Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: 2000 Blazer Seal question, compressor design, hose connection

Question
Hi Mr Texeira,

Here is the problem, hopefully you can help. I have a 2000 blazer and have had for some time. I bought it in 2002 and it has set for most of the time until last year when I started using it again. Now while the AC worked when I bought it quit shortly thereafter.

I found a hose connection that appeared to be faulty, it had oil staining at the crimp fitting and above it on the hood liner, and the system was empty. I removed the hoses, took them to a hose shop, and had new hoses fitted and recrimped, went back, reinstalled the hoses, vacuumed the system down for about an hour, put in 2 oz of oil and 2.5 lbs of refrigerant and everything worked fine for a day or two before it quite working.

Upon inspection there seemed to be a large amount of oil pooled around the AC compressor and after closer inspection it appeared there is a faulty seal somewhere on the compressor that is leaking.

It is a unfamiliar compressor design to me, it appears to have a seam running around the middle where you can break it apart so it splits into two halves. I asked at the parts store if there was a seal kit and they said no.

The guy I talked to said my best bet was probably to try add a stop leak compound and hope it swelled the seals out.

So, my question is, is there really no way to replace the seals on this type of compressor?

I'm used to rebuilding parts myself or taking them to a shop and having it rebuilt.

I hate to pay $300 for a rebuilt compressor and give them my core and have them put in a $3 seal and sell it back to some poor smuch for $300.

I thank you kindly for any insight you might be able to provide.

Cheers

Answer
HI MATT, THAT A/C COMPRESSOR IS FAMOUS FOR LEAKING, PERIOD!. IT`S MAIN BODY IS MADE OF ALUMINUM,SO IT`S PRONE TO HAVE PROBLEMS.THEY DON`T MAKE COMPRESSOR OUT OF STEEL LIKE THEY USE TO IN THE PAST. I RECOMMEND REPLACING THE COMPRESSOR AND ACCUMULATOR AT THE SAME TIME.THE BAD THING IS THE CAR SAT FOR AWHILE AND SEAL,HOSES & GASKETS DRY OUT FROM LACK OF USAGE,NOT GOOD FOR A/C`S.. JUST A NOTE THE COMPRESSOR DOES NOT COME WITH OIL,SO ADD ABOUT 6-8OZ TO THE SYSTEM BEFORE CHARGING-UP. PUT 2OZ IN THE ACCUMULATOR AND THE BALANCE IN THE COMPRESSOR. BEFORE YOU START THE VEHICLE,BE SURE TO ROTATE THE COMPRESSOR HUB 10X TO GET THE OIL OUT OF THE CYLINDERS.
GOOD LUCK,DAVIDT