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Hey! A Toyota question! 1986 Camry AC

Took Mom's Camry to "work" today since it hadn't been run for a while. It was warm so I was turning the air on, leaving it on for a while, and then turning it off, leaving it off for a while, and then turning it on. Everything was running good and the air was nice and cold. I was running it with the windows open, since I really just wanted to circulate they system and keep things lubricated. Whenever I drive this car I turn the air on, even in the dead of winter, and leave it on for at least 15 minutes, just to keep things circulating.

I had been running the air, turned it off and parked the car, then started the car after ~45 minutes, ran it for a couple miles, and turned the air on. Ran it for about 20 minutes, then turned it off and left it off.

When I got home I put it in the garage and it was making a horrible noise from under the hood! it sounded like a spun bearing(s) in the head, and I thought a bearing had spun on the camshaft. I backed it out, and traced the noise to the front of the car, to the alternator (WHEW! I HAVE one of these alternators!) and then realized the AC compressor was below the alternator. I turned the air back on...and the noise went away. I turned it off and the galling sound started again. Back on, no sound.

So, what I am thinking is that when the air is off, and the pulley is supposed to be 'freewheeling' that the bearings that allow it to freewheel are shot. This is an '86, remember, with R-12 at $80 a pound. Soooo, other than getting a non-AC equipped belt..... ?

Reply to
Hachiroku
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If you can get the old pulley off you can change it without opening the sealed part of the system. If you can't you can convert from R12 to whatever it is being used now, oh yeah 134A, You can convert it cheap or do a complete change which means new hoses and some other parts. google convert r12 to 134A and you will get all kinds of hits, pick the one that suits you best.

Reply to
FatterDumber& Happier Moe

I should be able to get it off no problem; the car has been in a garage for most of it's 24 years and has hardly any rust on it.

Once I get it off, what do I do? This is new territory for me...

Reply to
Hachiroku

Here ya go, this guy makes it look easy enough but the compressor is on the work bench and not in the car. If you can do this while it's on the car then good, if not then you will probably have to convert to 134a and there are several things to consider when you do that. Anyway here's good video of a guy showing how to change the bearing. With a little luck that might get you to "end of life" with the rest of the car.

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Reply to
FatterDumber& Happier Moe

If you did have to break it open, I'd keep it R-12 rather than converting. You can buy R-12 a lot cheaper than $80 a pound. More like $20 a pound on flea bay.. Sure, that is more than what 134a would be, but the air conditioner will be much happier. Run lower head pressures, and cool better. If you convert a R-12 system to R-134a, then you have a undersized condenser coil, which jacks the head pressure up.. Which then often leads most to slightly undercharge to keep the pressure under control. Which leads to inferior performance. :( My last Honda Accord had a R-12 system. I wouldn't have converted it to 134a for anything.

But I would do everything I could to avoid breaking the system open. I have R-12 running out my kazoo, but I'm a bit too far away I'm afraid. :( I have a full 30 pound jug of it.. And the guy I work with has another full jug.. We'll probably be sitting on it forever.. I could sell it I suppose, but knowing my luck I'd dump it, and then need some two weeks later. I only spent $85 for that 30 pounds, so I would likely make a bit if I sold it.. But it's been opened, and I can't sell it as "unopened virgin" refrigerant. So that might drop the price a bit.. :/ I think I'll just sit on it. I know I'll need it again some day..

Reply to
nm5k

I could have bought 30 lbs for $80 too, a few years ago. With all the R 12 cars I have I'm severely booting myself.

Reply to
Hachiroku

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