A/C Compressor going out?

[bugdreamsdocometrue]

Any of you who have had an A/C compressor go out...what does it do?

See, I posted yesterday regarding a "buzzsaw" type sound in my motor that only happens when the A/C is on, and today, I asked the VW Service Department to listen to the noise, as they had pulled out Casper's radio to get the code...WHICH, VW America DID honor...they did it FREE...even washed him all up when they were done!!!

Anyway, the service guy said to him it sounded like the A/C compressor was getting ready to try and go out.

In all the years I've been driving, whenever I've had a car's compressor go out, you turned on your A/C, and it blew hot. No sound, just no cold air.

Casper has COOOOOOOLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDDDD air. Just a loud machine gun type of noise when the a/c is on.

Is this just the way a VW announces it needs help? hahaha

My dad was leaning more toward the harmonic balancer or motor mount. hmmmmmmmmmm

Also, if this IS the compressor, would those of you who have bought them without having a dealer involved share those links with me? My dad is capable of doing the mechanical work, so no sense to pay an arm and a leg for it.

Thanks!!!

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by bugdreamsdocometrue

Any of you who have had an A/C compressor go out...what does it do?

See, I posted yesterday regarding a "buzzsaw" type sound in my motor that only happens when the A/C is on, and today, I asked the VW Service Department to listen to the noise, as they had pulled out Casper's radio to get the code...WHICH, VW America DID honor...they did it FREE...even washed him all up when they were done!!!

Anyway, the service guy said to him it sounded like the A/C compressor was getting ready to try and go out.

In all the years I've been driving, whenever I've had a car's compressor go out, you turned on your A/C, and it blew hot. No sound, just no cold air.

Casper has COOOOOOOLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDDDD air. Just a loud machine gun type of noise when the a/c is on.

Is this just the way a VW announces it needs help? hahaha

My dad was leaning more toward the harmonic balancer or motor mount. hmmmmmmmmmm

Also, if this IS the compressor, would those of you who have bought them without having a dealer involved share those links with me? My dad is capable of doing the mechanical work, so no sense to pay an arm and a leg for it.

Thanks!!!

I'm telling you, just as I did on your last post to check out the blower motor/fan. The same thing happened on Buttercup as it did with a Saturn that I once owned. They both stil blew Cooooooooooooooooold air, but they still made that loud buzz/Machine gun kinda sound. If you don't believe me,
at least get a second opinion on this. And when you do, ask them about/check out the fan motor.

It's sad to say that some dealership/independent mechanics (yes even some VW) will prognosticate and hypothesize on what the problem is. And when it's all said and done you've paid out of the wazooo on their process of elimination repair, i.e: they'll start with the compressor, then the dryer, the motor and everything else until the problem is resolved. And your stuck with the expensive bill.

I'd hate for you to get hosed with a unnecessary repair and/or bill. Buttercup's compressor actuall did go out- this week. And even so, i'm shopping around with some other reputable VW repair guys in hopes of paying 400.00 - 600.00+ on a compressor.

For your sake, I hope i'm right. Your wallet will thank me

[bugdreamsdocometrue]

When I can take it to where I bought it from (where the warranty is...a non-VW dealer, whose service department was closed today), I will have them check it out.

I just happened to be at a VW dealer today to get the radio code, hence me asking him to hear it while I was there.

I'm only asking this question to get people's experience on when their A/C compressor actually went out, so I CAN be skeptical to the service department if need be.

I hope you're right, too, but just because I'm asking about this from what I was told today by VW service doesn't mean I don't believe ya.

Originally Posted by scarabY2k

I'm telling you, just as I did on your last post to check out the blower motor/fan. The same thing happened on Buttercup as it did with a Saturn that I once owned. They both stil blew Cooooooooooooooooold air, but they still made that loud buzz/Machine gun kinda sound. If you don't believe me,
at least get a second opinion on this. And when you do, ask them about/check out the fan motor.

It's sad to say that some dealership/independent mechanics (yes even some VW) will prognosticate and hypothesize on what the problem is. And when it's all said and done you've paid out of the wazooo on their process of elimination repair, i.e: they'll start with the compressor, then the dryer, the motor and everything else until the problem is resolved. And your stuck with the expensive bill.

I'd hate for you to get hosed with a unnecessary repair and/or bill. Buttercup's compressor actuall did go out- this week. And even so, i'm shopping around with some other reputable VW repair guys in hopes of paying 400.00 - 600.00+ on a compressor.

For your sake, I hope i'm right. Your wallet will thank me

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by bugdreamsdocometrue

When I can take it to where I bought it from (where the warranty is...a non-VW dealer, whose service department was closed today), I will have them check it out.

I just happened to be at a VW dealer today to get the radio code, hence me asking him to hear it while I was there.

I'm only asking this question to get people's experience on when their A/C compressor actually went out, so I CAN be skeptical to the service department if need be.

I hope you're right, too, but just because I'm asking about this from what I was told today by VW service doesn't mean I don't believe ya.

I got ya. When you said "COMPRESSOR", I said, please not somebody else. I hope for the best; especially that you've just recently purchased your baby. I know you want your beetle experience to be as inexpensive and enjoyable as possible.

I hope somebody else chimes in on the matter too. With the problems i'm having wiht 'Cup's A/C, I'm hoping for a better solution. Today (Saturday) I took 'Cup to a dude who works on our babies. You should see his Garage set up- Dream garage/Apt; I drool just thinking about it. Anyhoo, he says the compressor is engaging but there's no cold air blowing and the coolant is fully charged. So He said to wait until Tuesday, when his partner in crime will be in the shop and they hope to find a cheaper solution to the problem.

