A/C compressor - EA82 - L Series

Skinny_Dave · Post by **Skinny_Dave** » Wed May 26, 2010 10:09 am

Hi All,

This question is going to be a bit dumb, but there's no point pretending I know what I'm talking about.

I'm pretty sure the bearing in my A/C compressor is on the way out on my 92 L Series, as it makes a bad ticking sound when the car is warming up (aside from the ticking that I get from the cracked coil - which I finally figured out thanks to another thread!).

My first question is... can I... and how do I remove the drive belt before I seize the compressor? I couldn't see any belt tensioning device (like the alternator has), although admittedly it was a bit dark (that's my excuse anyway).

I guess my next question is... will I have to take it to an A/C place to get the bearing changed (I'm assuming the compressor has to come off, so the system needs to be re-gassed)?

Can anyone recommend a good A/C place in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne?

Cheers,
Dave

spike · Post by **spike** » Wed May 26, 2010 4:30 pm

umm
maybe you should learn a thing about subarus first??
the engines tick all the time i have never found a cure for it.
it might not actually be your ac.
i think you can loosen the brackt that its held in with at least with mine, then find a belt that will fit it

Skinny_Dave · Post by **Skinny_Dave** » Wed May 26, 2010 7:11 pm

The only thing I know about Subarus is that they are great cars... which is why I bought my current L Series 10 years after my first 1980 model !

I also learnt that if you don't do something about ticking sounds in your A/C compressor, bolts tend to shear off... if you are lucky.

I've booked it in with K-Mart Auto in 2 weeks... so we'll see what happens. My wallet is already shaking with fear.

Dann · Post by **Dann** » Wed May 26, 2010 11:35 pm

hey mate
yer thats the same problem with my 92 l series, the ac compressor's bearings are going south, would be nice to post up roughly how much the mech's charge and how they replaced it.

cheers dann

gtcompletepower · Post by **gtcompletepower** » Thu May 27, 2010 4:47 am

taking your car to kmart is going to cost just just as much as any where elsetake it to some one that does aircon to tell if its the air con bearing place a long screw driver on the compressor and you will feel a dodgy bearing vibrate along the shaft do the same with the small pulleys the belt run along as it could be one of them put screw driver on nut holing them on instead

spike · Post by **spike** » Thu May 27, 2010 9:27 am

are you really sure its the ac??

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu May 27, 2010 7:36 pm

Yep DON'T GO TO KMART!!!!

When does this noise occur - when the AC is on or when it is off? If its occuring when it is off it may be the clutch thats on its way out, in which case I'd reckon the job would be able to be done without removing the AC compressor from its mounting bracket unless space is needed infront of it.

If its not while its off I'd seriously suggest an AC specialist as thats what they do. Kmart are quite generic and may get someone in to check it out for you.

Cheers

Bennie

subarooster · Post by **subarooster** » Thu May 27, 2010 9:35 pm

I was convinced that my a/c compressor was on its way out so i took it out and the noise was still there... turns out it was the tensioner for the timing belt. :s

Dann · Post by **Dann** » Thu May 27, 2010 9:58 pm

hey subarooster
does the noise sound lyk theres on grease in the bearing lyk rough metal on metal?
cause thats wat my subie is doing and i realy don't lyk it :S

spike · Post by **spike** » Thu May 27, 2010 10:14 pm

subarooster wrote:I was convinced that my a/c compressor was on its way out so i took it out and the noise was still there... turns out it was the tensioner for the timing belt. :s

we have 2 sets of tensioners on the shelf. maybe you should all think about this before jumping up and down about your aircon?? oh no my aircon broke, its ok in winter but in summer maybe.
your tensioner brakes then its a tope end rebuild you need not an ice pack

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu May 27, 2010 11:36 pm

spike wrote:we have 2 sets of tensioners on the shelf. maybe you should all think about this before jumping up and down about your aircon?? oh no my aircon broke, its ok in winter but in summer maybe.
your tensioner brakes then its a tope end rebuild you need not an ice pack

No top end rebuild needed. EA82s are a non impact engine as are every other SINGLE OVER HEAD CAM subi engines. The DOHC units impact valve on valve if they're allowed to freewheel.

If you snap a cam belt you'll stop - then you'll need to clean up the mess and replace the belt. It can be VERY inconvenient when that happens and you'll have to deal with scenes like this:

The culprit that siezed:

Cheers

Bennie

Skinny_Dave · Post by **Skinny_Dave** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 9:29 pm

Wow, they are some scary photos.

You'll probably all have a laugh at this, but maybe someone will save a bit of time and money and maybe not look as big an idiot as me.

They replaced the A/C drive belt and fan belt, and what do you know, the metallic ticking no longer happens on cold start. I swear to you that it sounded like a loose ball bearing or something... but there you go.

I did try the long screwdriver on the compressor etc. and I could feel the vibration, but I guess I'll put that down to experience. I still think one of the bearings is too loud... which I think is the water pump, but I'm assured everything is fine.

Next is the rear axle bearings... then I might be able to hear the stereo again. They are apparently a "big job", at $130.00 per axle plus labour.

Cheers,
Dave

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:04 pm

El_Freddo wrote:No top end rebuild needed. EA82s are a non impact engine as are every other SINGLE OVER HEAD CAM subi engines.

Ah not quite.

EJ's after 1997 (the introduction of PhaseII heads) became interference type engines because of a flatter combustion chamber and higher pistons.

Only pre 97 EJ's were non interference.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:10 pm

Suparoo wrote:Ah not quite.

EJ's after 1997 (the introduction of PhaseII heads) became interference type engines because of a flatter combustion chamber and higher pistons.

Only pre 97 EJ's were non interference.

Ah news to me! Thanks Gannon.

Glad to hear it was only a belt, that's loads cheaper than a bearing or idler pulley!

Cheers

Bennie