[Supras] A/C compressor failure

[berniek at technicaldevelop.com]

Bob and list:

    I had a similar problem, needing to recharge every year.  Apparently I did not have a leak of the magnitude you had, but the result was the same.  The compressor froze up from lack of oil.  I could still turn it with a wrench, but the belt would not turn it.  So $400 later for a new compressor, clutch to fit, new filter dryer, I was back to having A/C (did the recharge myself, having done refrigeration work for some years).  The surprise came when I opened up the old compressor and the filter dryer:  The only damage to the compressor was light scuffing of the swash plate, which oil addition would have made OK again.  Yes, there would have been some micron sized particles in the discharge, but the Toyota filter dryer would have caught them before getting to the expansion valve, as the filter medium is pretty fine.  The filter showed only a few metal chips, apparently from manufacturing.  

    The result is:  If the compressor siezes, try removing the suction flange and add 6-8 ounces of oil (mineral oil for R-12), work the compressor shaft with a wrench until free, then pull a deep vacuum and recharge.  You can make up a dipstick of sorts from a piece of 1/16" wire, bent to clear the swash plate shaft and get to the bottom.  There should be about 1" to 1-1/2" of oil evident on the wire.

    I hope this saves others money I did not need to spend.

        BernieK