[Caddy-O]

My first post. I recently bought a beautiful Black Cherry 96 Seville SLS with 105,000 miles and I love it. However, the A/C Compressor is leaking. A local auto A/C shop says they can replace the seals which requires dropping the engine to remove the compressor. Total job, winter price, $374 including all associated system cleaning, drying, charging, etc. They have a special fixture they purchased for lowering the Northstar engine. The shop owner seems to be honest and capable. Now, do these seal kits usually work well, and is this a reasonable price. Would some other approach be better? Thanks

 

[zonie77]

You don't have to drop the engine to get at the compressor.

It might be a little easier but I don't think the AC lines stretch that far (maybe they do, I havn't looked).My brother's dropped cradles before and that's how he changed the heater blower fan, so the mechanic may feel it's easy.

 

[ewill3rd]

The compressor will come out without even loosening the cradle bolts.
You don't have to lower the engine at all.

I highly recommend replacing the compressor. Years of experience have taught me that putting a reliable new compressor in is far better than trying to save a few dollars and reseal the old one. You could spend all that money to reseal an aged unit and then suffer a clutch failure or an internal failure.

That's my opinion.

 

[mcowden]

I don't think it's worth replacing the seals on the compressor, especially when you can get a new (or remanufactured) compressor with all new seals for a good price. The engine does NOT have to be dropped to change out the A/C compressor. I personally know of 4 people who've had them replaced, and none of them required doing anything to the engine. It's in a tight spot, I'll give them that, and it takes a little maneuvering to get it out, but dropping the cradle is ridiculous.

I bought a Four Seasons rebuilt compressor, and it's been working fine for about 40k miles so far. I have heard that the Four Seasons compressors are not rebuilt as well as Delco rebuilt compressors and that they have earned the nickname For Seizin' compressors. All I know for sure is the OEM one leaked at about 48k miles and the F.S. replacement has been fine for at least 40k on my car.

 

[zonie77]

I would second that opinion.

 

[Caddy-O]

I finally replaced my a/c compressor and recall fuel rails on my 96 SLS when the local temps went above 90 degrees F. My local Pontiac dealer gave me one of the best of all quotes; the highest being the Cadillac dealer and they don`t replace the accumulator - said they found that they really don`t need to. The Pontiac dealer did it for $1113.17 total with new accumulator, orfice, etc. Back in December they said a pre-cat Q2 sensor was bad and estimated $250 to replace it. This time I asked them to verify that the O2 sensor was bad when they did the work a/c and give me a new qoute if it was bad. The NEW service manager phoned me that the sensor was not bad and I happily picked up my car. About a mile down the street the Service Engine Soon light came on. I immediately went back to the shop and the service manager had the O2 sensor checked again. He came into the waiting room looking a little upset and told me the sensor was bad, that the mechanic had made a mistake. Then the Big Suprise! Are you ready for this? He told me that this should have never happened, and that he would put me in a new sensor FREE, that it wouldn`t cost me anything. When done, he gave me the new sensor bag with the bad sensor in it. After all work was done, I found two plug wires not "snapped" fully in place. They checked the back four again - were OK. The left rubber hood stabilizing "bumper" was missing off top of the stud, and they put on a new one. So in the end it cost me $1113.17 total for everything. Now it`s running like a top with no codes or warnings or leaks. This NEW service manager, who started in May, is the best I have ever seen. Knowledgable, honest, friendly, all business, and expects excellence on jobs done. At last, a Dealer from Heaven instead of a Dealer from Hell.