1995 Buick Lesabre Replacing/A/C clutch/Compressor

Tiny
RSUKOVICH
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  • 1995 BUICK LESABRE
Air Conditioning problem
1995 Buick Lesabre 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 130K miles

Re 3.8 L Engine. Getting noise from A/C compressor area and am assuming that either the clutch is bad or the compressor is bad. Since I am getting cool air from the vents, my best guess is the clutch or a bearing problem. In any event, I have to remove the compressor/clutch assembly. My question is, since I don't have a book, what is the recommended procedure for removing the compressor?
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Monday, July 26th, 2010 AT 7:41 PM

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Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Compressor Replacement

Hi rsukovich, Welcome to 2carpros and TY for the donation this what keeps the site going

Compressor And Mounting


http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_comp_4.jpg



REMOVE OR DISCONNECT

Recover refrigerant from A/C system, Refer to Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling. See: Service and Repair
Serpentine drive belt.
Front upper mounting bolt.
A/C compressor splash shield.
Electrical connections from compressor.
Bolt attaching A/C compressor and condenser hose to rear of A/C compressor.
Remaining compressor bolts and compressor. INSTALL OR CONNECT
Rear and lower front mounting bolts after positioning compressor (hand tight).
Lower vehicle.
Front upper mounting bolt and torque all bolts to specification.
Tighten Rear bolts to 26 Nm (20 lb. ft.) .
Tighten Front bolts to 50 Nm (37 lb. ft.) .
Raise vehicle.
A/C compressor and condenser hose to rear of compressor and attaching bolt.
Tighten Bolt to 23 Nm (17 lb. ft.) .
Electrical connections to compressor.
A/C compressor splash shield.
Serpentine drive belt.
Evacuate, charge, and leak test A/C system.
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Monday, July 26th, 2010 AT 8:17 PM
Tiny
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Sounds simple enough, but should I be able to do this with a minimal amout of removing things like the fan and maybe the radiator?
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Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 AT 4:11 PM
Tiny
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What do you say to removing the exhaust manifold which lies directly above the compressor?
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Thursday, July 29th, 2010 AT 9:02 AM
Tiny
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I got the compressor back on and I got a connector left over it's red and looks like 2 contact and very short as if the only place it could go is in the back of the compressor somewhere. Or it might just be one of those hanging conncector that would have gone to an accessorie somewhere. I guess my question is how many electrical connections are there to the compressor other than the one that is connected for the clutch?
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Thursday, August 5th, 2010 AT 9:35 PM
Tiny
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Bob,

At the AC magnetic clutch wiring connector do you see a dark green and black wires if so disconnect the connector and check for power on one of the contacts on the red wire-this wire could be the clutch diode-Let me know or do a continuity test on it with the dark green wire on the clutch -should have continuity if so its the diode-its somewhere around that area-


http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_diode_2.jpg

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Friday, August 6th, 2010 AT 3:33 PM
Tiny
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OK. I'll do that. The wire that I speak of that is terminated with a red connector is only about 3" and if it plugs in anywhere, it has to be at the back of the compressor somewhere where I don't see any place for it to go.
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Friday, August 6th, 2010 AT 4:52 PM
Tiny
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Is this the same compressor? If so inspect the wire if something is connected to it that broken off-if so could be the diode
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Friday, August 6th, 2010 AT 5:01 PM
Tiny
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No, it's a remanufactured compressor.
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Friday, August 6th, 2010 AT 6:40 PM
Tiny
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Turn key to run and check for power on that wire both contacts and let me know what you got-
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Saturday, August 7th, 2010 AT 1:41 AM
Tiny
RSUKOVICH
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First let me tell you that I went back to the auto store (O'Reilly) and looked a a brand new unit to see if I could see any place this connector could go. There wasn't. I did this because when they do remans, they put plugs in to protect connectors and just paint black over everything and I wanted to eliminate any chance that I had of overlooking a painted over protective plug. Then I went back home and I did the test using RX1K scale. First I connected both terminal together turned the key on and got nothing. Then I took 1 side at a time and grounded and turned the key on. On one side got nothing and on the other side with key off the needle went to about 10 and with the key on it went to about three.
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Saturday, August 7th, 2010 AT 12:53 PM
Tiny
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Too as I have said before, this is a two wire connector and one wire is light green and the other is kinda dark blue. There is electrical tape around the wires too, and I was wondering if this is some sort of test plug, since it is so short. I took the compressor out because the clutch was noisy and probably was going to fail altogether soon enough. I decided to replace the whole thing and I did notice that the one I took out was oiless and there was a nut missing from the middle stud which led me to believe that this was taken off before.
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Saturday, August 7th, 2010 AT 1:09 PM
Tiny
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Give me the wire colors on the clutch connector and also is this a custom or limited lesabre also is it Auto or Manual AC/heater?
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Saturday, August 7th, 2010 AT 2:14 PM
Tiny
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The wire colors are; looks like the same light green that is on the connector in question and the other wire looks white. The car iis a Limited edition and has climate control, which is automatic.
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Saturday, August 7th, 2010 AT 7:29 PM
Tiny
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That leftover wire goes to a diode both manual and auto system has the same wire color attached to a diode
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Sunday, August 8th, 2010 AT 12:57 AM
Tiny
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So, am I looking for a mating connector or someplace to connect that too or is that a connection they would use if I had a different system.
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Sunday, August 8th, 2010 AT 9:47 AM
Tiny
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Both Manual or Auto should have that diode and its wired parallel to the clutch could be attached to the compressor housing with that length-Remanuactured who knows they didn't put one on to connect to. Or it just hangs there as pigtail wrapped with elect tape-I'm using Mit1 and Alldata auto references and still coming up with the same information.
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Sunday, August 8th, 2010 AT 2:31 PM
Tiny
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Your are absolutely right! And so was I, to some extent. First of all, I'm missing a switch which goes on the back of the compressor and the reman doesn't supply it with the part and I should have taken the old one off of the one I turned it. Now how the hell am I supposed to know that? I thought when they reman something they would do the whole thing. You were correct in your analysis and I was correct that they just plug up areas and black paint over everything, but instead of using a plastic caplug, they use a metal plug and hold it in with a snap ring. The switch doesn't cost a lot (about $17.00), but it's the principal of the thing and it's something that the guy at the auto store should tell people. Anyhow, thanks for your help and I think installing the switch should solve the problem I'm passing all of this on to you with the thought in mind that it might help you in other case like this. Have a good day. Bob
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Monday, August 9th, 2010 AT 9:42 AM

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