How can one check to see if the clutch or the compressor are bad?

 

On mine, I noticed that with belt off, the clutch flywheel turned/spun rather freely, but you could hear obvious dry bearing noise. Sounded like bricks being rubbed together. That's if system is out of commission anyway. Some manuals, like Helm's, have detailed diagnostics which can walk you through electric testing of all that's needed to test. I knew that my belt had burned off, heard the dry bearings, and would have needed to replace SOMETHING, so during removal of compressor/clutch assy., I removed clutch and saw obvious meltdown of clutch assy. All I had to do then was replace clutch, and hope that was it. That was it. If nothing's moving, and you're sure your system is charged, then electronic diagnostics is prob. where you would want to start. After I replaced clutch, before charging, it spun freely by hand, and as quiet as ever with it's sealed bearings in good shape. Good luck. Check Ebay for info on Helm's for your specific model car. You'll be surprised.

 

I did the 134 retrofit I am unhappy with the results...cool, but not frigid air.

Fortunately, I work for a company that does research on refrigeration, and I'm going to send the info on Freeze-12 to the manager of that group for review.

Will let you what his response is, if interested.

I may be dumping the 134 soon...

Russ

 

Yeah, that's what I was trying to avoid, Russ. Sorry yur in that boat. While this post started out as Freeze-12 info., I switched my choice to Envirosafe, but both are for sale with any fittings, oil, dye, whatever at the aforementioned website. I probably could have improved my system by changing out all the o-rings, but since I didn't want to do all that, the lower operating pressure, and larger molecules of the Envirosafe, and the fact that it mixes with all oils, was a good deal. Freeze-12 may actually cool better than Envirosafe, but I tested my vent temps today....during 95F in sun, and 80F after dark, both measured 40F when cruising on highway. Stopped in traffic, it rose to 50F. I'm very cool with it.