Need GMC Van Air Conditioning advice

Ask at one of these sites. You'll get lots of good info..

Shaft seal on the compressor is a very common failure. Take it to an a/c shop that uses a sniffer and have them check for leaks. Well worth the $30 or so they will charge to let you know where the leak is.

Steve B.

I have heard about this situation with GM compressors, Steve. If one had the inclination, would it be feasible to adapt a 'better' type of compressor to GM applications? I know a lot would depend on space available, etc. Which would be the compressor of choice if one wanted to undertake this swap?

Steve B. writes in article dated Fri, 16 Sep 2005 01:22:56 GMT:

For $30 he can probably get his own leak checker. I was reading my propane torch manual the other day and there's a similar model that is equipped as an AC leak detector. The flame changes color when any trace of Cl or F gets in the air intake. Mine can't be used that way because the flame is too close to the intake, but the similar model has a hose attachment.

-- spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net The above may not (yet) represent the opinions of my employer.

I bought one of those things some years ago. For me, it was worthless as mammaries on turtles, but they still sell them so I guess they work for some people and some applications.

I didn't think the flame type leak detectors worked on anything other than chlorinated refrigerants like R12.

Regardless, you can get a good modern electronic leak detector that will do both R12 and R134 off Ebay for about $50 - I did.

Ted