It's a slow weekend with the Memorial Day holiday- everybody being out and about. Hopefully someone will chime in soon.

Good luck to ya

[dasmurph]

I'm not sure what this means, BUT I did own a 2000 beetle that gave me several problems. The "staw the broke the camels back" was in the summer when I turned the a/c on it made this HORRIBLE loud buzzing noise and the whole car would shake and the pedals would vibrate and it scared the crap out of me. Never found out what it was 'cuz I traded it in for a 2005 Kia Spectra swearing i'd NEVER own a VW again...but here I am happy as a clam

[Grover]

Originally Posted by d_merry

....... I traded it in for a 2005 Kia Spectra

Too funny, I just got rid of my Kia Spectra too!

[Smileybug]

Yeah I would check out the radiator fans. One of mine stopped working late last summer. Still blows cold air with no problem but I do get a noise and a slight vibration because my primary fan is dead and its kicking the secondary into ultra high mode. No compressor problems as of yet. I'm ordering my fan soon and having a dealership (non-VW) replace it. Let it go too long though, and your compressor will go.

[GTRAFF]

My daughter has a98 NB. About three weeks ago her A/C started making noise. Kind of a rattle sound only when the compressor was engaged. It still cooled fine. It turned out to be the compressor. I bought a new one from World Impex - exact same model as was in the car and installed it myself. Cool air - no noise! The price was $275 from World Impex. Came in two days! I highly recommend them for parts.

[bluebugger]

It's the fan mine did the same thing last year and I took it to my VW dealer and they said it had cracked or broke a piece off causing the extremely loud noise! They had it fixed in no time and now she's fine

[Smileybug]

I have a noise in my car and a vibration that started last summer...still cools perfectly fine. Looked under the hood once it started and sure enough, my drivers side radiator fan wasnt on. Just ordered one yesterday and hoping to get it installed in the next few days. Haven't used the A/C much since last summer so I'm hoping its kept the compressor from goin. I only ran it once a long time ago when it was warm in NC and raining so I couldnt have the windows down. Still cooled fine then. So I'm hopefull.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by GTRAFF

My daughter has a98 NB. About three weeks ago her A/C started making noise. Kind of a rattle sound only when the compressor was engaged. It still cooled fine. It turned out to be the compressor. I bought a new one from World Impex - exact same model as was in the car and installed it myself. Cool air - no noise! The price was $275 from World Impex. Came in two days! I highly recommend them for parts.

LINK, LINK. Post a Link. I'm in desperate need of a compressor.

[bugdreamsdocometrue]

http://www.worldimpex.com

There ya go

[shuffs]

My '98 also makes a loud noise, only when turing on the A/C. It also doesn't cool at idle, but cools just great when at speed. I've had this happening since summor '04.

I'm suspecting the compressor is going because of the noise, but the dealer suggested I change out everything: compressor, condensor, dryer, etc., for $1,988. So, I didn't do that.

Now I'm about to order a new compressor. Anybody done the replacement on this themselves? How tough is it to get the old one out and the new one in? I figure I'll have a shop charge it up once I get it replaced.

Thanks.

[GTRAFF]

I changed one a few weeks ago in my daughter's NB, as I mentioned above. I removed the alternator and then it was easy to get to the compressor. Getting the two allen head bolts off the end of the compressor is possible with an allen wrench. Pretty easy job after the alternator is out of the way. Good luck.

I just changed mine put in two cans of r134a freon and it was just fine!

[savethebluths.org]

This is going to sound weird but hear me out.


I had a problem where my AC was making a real weird sound like it was buzzing or something, the air was blowing out slower than usual, well what I found out was that on the passenger seats side under the glove compartment is the intake for the recycle air duct, it has sucked a plastic bag up in it and that was making the sound, I took it out and POOF it worked perfect from then on. Hope this is your problem!

-Kirk-

[BigRedOne98]

Originally Posted by GTRAFF

I changed one a few weeks ago in my daughter's NB, as I mentioned above. I removed the alternator and then it was easy to get to the compressor. Getting the two allen head bolts off the end of the compressor is possible with an allen wrench. Pretty easy job after the alternator is out of the way. Good luck.

I just changed mine put in two cans of r134a freon and it was just fine!

Was your system still charged when you removed the compressor, or did you discharge the system and how?

Thanks

PS:I am about to order from worldimpex myself.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by BigRedOne98

Was your system still charged when you removed the compressor, or did you relief the system and how?

Thanks

PS:I am about to order from worldimpex myself.

Thanks BRO98 for posting that question. I was wondering the same. If you'ld please, give us all that entails the removal and install. As much details as possible would be most helpful. Thanks.

[BigRedOne98]

I wanted to add that germanautoparts.com has a similar compressor for sale at $303. Here's some details:

New Beetle, 2.0L, mid '00 (from chassis number Y_405165 on) thru '06


Volkswagen New Beetle Compressor Compressor w/ clutch, new. Sanden SD7V16 with 6-groove clutch pulley. Electrical connector for clutch is D shaped on outside and oval on inside. $303.45

Looks almost the same as the one at WolrdImpex, but the GAP one is only for 00-06 models according to them.

[GTRAFF]

Well, the correct answer is that I took the car to a local A/C service center and had the freon removed! Charging it back up if it has not been left open for more than a few minutes is not a problem. What little moisture might get in the system is absorbed by the dessicant in the receiver dryer. I have done 2 or three other cars the same way over the years without a problem!

If the compressor siezes and puts debris in the system it is different. In that case the system needs to be flushed and vacuumed, etc..

Hope this helps!

[BigRedOne98]

Ordered the compressor from WiorldImpex along with a cabin filter, should be here in next few days.