Hey all,
So i have a 03 ram 1500 3.7l v6. The a/c compressor quit on me heading back to Texas from Alabama. Didnt think much of it, just rolled down the windows. Went to fire it up yesterday to head into town and it hesitated before starting, which it has never done. I checked my battery meter and battery read fine...when i looked up the truck was smoking worse than a train. I cut the motor and got the hood open, belt was broken (melted) and the compressor has seized up. I know i need a new compressor and a new belt to get the truck on the road...but budget is a huge concern (college kid) so what all is neccessary? My buddy said i needed the compressor, the belt, and a new air dryer and something else (cant remember what it was). I was hoping to get some advice for the experts (y'all). Thanks.

 

Okay i've done this on mine. My 4.7 blew the clutch out and need a new compressor (same compressors).

What you'll need is pretty much a replacement compressor. A drier should be replaced but if you are just opening up the system long enough to swap compressors (like an hour) it should be fine. Thats assuming the system still has charge when you start.

You really need someone to discharge the system. If you buy a new compressor they will make you buy a new drier to warranty the compressor. So you are talking 400 dollars right there.

I went to a savage yard and got a used one for 150 bucks. The 3.7 and 4.7 are interchangeable. The hemi's are different. Then if you can afford the 40 bucks for a drier then you should go ahead and replace it. To replace the drier you'll need these tools to remove the fittings. The fittings have a spring in there. These slide up in there and releases it.

http://www.northerntool.com/images/p...9094121_lg.jpg

So once you get the replacement compressor and install it you need to decide if you want to recharge the system yourself. You can buy the cheap recharge kits at stores but that's not what you need. To properly recharge the system you first to pull a compete vacuum on the system. The tools to do this will cost you about 140 dollars from harbor freight. After you had them you can recharge the system anytime you want and pull a vacuum on it again if you had to.

You other choice is a shop to recharge it. They will charge you around 150. You'll to find a good shop that will do it right. A lot of shops will just charge it and be done in 5 minutes and send you on your way. You have to make sure they pull a vacuum for 30 minutes and then do a leak down test for another 30 to make sure the system is ready to charge. If they dont do this will allow air in your system causing it to blow warm and will leave to much moisture in the system and will cause problems. Plus if there is a leak you will know and wont be out the money.

When you get your compressor there should be bolt on the side that you take out and there should be oil in there. The easist thing to do is pour the oil out of the old compressor and put it in the new. I think it should be about 4 oz. If you do the drier it'll be another 2 oz of oil. If you charge the system yourself this is the easiest way. If you dont charge it then let them worry about the drier oil. Be sure to make sure they do it.
http://images.solidcactus.com/autobarn/intpc1.jpg

 

If you can't afford any of it yet, buy a belt for a truck with same engine but without a/c as an option. This will delete the compressor in the belt routing and you should be on your way(with windows open of course). This will also give you a few months to save for the replacement compressor and components being that winter is around the corner.

 

I dont think they have a non ac belt, but you can out a junkyard compressor on there and your new belt and just dont hook up the wire to the ac compressor so it wont engage and run it like that till you can afford to charge it and replace the drier.

 

If you want to replace the compressor, you need to find the leak first. A/C systems are designed to be sealed systems so one would have to leak and introduce debris to lock up the compressor. Fix the leak and flush the system. $500-$1200 with labor.

If low on funds a bypass pulley may be an option. You can then eliminate the guess work and use the original size belt. The pulley will mount where the compressor is now. Check your local parts store. Should run $30-$50.

 

I can pretty much bet that the bearings in the pulley went bad instead the compressor itself. My compressor did the exact thing, but i caught it before the belt burnt up. Mine had no leaks. If it was the compressor it would only mess up when it was engaged. When not engage the compressor acts like a bypass pulley. So bearings on the pulley are probably shot like mean were and locked up the whole thing.

 

The AC clutch/pulley on my Dakota recently started making an awful racket and puked out the freon, and I was worried that it would seize up and destroy my newer $50 belt. I went down to the local Pick-and-Pull, took my old AC compressor with me as a core, as well as a %10 off internet coupon and got a used AC compressor with clutch for less than $40. At the moment I am running it with the AC off (did not hook up the electrical connector just in case) while I decide if I want to fix it before I sell it. This seemed to be the cheapest alternative to me as I believe the compressor is viable to be recharged and I didn't have to buy a non-AC belt to get me through.

 

You must replace the complete AC kit when the compressor goes bad. New compressor, filter drier/receiver....metering device (expansion valve/orifice tube) and O rings. Problem with used compressors is a lot of times debris gets into them when they are being taken off etc. ...if ANY debris gets into a compressor (new or used) it will fail. This is why compressor manufacturers make you replace everything to validate a warranty on a compressor. ...previous compressor gone bad = 90% chance there is debris in A/C system and it will cycle back into a new compressor and cause it to go bad.

if you need any help shoot me an email. coreyv@eliteautoac.com I wholesale distribute ac parts for mechanics, dealers, auto part stores etc... Glad to help if i can

 

Ok so im going to keep using the same thread here. I replaced the compressor and belt. I have a friend who works at the local dodge dealership shop so i took it in to him and had him test and charge the system. Everything checked out. After charging the system and turning on the ac inside the truck he stopped talking and started testing wires under the hood (not a good sign). He tells me the ac condenser fan??? (is the fan that cools the compressor?) is bad. He hooked up a computer to try and force the fan to come on and it wouldnt, relay is good and all that. So O'riellys down the road has the fan motor for 60 bucks. has anyone changed the fan motor? do i have to have the system emptied and then recharged after again if i do this? Time isnt a rush this time of year with the ac. thanks yall for all the help.

 

check this thread out

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...otor-info.html