replacing ac compressor

[bsengele]

does anybody know how big of a pain the the *** it is to change out the ac compressor on a 2000 firebird. I am debating on doing it myself but don't want to spend 3 days cussing at my car because i can't get it out
thanks guys

[chas]

i cant imagine it would be much work. i believe there has been some posts about converting from the old refrig to the new refrig (r-134a). you task should be essentially the same since you typically replace the compressor during this operation. it on top of the engine and the fittings bolt to the compressor if i remember right. the big cost is the compressor.

you will (should) need to go to a shop and have them recover any old refrig and discharge the system. even though its r-134a they still recover it (or so i believe).

[basemodel]

If it's anything like my 97 camaro, be prepared for a lot of tight spaces and cursing. It took me 7 hours to just figure out/replace the high-pressure side hoses, because you have to take the compressor out to get them. There are 5 (I think) 13MM bolts on the font, as well as 1 10MM bolt (there's one between the compressor and the pulley above, and one right below the compressor). Once you undo these, the bracket should come loose (you'll see) and then there's one more bolt, which is grounding the engine, on the side. This is a b-i-a-t-c-h. You can get a long 13MM and 15MM and do it, a rachet wrench comes in really handy. This isn't exaclty easy to do, as the space is very limiting. I'm sure it's a bit different in the firebird but I hope this helps.
-basey

[malice10985]

Getting the actual compressor off is pretty easy I thought. It is only held on by like two bolts.

The tubes and stuff behind it are best reached from underneath the car IMHO. If you have stock exhaust manifolds, expect it to be tough. It is easy to reach them with headers.

Get the refrigerant purged at a shop. If you act like a redneck and just purge that nasty stuff into the air, I will drive to San antonio and whoop your ***.

[malice10985]

I put mine back in today. The Girlfriend was nagging me to do it.

TO remove it, unbolt the 3 bolts in front. there are 2 13mm and one 10mm. NExt there is a bolt/stud on the upper right side of the compressor. the stud is on the end of the bolt and it holds the primary ground from the battery. Unbolt that with a 13mm and then take off the bolt behind it. I think it was a 15mm. Now it should be ready to pull strait out the front.

If the hoses give you trouble, just unbolt them. SInce the system should be purged anyways, take off whatever hoses are holding you back. It didn't seem that hard to me, I did it in about 45 minutes.

DON"T lose the O-Rings on any of the connections. THey are 5 bucks apiece!

[chas]

if were going to replace the compressor which is fairly expensive i would probably drop in some new o-rings and throw the old ones away.