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Re: Compressor Seizing
Posted by David Prantl (more from David Prantl) on Mon, 3 Jan 2000 21:45:00
In Reply to: , Kok Chen, Sat, 17 Dec 1988 12:00:00 

>I haven't gotten around to checking on replacement compressors.  I'd 
>appreciate any info you come up with.

I have been looking into replacement compressors for over a year now, and
so far, this is the best solution I have come up with:

After compressor seizure, have any remaining R12 recovered, and the system
flushed by a shop to make it fully ready for R134a conversion.

Get a new drier, expansion valve, and green o-rings from Townsend Imports.
Less than $50 total I believe.

If you have a SD709 compressor, the best replacement strategy is to surf to
http://www.sanden.com.  Read the technical
information carefully, and you

will find that 7H15HD model 4664 will drop into SD709-equipped SAAB 9000
cars up to and including MY1990.  At some point they changed from
ear-mounting to through-bolt type mounting, and a poly-vee clutch driven by
the single serpentine belt.  You would have to measure the clutch pulley
diameter, and look for a model with a body similar to 4626.

The only difference between this replacement (4664) and the original R12
unit is the cylinder head, which must have charging ports, and in 1990 also
a pressure-relief valve and pad-type dual hose connection.  Either way, it
is easiest to simply unbolt the cylinder head from the old compressor -
hoses and everything still attached - (six bolts), do the same to the new
one, install the new compressor into the car, and bolt the old head to it.
Use the valve plate assembly and head gaskets that came with the new
compressor of course.  Download the compressor service manual from the web
site, and find the head bolt tightening sequence (2-stages) and torque
specs.

Why go through the trouble of swapping compressor heads ?  Naturally, it's
the compressor's price - a mere $187.64 - and you are assured the long life
and high quality of a brand new Sanden product.  There is still another
advantage to not having to remove the hoses themselves from the old head,
since the threads here are often frozen/seized and their forced undoing
ruins the old head as well as the hose-ends.  Replacement cylinder heads
are available, NEW, from Sanden for about 20 bucks, and come in (almost)
every shape, size and form, for 5-cylinder and 7-cylinder models.  However,
they do not come with pre-drilled and tapped holes for charging ports and
pressure-relief valves.

Finally, if you have an early 9000 that is equipped with a SD510
compressor, you can do one of 2 things.

Proceed as above and purchase the 7H15HD model 4664.  You can't use the old
head on this new compressor, because the old one is for a 5-cylinder.  Take
the new head off and drill/tap the blanked-out areas to accept the old
charging ports.  Now there is one more trick to making the new head work
with your old hoses.  The hoses are flare-type, but the head connections
are o-ring-type.  You will need to buy o-ring-to-flare adapters from your
local A/C parts wholesaler for a couple of bucks to make it all work.
Also, if you strip out a hose connection while taking it off the old
compressor, you'll have to get a new or salvage hose and replace it.  This
may mean an r&r of the condenser, and if a condenser hose connection
strips, you'll need a new condenser too, etc., etc..  You get the picture,
that taking apart 14-year-old A/C hose connections is not always a pleasant
experience.

The other option is to buy an SD5H14HD model 4510.  This is the 5-cylinder
version of the abovementioned 4664, albeit with a smaller displacement than
the original SD510.  The smaller displacement may have some effect on
cooling performance, but this should not be too serious since C900 cars
were equipped with this type of 5-cylinder unit all along.  The old SD510
head will bolt straight onto this new compressor, without the need for
removing the screw-on hose connections, or drilling/tapping
charging-port-holes, or messing with o-ring-to-flare adapters.  A final
note is that SD5 series compressors will no longer be manufactured in the
USA as of 4/1/00, so their prices may go up somewhat to compensate for the
freight from Singapore.

To make life easier, Omega Environmental Technologies in Dallas, TX
(214-357-1795) will do mail-order business with normal people on new Sanden
compressors, even though they're a wholesaler.

Best regards,

David Prantl
david_prantlno39sdcx6spamx782hotmail.com
'84 900S, 210kMi, RIP
'86 9000T, 172kMi
'88 9000S, 136kMi
'89 900, 115kMi
'68 97 Sonett V4, 76kMi, #000467
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