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Failed Arco A6

dplotkin on Thu May 20, 2010 10:34 PM User is offline

A career mechanic rebuilt the engine in my 62 Pontiac Bonneville and rebuilt the A/C system at the same time. Before the work was done the car had a 4 seasons reman A6 on it. I've only had the car a year. When I first tried to get the system running, it wouldn't hold a vaccum because of a badly leaking STV valve. We sent the valve to Classic Auto air for a rebuild, replaced all the hoses, expansion valve, dryer, blew out and pressure checked the evap & condensor. Put it back together, added oil to spec, charged with 134 and found no cooling & a noisy compressor. Took the STV valve apart, found piston stuck. Freed it up, put it back together, put a new reman Arco A6 on it, oiled it to spec, pulled & held vaccum, charged with 134 and it cooled excellent. Normal pressures, about 2.5 X ambient high side and low 20's low side. Used it very little, on and off for 3 days, new engine, want to breakit in easy. Used it for 20 minutes this afternoon, cooled great, no noise. 3 hours later I tried it again and the belt is screaming. The compressor is now very hard to turn by hand, binding at one spot in its rotation. I've never known A6's to sieze up like that, what could be happening? I have a 4 seasons on order. Your thoughts

HECAT on Fri May 21, 2010 6:20 AM User is offline

My thoughts.

Contamination? Blowing components does not remove all the oil that will adhere to the interior surfaces of the component. The air will pass and provide a false sense of clean and clear, when in reality these oils may also be binding metallic debris. Just my thought from your comments of noisy compressor and sticking valve. Oiled to spec (twice)? Type of oil? Charged with 134, normal pressure? Parallel condenser? Enough refrigerant to move oils properly?

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2005Equinox on Sat May 22, 2010 1:32 AM User is offline

I had a 1979 Chevrolet Impala with an A-6 and it seized one night when I was driving it. It was origional. Lucky they are pretty cheap.

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2008 Chevrolet Impala LS
1981 Pontiac Bonneville


2007 Sears Craftsman Lawn Tractor


1985 Chevrolet Caprice


1986 John Deere 165 lawn tractor

newton5 on Sun May 23, 2010 2:20 AM User is offlineView users profile

I've never known A6's to sieze up like that, what could be happening? I have a 4 seasons on order. Your thoughts
"put a new reman Arco A6 on it,

In years past ARCO was on level with Four Seasons. I haven't heard of ARCO reman "anything" in many (20+) years. Both are/were "get it out the door" crap.

Your 62 Bonne is likely worth a tidy sum in and of itself. You've likely spent quite a bit on restortion/preservation of that awesome car.
Why would you cheap out on the factory AC? New A6 compressors are available from ACKits.com for around $350.
Instructions for proper prep of your system is available here free for the asking.

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