DS75
Member
I'm looking for help on two issues.
1) I think my A/C compressor clutch is beginning to fail. Is there a way to verify or check this and can just the clutch be replaced as opposed to the whole compressor (or is that not worth it)?
On two separate occasions when I've started the engine with the hood open I've seen whitish smoke come from the A/C compressor. I think this is the clutch starting to fail. Other symptoms include that occasionally while driving or stopped the temp of the air coming out of the vents (when the temp control is set to max cool or 60F, any fan setting from 1 to 10) begins to warm. I've checked the pressure while the compressor is running and the refrigerant is at ~30-35 psi (can't remember exactly). When the A/C seems to be working right the air temp seems to be right, in other words it seems to be working right most of the time right now. Of course in 100 deg heat at 90% humidity working right all the time would be better.
2) My vette has been having an issue lately with rough idle and while idling or driving the engine feels as if it is running a little rough (I base "rough" on the feel/vibration of the car and the sound of the exhaust). For completeness sake I've recently (past 4 weeks) replaced the oxygen sensor (I unwittingly drove for 3 weeks with the oxygen sensor broken off the exhaust, long story...), the air intake housing (cracked over the winter at the bracket where the filter is held on), the air filter, and cleaned the throttle body (this was done with throttle body cleaner and the unit removed from the car).
Additionally sometimes when I restart the engine when it was warm/hot (i.e. after a short drive) there is a hesitation in the start where it seems like nothing happens for half a second and then it kicks to life.
It's been 5 years/15k miles since I last serviced the spark plugs, wires, distributor, etc. I just opened up the distributor and there was no play or carbon build up. The cables seem to be in good shape and are making solid/seated contact. One at a time I ran the engine with one of the cables removed at the distributor end. At no point did I notice a difference in the sound of the engine running or the vibration. I did notice that with the cable removed the terminal arc-ed into the distributor housing on several of the terminals - is this normal?
I've checked all the vacuum lines/hoses and they all seem to be connected and seated well, with no cracks in the lines.
Mt father-in-law thinks it sounds like the engine is mis-firing. I can't really tell - I'm not sure what to listen to. There is no backfiring though.
I'm in the process of getting a timing light to check the timing. Also I've put some fuel injector/system cleaner in the gas tank.
What else should I be checking or looking at? I have a chiltons manual and FSM for reference.
Thanks.
1) I think my A/C compressor clutch is beginning to fail. Is there a way to verify or check this and can just the clutch be replaced as opposed to the whole compressor (or is that not worth it)?
On two separate occasions when I've started the engine with the hood open I've seen whitish smoke come from the A/C compressor. I think this is the clutch starting to fail. Other symptoms include that occasionally while driving or stopped the temp of the air coming out of the vents (when the temp control is set to max cool or 60F, any fan setting from 1 to 10) begins to warm. I've checked the pressure while the compressor is running and the refrigerant is at ~30-35 psi (can't remember exactly). When the A/C seems to be working right the air temp seems to be right, in other words it seems to be working right most of the time right now. Of course in 100 deg heat at 90% humidity working right all the time would be better.
2) My vette has been having an issue lately with rough idle and while idling or driving the engine feels as if it is running a little rough (I base "rough" on the feel/vibration of the car and the sound of the exhaust). For completeness sake I've recently (past 4 weeks) replaced the oxygen sensor (I unwittingly drove for 3 weeks with the oxygen sensor broken off the exhaust, long story...), the air intake housing (cracked over the winter at the bracket where the filter is held on), the air filter, and cleaned the throttle body (this was done with throttle body cleaner and the unit removed from the car).
Additionally sometimes when I restart the engine when it was warm/hot (i.e. after a short drive) there is a hesitation in the start where it seems like nothing happens for half a second and then it kicks to life.
It's been 5 years/15k miles since I last serviced the spark plugs, wires, distributor, etc. I just opened up the distributor and there was no play or carbon build up. The cables seem to be in good shape and are making solid/seated contact. One at a time I ran the engine with one of the cables removed at the distributor end. At no point did I notice a difference in the sound of the engine running or the vibration. I did notice that with the cable removed the terminal arc-ed into the distributor housing on several of the terminals - is this normal?
I've checked all the vacuum lines/hoses and they all seem to be connected and seated well, with no cracks in the lines.
Mt father-in-law thinks it sounds like the engine is mis-firing. I can't really tell - I'm not sure what to listen to. There is no backfiring though.
I'm in the process of getting a timing light to check the timing. Also I've put some fuel injector/system cleaner in the gas tank.
What else should I be checking or looking at? I have a chiltons manual and FSM for reference.
Thanks.