Happy 4th everyone! Hope everyone is having a good Holiday.

Does anyone have a pic of the back of a V5 compressor on an 88 Duke? Also need to know which switch on the back is which. I ordered a new compressor for the car and I want to get new switch's for it while I am in there.

I had to replace the starter this morning - that was a real treat. I had to cut the cat out (I'll just straight pipe it now). When I was up in there taking the starter out, I noticed that the wires on the green switch (upper to the right) were frayed and one was completely severed - just a piece of the insulation was holding it together. Anyway, the wires are bad coming right out of the plug(s) so I need to order new connectors as well. There are several different ones listed at Rock Auto and Autozone. The highest switch is green and the lower switch is white. Just not sure which is the high side - LPCO and which is the low side or if one is a fan switch? I can't find any details in the Haynes manual. TIA

Pat

Check out Fiero Sparks web site - Great Info. on HVAC for the Fiero !

http://home.comcast.net/~park1619/index.html

Kat, if you have the 86 service manuel, it has a good picture in it of the V5's rear, and the switches functions are pointed out. Page 1D3-2. I can't get the PIP here to post an adobe photo. PM me your home E-Address and I'll atrtach a photo of the back of the compresssor and send it back to you. I did purchase all of the new connectors, and switches at Napa about two years back.
Joe

Stockgt, Joe....

Thanks for the quick replies +'s for both of you.

Pat

quote Originally posted by StockGT: Check out Fiero Sparks web site - Great Info. on HVAC for the Fiero ! http://home.comcast.net/~park1619/index.html

Thats a good site, I put it in my favorites.
Joe

Joe,

What do you know about the V5 control valve? I have read that I need to replace the R12 valve with a R134 valve. I also read (somewhere) that the valves are really pretty much the same - a guy that was a product manager for 4 Seasons says that they calibrate them all to the same pressures. Just wondering if I should get an R134 valve or take my chances with the R12 valve that comes in the remanned compressor? I don't think I need to worry about freeze up in Far West Texas - humidity is pretty low out here and I would think it would not be an issue given the distance from the condensor to the compressor? Am I right in thinking that the higher the valve pressures, the less likely freeze up will occur? If this is true then I would think the lowest pressure valve would produce the coldest air? I can't keep all this stuff straight...

Pat

I have a friend that does this for a living. He told me to change it out, or I would be wasting my money on the 134a and the accumulator. I would have to vacume the good charge, and install a new accumulator when I opened the system to add the correct control valve after being unhappy with the R12 valve. Even A Zones site, or maybe O'riley's says to change it out for R134a applications. Brad said that I would only get about 66% efficientcy using the incorrect valve. On a hot day here (near Houston) I would say it's the best $80.00 I ever spent 108* here last week.
Joe

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 07-04-2009).]

Older thread on here somewhere with these questions somewhat answered. Searching now...

charlie

quote Originally posted by cptsnoopy: I got a little sidetracked when trying to search out a couple of earlier threads that had related info on the V-5 compressor. The bottom half of this thread has some info that may help. This thread is more recent and has some info on the CCV for the V-5 compressor. Charlie

Charlie,

Thanks for those links! In all my searching and reading the last few days, I ran across both of these threads. In fact, that first thread is the one that inspired me to tackle my first AC on an 86 Fiero. Right down to the "well nuts" for the condensor mount..... I never paid any attention to the V5 info in there as I had - up to that point - never dealt with one.

Any input on how that AC Delco valve works? I read in that first thread a quote form a thread I read about the 4 Seasons valves all being set in the middle of the pressure range. I will look for that AC Delco part number. Rock Auto shows 1 available for R134. I will see if the AC Delco number cross references to thier number. If not, I'll try Napa or a GM parts house. I am definitely going to change the valve - mainly cause I do not want to do it twice. I've had my fill of AC systems this summer already. I just finished installing a new compressor/acc/orifice tube on a 96 S-10 an hour ago and will be doing a complete AC rehab on a 68 El Camino in the AM. I have the XTC to finish and then my 70 Monte and then thats it! Thanks again for yur replies. I am a firm believer in doing it right the first time.

Pat

Hi Pat,

I really wish I could tell you how the AC delco valve works but I have not completed the project car to the point of driving it. In fact, when I do get it going it will be my first experience with a variable output compressor. It is very possible that the valve I put in might be too cold and cause the evap coil to freeze over. I remember reading somewhere that the tubing length between the compressor/condenser/evap had to be considered when selecting the proper valve and that longer lengths may require the valve calibrated for r-12. All hearsay to me until I get to try it out. I have also read what you mentioned, that the valves are all the same now... I just don't know for sure. I hope that it works right the first time for you.

Happy fourth of July! (oops, that was yesterday...)

Charlie

quote Originally posted by cptsnoopy: This thread is more recent and has some info on the CCV for the V-5 compressor. Charlie

Turns out this had the answer to my question all along! Thank you for finding and posting this link. I've got an '86 that has good pressure but no ac. Looks like when they filled it with 134 they either didn't adjust the switch or just boosted the pressure enough to get it to go.

Looks like I'm going to have to do some major overhaulling of the ac system.

quote Originally posted by katatak: Does anyone have a pic of the back of a V5 compressor on an 88 Duke? Also need to know which switch on the back is which. I ordered a new compressor for the car and I want to get new switch's for it while I am in there.

This one was posted on the Forum previously:

quote Originally posted by cptsnoopy: Hi Pat, I really wish I could tell you how the AC delco valve works but I have not completed the project car to the point of driving it. In fact, when I do get it going it will be my first experience with a variable output compressor. It is very possible that the valve I put in might be too cold and cause the evap coil to freeze over. I remember reading somewhere that the tubing length between the compressor/condenser/evap had to be considered when selecting the proper valve and that longer lengths may require the valve calibrated for r-12. All hearsay to me until I get to try it out. I have also read what you mentioned, that the valves are all the same now... I just don't know for sure. I hope that it works right the first time for you. Happy fourth of July! (oops, that was yesterday...) Charlie

Thanks Charlie - I was hoping you had already "been there, done that". We will know this weekend. I ordered the AC Delco R134 valve. I guess if it freezes up, I can change it back to the R12 valve. I just love all this AC stuff. I spent most of the day yesterday working on the AC on a 69 El Camino. We finally came to the conclusion that the POV - pressure valve was not working properly. We could only get about 17 or 18 psi on the low side. The manual says it should be at least 31 psi at 4000' elevation. The wierd part was that with a can of R134 hooked up and "open" - the pressure would get cloe to 30 and the air in the cab would get nice and cold - tubes would get cold and candensate, etc. Close the valve on the can and the pressure would drop to 27-18 and the air would "warm up" a little. From everything I read in the factory maual, it all points to the POV pressure valve. Ordered a new one to day along with the expansion valve and another acumulator. Looks like another long hot weekend working on AC's.