My compressor locked up a few months ago, and I decided to fix it today. The family gets unhappy riding in a black car with no air in 90°+ Alabama heat. Anyway, the correct compressor for the Buick is $200+ and a special order item. So I started investigating other options. A compressor for a 1987 S10 with a 2.8 is close enough to work and costs around $130 for a reman at O'reillys. The pressure switch from the Buick compressor has to be changed over, and the clutch switch is in a bit of an awkward position but is otherwise a direct fit. I thought I would toss this out there for any other guys that may be wanting to fix their ac on a budget.
S10 AC compressor on a Turbo Buick
- Thread starter BMR
- Start date
The high pressure switch from this port has to be removed from the Buick compressor and put into the S10 compressor. It is held in with a snap ring, but be careful removing the swith as it is old, brittle, and VERY easily broken.
Also, MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE THE CAP ON THE NEW COMPRESSOR'S PORTS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE PLUG!!!! Compressors are pressurized before shipment, and that steel plug will not feel good smacking you in the face.
Also, MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE THE CAP ON THE NEW COMPRESSOR'S PORTS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE PLUG!!!! Compressors are pressurized before shipment, and that steel plug will not feel good smacking you in the face.
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Purple87SS
YouTube Video Maker
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2005
So you cant use the s-10 clutch if it come s with a nw AC compressor- you must switch it for the Buick Clutch? I see an s-10 one listed on Rock auto w/o a clutch, that's why I ask.
This^^^. I didn't take the clutch off, but there is a good chance it will interchange. Just make sure the compressor you get has the port for the pressure switch. I was checking out an OE Harrison compressor on a S10 this evening, and it did not have the port.
BobbyBuick
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
i just did this to my 87T works great
precizion818
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2007
I just bought a new compressor for my GN for about double the price. I have not installed it yet and I am considering returning the one I bought and going this route.
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- May 26, 2001
My experience with reman AC compressors has not been good.
The warranty sucks on a reman if you even get one, but most I have installed in recent years needed to be replaced in a year or less. Of course our 100+ degree summer temps give them a stress test for many months during the year.
A local friend just installed 3 remans before he got one to work right. The added labor and lost freon made this a losing situation?
precizion818
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2007
Good point Nick.... I was curious about that also. The one I already bought is new
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- May 27, 2010
On the otherside of that argument how many people actually replaced the entire system when they did the compressor. Condenser, accumulator, drier. There are a ton of folks driving around with R12 systems and the only thing the person did was recharge it with 134 and add a new drier. Extreme heat will kill parts around here we put the air on just to kill the humidity in the air.
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Well, I guess I'm in the minority. I have access to an ac machine at work, and I can pull my refrigerant out and change the compressor and shoot it back in if need be. I will say the clutch is noisier that I would like, but its not big deal.
The NEW compressor for the S10 is around $160 iirc. And if you get in good with the guys at your local store there is always some leeway in the prices. If need be you can pit advance, auto zone, and O'reillys against each other as they all offer the low price guarantee.
The NEW compressor for the S10 is around $160 iirc. And if you get in good with the guys at your local store there is always some leeway in the prices. If need be you can pit advance, auto zone, and O'reillys against each other as they all offer the low price guarantee.
