bigdawg56

Hi i just wanted to let everyone know that i replaced my ac compressor and dryer without removing front bumper cover or putting the front in service position. Jack up front of vehicle (please use jackstands) remove cover from underneath, use 19mm wrench on belt tentioner, remove belt from compressor, i removed the ac hoses from compressor and dryer since system was already empty, 13mm socket remove 3 bolts from compressor and maneuver it out by the hoses. 10mm swival socket and extention remove dryer. used ac flush in the lines and blew out with compressed air. assemble in reverse order total time it took me about a hour. took to a shop that was having a special evac and fill for $50. I hope this helps someone.

K9COP

I just got bent over for $900 for A/C compressor, drier and refill, four wheel alignment and 1 side lower arms.!

Had no choice as time was a factor, so there we go.

Good work though!

K9

Mister Bally

That actually sounds like a very good price for parts and labor by a shop that guarantees their work.

K9COP

But I supplied the compressor, drier and arms (after he diagnosed the problems), and while the A/C is cold with a capital 'F', the 'ree orr' squeak at the front end is still there. We shall be having a private chat tomorrow....

p.s. Sorry, should have pointed out that this was on the Long Haired Colonel's 2002 A6 2.7TT. Seriously? $900? That's almost totalled!

bigdawg56

I forgot to mention i was able to get a brand new compressor and dryer from a fellow audi owner who totalled his car before the install for $250.

stwoody07

[QUOTE=bigdawg56;24316521]Hi i just wanted to let everyone know that i replaced my ac compressor and dryer without removing front bumper cover or putting the front in service position. Jack up front of vehicle (please use jackstands) remove cover from underneath, use 19mm wrench on belt tentioner, remove belt from compressor, i removed the ac hoses from compressor and dryer since system was already empty, 13mm socket remove 3 bolts from compressor and maneuver it out by the hoses. 10mm swival socket and extention remove dryer. used ac flush in the lines and blew out with compressed air. assemble in reverse order total time it took me about a hour. took to a shop that was having a special evac and fill for $50. I hope this helps someone.

This may be very helpful to me....My AC went out today (I live in Dallas, Texas) so you need AC from April through October around here. I checked with my local service station that has done some stuff for me and they want to charge $1500 to replace the compressor, orfice and dryer (plus re-charge the system). I have worked on cars all my life but I've not done much to my A6 other brake work, plugs, filters etc... Two questions: Which compressor do you recommend and is replacing the dryer and orfice any more complicated than the compressor (which I think I can do once I get the system evacuated by a professional). Thank you for your time.

Stephen

bigdawg56

replacing the drier and the orfice is quite simple. If you can replace the compressor than you can replace the drier. And like i said, you can do it all from underneath pretty easily.

Florida8L

the A8L is blowing hot. compressor doesnt kick on, but system shows a little pressure in there - I was gonna just replace the compressor, dryer, oil, office, and also vacuum it out with a oil vac pump for 8 hours to really get all the moisture out. its needed a can the last 4 years, every spring - im sure some moisture has got in there on refills since we ran over my good gauge set. but this time its either so low it won't kick on or the clutch is gone. To me it's dumb how these A8Ls run the pump every time the fan is on. only 108k on the car. factory compressor as far as I can tell. Ideas of how much freon to put in there into a completely vac system ?

Veikra

100% not the clutch. I`m a wizard.
No really, there is no clutch on these compressor. It a variable displacement compressor and it always spins

dvs_dave

640g of R134.

It’s not 1995 anymore, and variable displacement AC compressors don’t have a clutch. They run all the time. Same on all vehicles equipped with them. And you obviously have a leak in the system if you keep having to fill it so you need to fix that first. Although as you’re eyeballing it with cans of EZ FREEZ, you’ve possibly damaged the compressor. Variable compressors don’t play nice with overfilled systems.