressor as the '99 Rodeos are a cusp MY vehicle. Mine is an early production and I used the later which was basically a plug-n-play for bolt on but I did need to get the later MY lines from the compressor to the firewall. No sweat and the JY lines were better than the original lines. The hose end connectors were different on the compressor. They were plug-n-play as well. I changed everything. I even used synthetic freon. Works awesome.
I would recommend getting a replacement because the cost for the assurance level is worth it.
BTW, did you gauge test the ac system? You might want to test it 1st and/or recgarge the complete system and check the compressor PAG oil level. A gauge kit and a 2stage vacuum pump from HF is cheap for what you can do with it. I used mine on friends cars for a fee of course.
I picked up a gauge kit off Amazon for a ridiculously cheap price.. i originally purchased it for doing longer distance runs on Split sys domestic AC units..
But the kit also came with the Automotive Fittings as well..
I wish I had of spent more on the vacuum pump though.. This single stage unit would have a hard time sucking on a cigarette i recon..
Here’s a good vid for compressor rebuilds. This is how I was taught when I was a ‘grasshopper’ at full service stations. I have actually purchased from the company that did this vid and they were good quality. That’s rare for me as I generally don’t trust anything from S. FL. I’ve lived there a couple times.
Compressors aren’t hard at all to rebuild. I didn’t want to on this Rodeo because I didn’t trust the POs, I didn’t have the time because of prepping for my move and I will almost always go for a reasonable upgrade.
I strongly suggest that you crack open any compressor before ordering parts to confirm its internal condition. Make sure you get the right kit for that compressor. It should have a label on it and go by it. When I use the term 'cusp’year that means the manufacturer made changes usually mid-year. My '99 had changes anso did the '95.5 Rodeos.
