A/C compressor replacement

This weekend's '95 Aurora project is to replace the A/C compressor. There is nothing in my Chilton's to guid me along. Does any one know where i can get step by step instructions? I have read all the other A/C posts concerning the pitfalls. I am just in need of more complete instructions and or schematics, so as i don't make a large mistake simallar to the one i made when i bought this darling of a car. Love the zoom factor hate the fix factor. Thanx Heather;)

http://www.helminc.com is the place to get a service manual for the Auroras. Or eBay, but, if you want this by the weekend, that's the place to get it. I believe they're $129. Sorry I can't specifically help you with the AC compressor replacement but, unless you've done something similar to this before, and are familiar with automotive cooling systems, I wouldn't attempt it.

--Robert

I have something rather mediocre with a picture and a few instructions that is for a 98. I'd assume its fairly similar. Drop me a PM or email and I can email it to you as a word document. [email protected]

Just did it last week- removal, not quite replacement, as I'm still waiting for the new compressor.

Put it up on jackstands (the higher the better, you'll need the room) and take off the wheel, and remove the entire splashshield. Also take off the front splashshield/air dam/whatever it is. They just pop off, though if you're feeling fancy you can actually pull out the inner tab of the retaining pins and then yank out the rest of it.
Take off the oil filter- no need to drain the pan, though about 2 quarts (?) will come out along with the filter. Remove the serpentine belt at any point in the operation.

Once it's all off, start looking for bolts. There are 3 on the pulley end- 2 visible, and one tucked up on the top in a very hard-to-reach spot. I think they're 15mm. The hard part comes in the back, where the bracket is. It's right behind where the oil filter used to be. Take off the one bolt (also 15mm, i think- unless my wrenches just suck and it's actually an inch size) holding on the block with the hoses coming out- it's one big clunky assembly with the lines to the accumulator and condensor, with a muffler on it. Wrestle that mess out.
Then deal with the 2 nuts holding the compressor to the bracket. Once that's done (and of course all wires are removed), just pull it on out. You should also replace the accumulator- not tough or terribly expensive, compared to a compressor. That just needs to be wrestled out of its plastic casing near the fusebox and battery terminal after disconnecting those hoses. Use something like a flat screwdriver to pop the tabs on the black casing, and then work the compressor out- I think I ended up taking it out through the bottom, though it might come out through the top side as well.
The orifice tube also needs to go, and that's located between the two service ports on the hose on the passenger side of the engine bay. Just uncouple the metal line, pull apart, and yank out the orifice tube.

Installation is, in theory, the opposite.

Thanx for the info Robert one of these days i am going to have to invest in a actual repair manual for this car, i am hoping this is going to be the last major repair for a while......Thank you also zimaad, does anyone know how different the '98 is from the '95? jerobins thanx for the removal info, i am lucky enough to have open access to a garage with a lift and all the tools i should need..... all would be perfict if it only came with a qualified mechanic.

a few hints for anyone that hasn't taken off the splashshield, etc. First off, loosen lug nuts on the wheel a bit before lifting the vehicle. Once up, it's easier then to get them off. To remove the splash shield tabs, I've found it easy to get the claw end of a hammer around the center inserts to pull the tabs back. Just make sure to hang on to all the pieces in a cup,etc. When taking bolts off and disconnecting wiring it's always handy to have some masking tape around. As you take bolts off you can label where to go to make sure they go back right. To many times I've taken off 5 bolts to something not paying attention that one is longer than the rest then don't know which hole it goes into. For wiring and hoses I usually do numbering. I put the same number on the two pieces I disconnected. Also, be careful not to drop anything heavy, like a compressor, on the drive axles or control arm. Most of you probably know stuff like this, but for people who haven't worked on cars much....it's easy for little things to triple the time it takes to do things.