Turbo air con.

[blade7]

I've never bothered to get the air con working on my 91 turbo, or the radio for that matter, but now I'm thinking about sorting it out, or removing the compressor and condenser. There's a invoice for a new compressor in the history, from around 20 years ago. But how does 30+ year old Porsche air con compare to modern A/C. And how expensive could refurbing the system be?

 

[dlknight]

I'm doing this myself when I remove the engine for the rebuild, I picked up a mahle (I think) condensor and drier from design911 a couple of years ago for a reasonable price.

Condensor is £270 currently
Drier is £30 for the mahle one with the sight glass
They say you should replace the expansion valve as well but that is about £150
I also picked up a couple of the adaptors for the inlet / outlet connections to convert it to the newer gas and a bottle of the compressor oil (can't remember off-hand which one is correct).

I'm going to need to rebuild my compressor or get an exchange as I think mine is original.

A/C never worked on my car since I bought it in 2007.

I think Stuart recommissioned his a/c so I'm sure he will be along to say how good it works.

Just looked a new denso compressor is £470 from autodoc.

 

[Eldavo]

I went fast and loose and bought a new compressor from AliExpress for about £160 including shipping - been on and gassed up a few months and still absolutely ice cold.


Originally got sent the wrong one and i was sent a returns label for within the U.K. and instantly refunded so I took a chance given the 12 month warranty and no labour to pay with fitting it myself. I worked on the basis it’s an extremely niche market so there can’t be too many places making them and likely one factory does them all.

This is what I bought, they also do the clutch mechanism and seals separately too:

Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out! ?85.70 | High quality 10P15E auto ac compressor for PORSCHE 924 944 968
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EyWYjEr

 

[blade7]

Thanks for the info chaps [], hopefully I'd only need a condenser and drier. Is it possible to tell the condition of the compressor without gassing the system?

 

[PSH]

Thanks for the info chaps [], hopefully I'd only need a condenser and drier. Is it possible to tell the condition of the compressor without gassing the system?

Morning Paul

Mine was done approx 8 years ago when I rebuilt the engine. My son did the work so will try to recall what was done. Yes the drier and condenser was replaced, IIRC the compressor was rebuilt with perhaps a new clutch pulley fitted as that had seized many years prior. New seals all round, at the time my son used an adaptor to fill the system but a few years later on first refill he fitted new connwctions to make the job much quicker/easier. She got her second refill 2 weeks ago prior to my trip to Wales. All works well...

Pete

 

[Mark_Hamilton]

Definitely worth doing the air con on the 944 T as mine seems to work really well after a new condenser and regas with latest R-1234yf . For what its worth, the air con on the 944 T works much better than my 993 and was coping easily with the 30C temps in June. Not so challenged at the mo !

 

[blade7]

Perhaps I'll run it down to Quickfit for an A/C check .

 

[Eldavo]

Thanks for the info chaps [], hopefully I'd only need a condenser and drier. Is it possible to tell the condition of the compressor without gassing the system?

In my experience - if it makes an infernal squealing noise and leaks enough fluorescent green ectoplasm to make you think Slimer from Ghostbusters is living in there then . . . It’s knackered!

 

[blade7]

I'll turn the A/C on and see if the compressor engages. Might just need gassing...

 

[scam75]

Yeah, they all just need gassed.....................[]

Yes, I done this a while back, paid about £350 for a recon compressor at that point, about £100 for a good SH condenser, £25 for a receiver/dryer with sight glass. Only replaced the seals I needed to for condenser and compressor fittings. Vacced out the system, 10ml of Ester oil added to the system then filled with 850 grams (30 oz in old money) of R-134a and all has worked well in my icy cold world since!

I've actually needed a further good SH condenser in that time, as it sprung a leak at the connector end, they are right in the line of fire for road debris there, this time I have sprayed that area in stone chip to add some protection, today's top tip!

Another top tip is don't over tighten the drive belt, as it puts strain on the compressor nose seal, another common fail point.

I started from a base of a sieve like condenser, replacing that made the system leak free. Although upon running it became evident the compressor nose seal was also leaking. They would be my starter for 10 points to check. You will not need to bother with anything else unless you are unlucky!

Stuart

 

[blade7]

Thanks for the advice [].

 

[g59tester]

Hi I've always tried to keep the A/C working on my car. I used to give the A/C a run every month even in the dead of winter to stop the cork seals drying out. I found mine can get as cold as any of my modern cars.
Eddie