The car runs strong and pulls a lot harder than my previous F20C. It is a blast to drive. However, I am having an issue and would like to get some feedback from you guys.

So I am having trouble with the A/C system; from the information that I have been gathering from the internet and K swap forums, it seems that the general consensus in retaining A/C functionality when doing this swap into an s2000 is to install a USDM water pump housing, USDM K24 alternator, EP3 adjustable pulley kit, and K20 ac compressor. Doing this will barely fit above the S2000 Steering rack. I feel that this is what most shops that specialize in kswaps do. Going this route would allow for near factory positioning of the ac compressor.

However, the shop that I took my car to did this:



As shown on the picture, instead of doing the afore mentioned, they ended up retaining and using all of the JDM accessories, not using the USDM water pump housing and relocated the A/C compressor to opposite side of the engine by fabricating a bracket, installed a A/C relocation kit, and installed an oil filter relocation kit. The the A/C compressor pulley (from an S2000) has 5 teeth on the pulley where as the rest of the pulleys on the car has 6 teeth. Also, the A/C compressor pulley was not aligned with the rest of the pulleys. The shop ended up putting a slimmer serpentine belt onto the pulleys to compensate for the discrepancy in alignment.

Long story short, when I picked up the car there was no issues, however, after driving the car back home 400 miles, a loud screeching noise came from the a/c pulley whenever I gave it some throttle and the screeching was worse with the A/C clutch engaged. The A/C would have difficulty engaging many times as well. The tensioning mechanism for the belt is that adjustable rod that you see attached to the alternator; there is no spring to it, it is just a twist to the desired length and lock mechanism.

I initially thought it was a bad A/C compressor pulley bearing so I replaced it and still it screeched, then I figured it was a bad compressor, so I bought a new aftermarket one and still the same issue. Per the shop owner, I notched the custom A/C compressor bracket so that the pulleys will all align better and the sound got a lot better, but after driving it for a bit the noise and problems came back.

My conclusion regarding the problem is that the A/C Pulley is not perfectly aligned as it would be if a USDM water pump housing with K20 A/C compressor mounted onto it would be. As well as the discrepancy of the 5 teeth pulley of the A/C compressor vs the other pulley's six teeth; as a result, the belt is slipping at high loads.

I am going to take the car back to shop in two weeks. I hope they fix the problem, the shop owner is saying that he wants to order a brand new S2000 A/C compressor and reuse the bracket on the car currently. I feel that this won't solve the issue, but he seems dead set on it. I don't want to waste my time and money and his. And I definitely do not want to be charged extra for any extra work done to the car as it started having problems literally after driving 400 miles.

I spent close to 15K on this build and it is stressing me the hell out.

What do you guys think?

 

Do you know if they've had success running this AC setup in the past? I'd be interested to hear some kind of logical explanation as to why the last 2 AC compressors have squealed and what makes them think something would be different with the 3rd one.

As far as stressing about it, keep that glass half-full... it sounds like you've got yourself a solid running car, with a really nice swap. You'll get the AC sorted out, in the grand scheme of things it should be a minor setback on what was a really big and otherwise successful job.

 

Can you check belt tension? Has the belt been compromised by fluid?

 

Thanks for the encouragement, I hope it is a simple fix. I have a feeling that in the end they are going to have to do the whole USDM water pump housing route, which will set them back, which shouldn't be my problem.

As far as I know I am their first customer that got the A/C done with the swap. I assumed a shop that specializes in kswaps would have known all the fine details in retaining the A/C functionality with no issues.

Logic is telling me that it has nothing to do with the compressor itself, but has everything to do with the discrepancy in the a/c pulley teeth and alignment of the a/c pulley to the rest of the pulleys, as well as the thinner than normal belt used. Furthermore, I find it odd how the shop owner wants to reuse the bracket and a brand new OEM S2000 a/c compressor to fix the problem (he told me that since I bought a aftermarket oem replacement, that this was the issue; which doesn't make sense to me because even the OEM one with a new pulley bearing was having the same issue). I am beginning to question the competency of the shop. However, I need them to fix the problem as I have already paid to have working a/c.

When I first spoke with the shop in whether or not they can do the a/c with the swap. He spoke with such confidence saying he can do it. I regret not working out the fine details of the build.

 

I am not sure, but I do have new belt on the way with an extra rib. Hopefully it will give me more information on the problem.

 

I'd be shocked if a new compressor fixed a belt squeal issue.

 

Me as well, I will be able to confirm what the issue is once I put on the new belt.

 

I ended up putting on the new belt and the problem still persists. While swapping out the belts I noticed that the belt that was on there was missing a rib from the entire belt. I recall receiving the car with the belt in this condition; the belt seemed rather thin than what I remembered it to be.

 

Regarding your issue, were you able to get it fixed?
Long story short.... I was looking at that picture soo many times.. and was trying to figure out how the belt would be configured.
Would you happen to be able to show us a picture... or just draw who the belt was on to assist?

 

It is being worked on at the moment, using the USDM water pump housing and k20 a/c compressor route.

This is how it was originally:
- The routing of the belt and positioning of the a/c compressor was the cause of the constant screeching and also probably why the a/c wont stay engaged.