Component Tests and General Diagnostics

A shaft seal should not be changed because of small amounts of oil found on an adjacent surface. The seal is designed to leak some oil for lubrication purposes. A shaft seal should be changed only when a large amount of sprayed oil is found, and only after actual refrigerant leakage is found by using an approved leak detection procedure.

Should a compressor shaft seal ever have to be replaced, the accumulator in this system must also be removed from the vehicle. The oil in the accumulator then must be drained, measured and replaced.