The information contained in this article is current as of September 2022.
The AC compressors for the Series I 944 is different when compared to the Series II and 924S AC compressors. And they seem to be all gone. NLA. Poof!
With the rescue and rehab projects that we have here at 924S944.com, fixing air conditioning systems is pretty common. The cars that we get have typically been sitting a while, and AC systems do not like just sitting around doing nothing. In Florida, AC is pretty important, so we need to be able to rehab these systems and properly condition the air for the Florida heat and humidity.
We currently have a 1984 Series I 944 that had been sitting for while. Replacing the compressor, dryer and even the expansion valve was a normal idea, so we got online to order what we needed. The expansion valve and dryer are both available, but despite our best efforts, finding a new or remanufactured compressor seemed impossible. There were some on Ebay that might have worked, but our typical Nippondenso (Denso) compressors were simply not listed. The 85.5 Series II and 924S compressors are available from just about all of our suppliers, but the early 944 compressors were not. Even DENSO no longer lists it on their website. What to do?
Most bigger communities will have a facility who can rebuild a compressor for you. If that is you, congratulations! But with remanufactured and new compressors available online and in your local auto parts store, getting a compressor rebuilt just has not been necessary. (Notice that for the past several years, the old compressors have had no core charge – just throw them away!) So we have never sought out a local compressor rebuilder – just wasn’t necessary.
Through a lot of calls and visits to various AC folks in town, we found “the guy” – Mike Perry from MCP (Mobile Climate Parts) in Edgewater, FL. Edgewater is a mostly residential community just south of New Smyrna Beach, which is just south of Daytona Beach – and about thirty minutes from us in DeLand. Grabbing my pieces and parts, I called and then went to his place at 441 Skyway Drive, Unit B6, Edgewater, FL 32132. His shop is at the Massey Air Park, a small airport with lots of hanger space. Mike has been into AC systems for most of his life.
And Mike is a Porsche guy. He is a member of the Porsche Club of America, Florida Citrus Region. Just like us. A local AC compressor rebuilder who is also a Porsche guy. Who knew?
Anyway, Mike took my old, nasty broken compressor and rebuilt it to like new condition. He also provided the proper expansion valve and dryer for that compressor while providing sage advice on installation and charging. All for a very reasonable price and within a few days.
So we are now putting the AC system in our ’84 back together, making sure to flush the system out properly to get rid of any debris that may have come from our damaged-now-rebuilt compressor. Thanks to Mike for helping us out.
If you are in need, you can ship your compressor to him and get it repaired.
Mike Perry
MCP (Mobile Climate Parts)
441 Skyway Drive, Unit B6
Edgewater, FL 32132
(386) 761-5050
(386) 847-0151
Another aspect here to consider is with a local and/or trusted rebuilder, you know exactly what you are getting. There is a face and a voice and a known entity connected to your rebuild. There is a degree of confidence that goes with that. When you buy a remanufactured compressor from XYZ Online Parts, do you know anything about where it was done or who did it?
It’s nice to have a PCA member to help you out with your Porsche. Really nice.
We have a couple of Series I 944 compressors here that are in need of rebuilding. Our plans are to get Mike to rebuild them and put them on the shelf to sell when you guys need a quick turnaround.
The no core charge situation is exactly why there are no rebuilt units available anymore. Parts to rebuild these are likely going to dry up as well. Stock up for yourself while you can.