Reman AC compressor 57235 junk?

[bradk561]

First time post.
Question for the AC guys, this is my 3rd reman compressor part#57235. No one makes my style new anymore that I can find, heard 50/50 that these compressor are junk some say worked fine. Flushed entire system, new dryer and expansion valve, compressor pre-charged with 3 oz spin clutch by hand a few turns before installing. Have an AC machine on it, vac for 45 min, no leaks. Injected 4 oz pag oil. Searched some forums and was told to charge 3 lb freon on low side. Compressor works great and blowing cold for 5 minutes then starts intermittently making noise like the other ones and these are my pressures. Am I doing something wrong or these compressors just garbage?

It's about 88* outside down here today. Single cab 86c10 on 78 frame

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[1987 GMC Jimmy]

That part number is for a reman R4 compressor. I wouldn't gamble away freon, accumulators, and orifice tubes on any of those. Four Seasons/Compressor Works does make a new version of the R4 compressor, and Delco, Delphi, Murray, NAPA, and others sell them under their respective brand names. They don't have an immaculate track record, but your chances are much better than the remanufactured ones. I'll also say that some people also experience a lot of noise from compressors, new or reman, and they just roll with it. Sometimes for years. Looking at your pressures, it looks like your low side is extremely high and your high side is low. According to the thing I'm looking at, that's a sign of a faulty compressor. Does it start blowing hot after a while?

 

[bucket]

Looks like not enough air movement through the condenser. Is your fan clutch working properly? At a warm idle, there should be a lot of breeze from the fan.

 

[bradk561]

Yes I have dual electric fans they'll pull a rag out of your hand in front of the grill haha when I flushed everything didn't seem like anything was restricted but maybe something is plugging the condenser.

I'm more concerned about the compressor noise pretty much right out of the box but I guess it has a warranty again

 

[yevgenievich]

My reman is very noisy but it has been working last couple of years. But your low side looks too high.

 

[bradk561]

What could cause that other than an orfice tube letting too much pressure by or the compressor not pulling hard enough?

 

[spanky55amg]

In my years of being a tech, its either a bad compressor or the freon level isnt correct. Are you using R12 or 134A? You said you have a new expansion valve and dryer.

I havent replaced mine yet, but from the sounds of it, a lot of these compressors make noise. But after running for 5 minutes, whats the AC feel like? Do you have a thermometer in the vents. I figure its luke warm with those pressures. I would say the compressor is bad. Its not like one side is lop sided. Your low is high, and your high is low. The only thing between those two sides is the compressor.

But if you are using 134A, play with your level. If your using R12, that ***** is expensive.

When you pulled a vacuum, what did it suck it down to and how long did it take to get there? 45 minutes is more than enough time to verify that its sealed. Hell, I give them 10 minutes at most.

 

[bradk561]

It pulled down to 25 in less than 60 seconds and I vacuumed it for 45 min, let it sit 30 min and no leaks. I'm using 134a, yeah AC is working and draining a lot of moisture but luke warm temp like you said.
Yes this is the 3rd compressor I've tried, last 2 when I pulled orfice tube bunch of little rubber pieces in the screen from the compressor.
Flushed everything again, new orfice tube and dryer again and still having same issues as last 2 compressors.

I'm going to recover it again, inspect orfice screen for rubber and change the orfice tube to one of those "self adjusting" orfice tubes and see if that helps. I feel like if the orfice tube was letting too much past my pressures would be like they are, if I run rpm up to about 2000 the low side drops to about 30 and high side about 220 which seems correct

 

[bucket]

I dunno, that high side pressure is higher than I like to see at idle. It should be roughly double the outside temp.

I'm still going with a condenser or air flow problem. The key is that it's cold at first and then gets warm, with 3 different compressors. The condenser is probably heating up, causing the pressure to rise... which in turn puts a strain on the compressor and causes the excessive noise.

Or it could just be overcharged.

 

[bucket]

That debris you are finding could be what is plugging up the condenser.

 

[bradk561]

I've flushed everything 3 times though, with actual AC flush and blew through with nitrogen, when I was blowing it through didn't seem to be restricted but I guess might as well drop the $150 on a condenser and see

 

[yevgenievich]

get parallel flow unit if getting new condenser

 

[spanky55amg]

I dunno, that high side pressure is higher than I like to see at idle. It should be roughly double the outside temp.

I'm still going with a condenser or air flow problem. The key is that it's cold at first and then gets warm, with 3 different compressors. The condenser is probably heating up, causing the pressure to rise... which in turn puts a strain on the compressor and causes the excessive noise.

Or it could just be overcharged.

You could be right. I have never ever done AC outside, so I never worried about the temp. And all work I have done were on newer MB's. Id always like to see 250-275. But I guess first, I'd like to see that low side below 50 and the closer to 40 the better.

 

[bucket]

I've flushed everything 3 times though, with actual AC flush and blew through with nitrogen, when I was blowing it through didn't seem to be restricted but I guess might as well drop the $150 on a condenser and see

Before doing that, put a garden hose (with cool water of course) to the condenser when it's acting up. If the pressures go down to normal and it blows cold, then there's your problem.

And just to clarify, your fans come on when the AC is switched on, correct?

 

[bradk561]

Yes I have the compressor power wire to relays that turn fans on. That's a good idea with the hose I'll try it thanks!