No AC for '98 Durango V8

[Edmond]

Friend of mine has a '98 Durango.

The AC won't work. My first suspect is that it needs freon. She's never charged it before. The air isn't even slightly cool.

The tube that goes to the condensor gets slightly cool but I thought it was supposed to cold?

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[duaneb9729]

if that system is the same as the one on the jeeps the valves that you would add r-134a thru, tend to leak. i used to have a jeep from that era and its a cheap fix part wise, other than that, its possible to have a leaky condenser or lines to and from the compressor can leak, this is a job for some one with tools, such as a vacum pump, gauge set with the hook ups for cars, 134a with dye in it for future leak issues.

the gauge ports screw off the lines, you do need a back up wrench to take them off.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: Edmond
My first suspect is that it needs freon. She's never charged it before.

it has a leak. A/C sytems only need to be 'charged' when they leak.

 

[Edmond]

Okay, I'll probably suggest charging it and using it for this summer. She said that if it's anything other than needing a charge, she's not going to do it because the trans is starting to slip and she's not going to put very much money into it.

If it can hold for another month or two with a charge or two, I think she'd be pleased. She cannot afford to spend a couple grand into a new trans. This is the second one she's on. She had a rebuilt one put in a few years ago.

 

[Jimmy9190]

When the AC is charged and working correctly the liquid line (larger diameter AC hose) will be COLD to the touch when the AC is on. The system has to be leaking somewhere. Most shops will test the system for leaks and apply the diagnostic charges to the final repair bill. Here where I live most places charge about $20 to check the system (usually with a coupon). That being said, AC work can get expensive. You could have a shop find the leak (and tell you where it is and identify the leaking/broken part) and evacuate the system. Then you can repair/replace parts and then have the shop recharge the system. I did that on my Dakota and saved at least half the repair bill a shop would have charged me when I had to replace my AC compressor.

 

[artificialist]

That is true, but even the best A/C systems leak at a slow pace, and need recharging on occasion.

That in mind, I would rather put a set of manifold gauges on that Durango, and see that the low side pressure is 30-45 PSI and that the high side pressure is 200-250 PSI.

Often on older cars, the A/C compressor will leak internally, and not be able to create enough of a difference in pressure to cool the car very effectively.

Ask your friend how long the car will be kept. If it will be kept over one year, buy a brand new compressor. Reman compressors MIGHT last 2 years.

 

[mechtech2]

You need a minimum pressure in the system for the AC to work - there is a low pressure switch [and a high].
She is probably just low on R134a.
This is quite normal to lose a bit of refrigerant each year. That is why car Mfrs. put the AC on in the Defrost position - so that in winter the oil gets circulated and the seals will seal -it helps keep the sauce inside.

 

[Edmond]

I have a pressure gauge but it's too small for the fitting on her car.

I thought it would be universal?

It wouldn't be Dodge, GM or Ford specific, would it?

 

[TooManyWheels]

R134 systems have universal fittings. You must either be looking at the wrong fitting, have an R12 gauge instead of 134, or are mixing up the two sides of a 134 manifold set.

 

[Edmond]

I did find the wrong fitting. I did find the right one, though. It was sitting near the top of the motor.

It's charged up and the air is nice and cool.