2000 DTS A/C Compressor Bad?

TheeSlowPoke · #1 (**permalink**) 04-13-07, 12:12 AM

I searched and only found one Thread on 2000 DTS with A/C problems and there was no post identifying what was the ultimate problem.

My wife's 2000 DTS air conditioning is pretty weak. She took it in to the shop last year to have it checked and they advised they added some freon and that the compressor is going bad. It made it through the year without totally failing, i.e. would keep you from too hot - but wouldn't keep you cool. I had an A/C shop check for leaks - found none. With summer coming on, I want to address it before the heat hits.

The car has <70,000 miles on it. There have been no A/C related codes, other than one dealing with the back seat A/C controls.

I have a '94 Deville which required a compressor replacement with <50,000 miles. So, I guess it is not out of the question that the compressor is going bad.

But before I spend a Saturday and $550, I thought I would run it past you guys. Any way to ensure the problem is the compressor? How can I know whether the compressor is "going" bad? Any suggestions?

**Ranger** · #2 (**permalink**) 04-13-07, 12:21 AM

Get a set of gauges on it and see what the high & low side pressures are for starters. If the compressor is going bad, you usually will find debris in the orifice tube I believe, but you'll have to evacuate the system to pull it, then vacuum it down and recharge it.

TheeSlowPoke · #3 (**permalink**) 04-13-07, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger

Get a set of gauges on it and see what the high & low side pressures are for starters. If the compressor is going bad, you usually will find debris in the orifice tube I believe, but you'll have to evacuate the system to pull it, then vacuum it down and recharge it.

Thanks,

I will take a look at it over the next couple weeks and get back to you.

TheeSlowPoke

z06bigbird · #4 (**permalink**) 04-13-07, 10:05 PM

You could have someone replace the orifice tube, evacuate the system for 45 minutes minimum, and re-charge.

If compressor is not noise and if pressures are good, I would think compressor is good. As someone splained, check orifice tube for dirt.

Ed

z06bigbird · #5 (**permalink**) 04-13-07, 10:07 PM

One other thing. Stay away from Advance, Autozone, Oreilley (etc) compressors. I personally have had new products be bad right out of the box. I think they are seconds. I would look for a discount AC Delco store.

Ed

TheeSlowPoke · #6 (**permalink**) 04-13-07, 11:01 PM

Thanks for the input!

I am looking at rockauto.com. They advertise A-C Delco compressor for about $400, an accumulator for $35 and an orifice tube for $2.

TheeSlowPoke · #7 (**permalink**) 04-13-07, 11:07 PM

Oh, one more thing.

We have had this car for going on three years. At the beginning of the last 2 years, we have had to add "some" freon. The first time, it was under warranty. The last time, it wasn't. Anyway, it takes about a year to require more freon - it doesn't get so low that the low pressure kicks it out. Is this too slow of leak to detect?

I noted earlier that I had a shop check it for leaks - they found none. I suspect I will have to have them inject something to help out on looking for leaks. Perhaps I will do this at the same time as getting the system evacuated and the orifice tube replaced.

**Ranger** · #8 (**permalink**) 04-14-07, 12:59 PM

On a leak that slow, I would just add a can of R134a once a year, rather than go through the expense of a repair.

Are the caps on the service ports? They are an integral part of sealing the system. Freon molecules are very small and can leak past the valve if those caps are not in place.

**Playdrv4me** · #9 (**permalink**) 04-14-07, 03:11 PM

My question is if it was "fixed" under warranty, why did they just add freon? They should have attempted to locate the leak and replaced whatever was causing it to leak in the first place, no matter how small.

TheeSlowPoke · #10 (**permalink**) 04-14-07, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playdrv4me

My question is if it was "fixed" under warranty, why did they just add freon? They should have attempted to locate the leak and replaced whatever was causing it to leak in the first place, no matter how small.

You are right, my friend. I may be a little slow, but I am getting smarter. Just adding a little freon won't be allowed by me again while under warranty. The dealer said they couldn't find any leaks - at the time, I just let it go. Won't happen again!

That dealer went out of business within a year after we bought the car. I might still be able to go to another Caddy dealer, if I had the shop order showing the work that was done. I don't know if they would honor it three years later - doubtful.

fhutchin · #11 (**permalink**) 04-16-07, 09:27 PM

I also have a 2000 DTS with about 90K miles. At around 65K, my air conditioner was weak and freon read a little low. I overfilled it slightly and it hardly worked at all. When I re-checked and brought it down to the proper level..... it worked great. No problems since.

TheeSlowPoke · #12 (**permalink**) 04-16-07, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhutchin

I also have a 2000 DTS with about 90K miles. At around 65K, my air conditioner was weak and freon read a little low. I overfilled it slightly and it hardly worked at all. When I re-checked and brought it down to the proper level..... it worked great. No problems since.

Really? That sounds goofy.

It should be obvious by the pressures on the system, once I get some gauges on it, shouldn't it? My old gauges are only good for R12, R22 & R502. I will take it in to get it checked - actually I am going to have it evacuated and get the orifice tube replaced this week.

How did you determine there was too much freon, did you get an overpressure indication?

cadillac_pimpz · #13 (**permalink**) 04-16-07, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheeSlowPoke

I searched and only found one Thread on 2000 DTS with A/C problems and there was no post identifying what was the ultimate problem.

My wife's 2000 DTS air conditioning is pretty weak. She took it in to the shop last year to have it checked and they advised they added some freon and that the compressor is going bad. It made it through the year without totally failing, i.e. would keep you from too hot - but wouldn't keep you cool. I had an A/C shop check for leaks - found none. With summer coming on, I want to address it before the heat hits.

The car has <70,000 miles on it. There have been no A/C related codes, other than one dealing with the back seat A/C controls.

I have a '94 Deville which required a compressor replacement with <50,000 miles. So, I guess it is not out of the question that the compressor is going bad.

But before I spend a Saturday and $550, I thought I would run it past you guys. Any way to ensure the problem is the compressor? How can I know whether the compressor is "going" bad? Any suggestions?

I had to replace mine (2000 deville) it just didn't cool all the time, don't know why, but I got the compressor replaced and the tube thing cus it was old. it works fine now. before it wouldn't cool all the time, it would just give me warm air.

**Ranger** · #14 (**permalink**) 04-17-07, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheeSlowPoke

Really? That sounds goofy.

It should be obvious by the pressures on the system, once I get some gauges on it, shouldn't it? My old gauges are only good for R12, R22 & R502. I will take it in to get it checked - actually I am going to have it evacuated and get the orifice tube replaced this week.

How did you determine there was too much freon, did you get an overpressure indication?

You can buy quick disconnect adapters to make the R12 fittings work on R134a systems.

TheeSlowPoke · #15 (**permalink**) 04-19-07, 11:14 PM

The shop injected some dye the last time I had it in (about a year ago) to add freon. This allowed them to use a Black Light for detecting leaks this time. They found a leak in the hose that runs from the Compressor to the Condenser.

The orifice tube had very little debris in it. So, I don't feel too alarmed about changing out the compressor right away.

I am having them replace the hose and refill it with freon. We will see how she does after that. I will let you know in a couple months how it turns out.