<VV> Couple of A/C questions - limited Corvair

[RoboMan91324 at aol.com]

Grant,
 
This advice is probably too late for you since you already  disassembled 
most of the car, as you described.  :-)  However,  this might help others with 
a variety of problems that develop at relatively low  mileage.
 
First, sometimes a manufacturer will issue a "secret  recall."  Yes, 
"recall" may not be the right word for it.  "Secret  extended warranty" might be a 
better phrase.  If there are enough failures  with an early onset problem 
like this, the manufacturer will tell the  dealerships to cover the repair 
under a special extended warranty they  issue.  They do not publicize the 
problem for PR and cost reasons but one  might still exist.  They must make 
safety related recalls public but the AC  doesn't fall into this category.  You 
should check with a few dealerships  because sometimes the dealership does 
not read or remember all of the extended  warranties.  There is probably 
information available online as  well.
 
Second, it sometimes pays off to be a PITA.  Complain to  the dealership 
first and try to browbeat them into fixing it. They might  compromise with a 
discount but check with independent repair shops to see if  this is a false 
discount.  If there is no extended warranty, you probably  won't get too far 
but give it a try.  If it fails, write a letter to the  regional manager and 
the local BBB. Copy the letter to the BBB to the  regional manager.   If 
that doesn't work, write to Chrysler's  HQ.  I am not sure if Chrysler's HQ is 
located in Detroit, Italy, the  White House or the UAW but you can research 
this.
 
Good luck,
 
Doc
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
In a message dated 6/16/2010 9:00:17 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
virtualvairs-request at corvair.org writes:

Message:  3
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:29:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: Grant Young  <gyoungwolf at earthlink.net>
Subject: <VV> Couple of A/C  questions - limited Corvair
To: "virtualvairs at corvair.org"  <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Message-ID:
<15843128.1276702161484.JavaMail.root at wamui-hunyo.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I am in the midst of  replacing the air conditioning components on the 
wife's 2005 PT Cruiser. The  compressor was blown and low pressure line had a 
leak (after only 38k). After  two days of removing parts to get to the 
compressor and dryer, I turned them  up to drain the oil so as to replace the same 
amount and neither part (or  either line) had any oil in it. My question is 
whether it is possible for it  to have been blown out when the compressor 
went or if the leak in the hose let  it all out which led to the compressor 
failure (I guess the low pressure  switch didn't work?). The manual is unclear 
as the amount that should be  replaced as it says to put in an ounce when 
you change the compressor and in  another section to put in an ounce when you 
change the dryer, and I am  wondering if I need two ounces or one. The spec 
table says to check the data  tag on the compressor but it doesn't have 
that info.

Question two is  about the type of oil to use. Seems there are 4 different 
viscosities from  light to heavy and all the compressor tag says is HD-8. 
Does anyone know what  that means? (I plan to visit the dealership tomorrow as 
I can't get any help  over the phone). 

As an aside, if you own one of these or are thinking  about buying one, be 
sure to purchase an extended warranty that covers  electrical and air 
conditioning. It comes with a 70K one that only covers the  drive train. I had to 
remove the grill, radiator support, weather stripping,  electric fan 
assembly, air cleaner, battery and tray, cruise control, power  steering reservoir 
(with resulting loss of fluid) etc. just to get access. I  should remove the 
radiator for better access, but it's just too much trouble  with all the 
connections for the cooling of the turbocharger. You will also  have to buy a 
complete brand new liquid line as the orifice tube is somewhere  inside. 
While removing the dryer, I noticed that the alternator is also  completely 
inaccessible down behind the engine next to the firewall and that a  simple 
thermostat change is out of the question in the home shop.  

Thanks for any insight on the  oil.
Grant