Posted: 6/24/2012 11:11:51 AM EDT
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Hi All,
2001 S-10 ZR2 equipped with a 4.3 V6. Compressor developed a leak a few years ago and A/C has not worked since. The truck is old, Rusty, And has 160k miles on the clock. I really don't feel like replacing the whole compressor. Should I just pick up an R-134a kit at the local auto store and hope it will last until fall? I figure a new compressor will run me $300. |
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If it leaked down years ago, I'm sure moisture has gotten into the system the same way the gas got out. But press on one of the valves to see if there is still any pressure. If so, buy the $30 can and give it a try. Yeah there is nothing coming out of the valves. I know my brother's friend is an HVAC guy so he might be able to get the vac on it and all that stuff. |
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Get him to try and pull a vacuum on it. If it won't hold at 29"hg, don't waste any money trying to put refridgerant in. Yeah I would love to have it working again. Going from a hot sweaty drive to school at night is a bad combination for picking up college chickies. 
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Compressor is going to be the cheapest and easiest part to replace if it's been leaking and dead for a couple of years. If the only thing in the system is atmosphere, that means moisture and corrosion will have been doing mother nature's work at eating everything in the AC system of the truck.
Good luck OP. |
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Damn, 10 years and it's old and rusty? That's too bad. You expect better? Oh, the stories I could tell of my old 98 S-10 4.3 4x4 (a VW Bug with one bad cylinder has more horsepower then that useless P.O.S.) OP, suffer though summer like a man, then sell said truck in the winter to some stupid college kid and buy a respectable vehicle. 1980's Dodge Caravans and Honda Civics with park benches glued to the trunk-lid are more respectable then any late model S-10. Price for a reman A/C compressor at Advance is $212, add in an orifice tube for $20, an accumulator for $30, 1 or 2 cans of r134a $15/12oz , and a vacuum pump for $30(assuming you have an air compressor, electrics cost alot more). Thats the whole of all the tools/supplies to do the job for $322+ your time |
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2001 S-10 ZR2 equipped with a 4.3 V6. Compressor developed a leak a few years ago and A/C has not worked since. The truck is old, Rusty, And has 160k miles on the clock. I really don't feel like replacing the whole compressor. Should I just pick up an R-134a kit at the local auto store and hope it will last until fall? I figure a new compressor will run me $300. Last year the compressor on my 1995 Jimmy puked. I have no doubt it's older, rustier, and generally crappier than your S10. I ended up getting a complete kit like this one on ebay for $160 with a new compressor and clutch, accumulator/dryer, orifice tube, gaskets, oil, etc. Basically everything you need except refrigerant. It worked like a charm. Of course, it helps to have access to gauges and a vacuum pump. But besides that all it took was simple hand tools. It feels so nice to cruise around in air conditioned comfort again. And all for less than $200. 
The AC fix probably cost almost as much as the truck is worth, but that doesn't matter. Maybe you can survive a vehicle with no AC in MN, but in FL it's not optional. |
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Damn, 10 years and it's old and rusty? That's too bad. You expect better? Oh, the stories I could tell of my old 98 S-10 4.3 4x4 (a VW Bug with one bad cylinder has more horsepower then that useless P.O.S.) OP, suffer though summer like a man, then sell said truck in the winter to some stupid college kid and buy a respectable vehicle. 1980's Dodge Caravans and Honda Civics with park benches glued to the trunk-lid are more respectable then any late model S-10. Price for a reman A/C compressor at Advance is $212, add in an orifice tube for $20, an accumulator for $30, 1 or 2 cans of r134a $15/12oz , and a vacuum pump for $30(assuming you have an air compressor, electrics cost alot more). Thats the whole of all the tools/supplies to do the job for $322+ your time I would like to sell it and get something better. But I am currently a college student and I really cannot afford payments. |
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Hi All, 2001 S-10 ZR2 equipped with a 4.3 V6. Compressor developed a leak a few years ago and A/C has not worked since. The truck is old, Rusty, And has 160k miles on the clock. I really don't feel like replacing the whole compressor. Should I just pick up an R-134a kit at the local auto store and hope it will last until fall? I figure a new compressor will run me $300. 99 S-10 with the 4.3 V6 here, My A/C hasn't worked in about three years, I just pick up some R-134a at the auto store, refill it, and it's good to go for the summer. Actually just did this last week. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Hi All, 2001 S-10 ZR2 equipped with a 4.3 V6. Compressor developed a leak a few years ago and A/C has not worked since. The truck is old, Rusty, And has 160k miles on the clock. I really don't feel like replacing the whole compressor. Should I just pick up an R-134a kit at the local auto store and hope it will last until fall? I figure a new compressor will run me $300. 99 S-10 with the 4.3 V6 here, My A/C hasn't worked in about three years, I just pick up some R-134a at the auto store, refill it, and it's good to go for the summer. Actually just did this last week. I just picked up a kit and filled it up. Working damn good! |