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Greetings,
Wanted to update and ask a couple more questions I couldn't clarify by reading old posts. First of all, I know we argue about whether to retrofit pre-1993 cars to R-134a. I've done it on my C900T and it seems to work fine. However, a week ago my well-worn but beautiful (to me) 91 9000S blew freezing cold air in the hottest temps at idle and I don't want that to change. Besides, I have a few cans of R-12 my grandfather has kept around since, well, at least since they sold individual cans of R-12 :) Point being, I gotta replace my compressor, no mistake about it. Those of you who read my about my recent 1300 mile trip to Miami will recall my old compressor seized up about 50 miles south of Savannah GA. I loosened the serpentine belt and tried to turn the compressor. It goes about 355 degrees one way oe the other and then, abruptly stops and will not budge regardless of how much force I apply (I didn't try to force it to much as it shouldn't take 100 ft/lbs to turn the bloody thing). So it's shot. I checked the Sanden site and apparently something called "centerball seizure" isn't uncommon, especially under the following conditions, according to the website:
A) TXV blockage or Malfunction.
B) Thermostat failure.
C) No air flow to Evaporator ( Blower fan motor failure
D) Lack of refrigerant and I or oil due to a leak.
E) Lack of return oil due to too long a circuit or system undercharge.
F) Lack of refrigerant flow due to inadequate charge.
G) Blockage in system due to Contamination in system.
H) Defective centerball or gear mating surface.
1) Liquid slugging due to improper system charging.
J) Charging Liquid refrigerant into compressor (washes off oil film from around centerball).
So I'm going to first check for these conditions and then replace the compressor. I want to do it by the book, so I have my old awesome, quiet, reliable and most importantly, cold A/C back.
I've checked around and I know my compressor is in the SD709 family of compressors but which ones will work? Can it be that only the SD709 model number 7479 (mine) is the only one I can use? Many of the other SD709's I've seen look identical, even the pulley's. So what's the difference? Gotta be something. Anybody ever used a compressor in the same "family" but with a different model # succesfully?
Second, where in the world do I get 5GS mineral oil, the only oil Sanden recommends using in this compressor. I think it's made by the Suniso company but maybe there are other manufacturers. I found a 5 gallon bucket for sale on the web but I don't think I'll ever have quite that many R-12 Saabs that need A/C repair to justify the expense.
posted by 74.243.22...
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