2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission a/c,s goe out-how many miles

[sleddog]

mine went out at 90k. my cousins 99 ford 7. 3 a/c still works. dont get it.

 

[Skydiver]

183k and still doing COOL.

I bought a real nice set of r-134 gauges. I took Air cond classes after high school so I do most of my own work. What I noticed different about my Dodge. When I raised the rpm the low side pressure went up. Never seen that on an ac system. Still works so I let it be. Never have had to add refregerant. Knock on wood !

Down here in the Southeast it does get a work out.

 

[diesel DOG]

Mne died at 80 and now needs recharge every 2 years. Cannot find leak in AC. Did AC evaporator and heater core. My mechanic said evaporator last about 80-90,000 on a Dodges. Much longer on Chev or Ford.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...98-5-2002/217968-heater-core-replacement.html

 

[nutter3]

2000 CTD, 157K, never had the AC charged. Still blows cold every summer.
Granted, i dont use it much, but we get the occasional 70-80° days

 

[surfbeetle]

Had a sensor loosen and leak last year, tightened it up and recharged, now at 191,000, I sometimes have to turn it on and off before it kicks in then it works great.

 

[mfburns]

Mine still works when it gets hot outside. 15 years and 268,000 miles

 

[fest3er]

My 98's been leaking since '98 (prolly 235K miles ago). I just add a can or three until it cools again. But I do have a new evaporator to install; it's the only thing that can be leaking. I may have to wait until late winter for a warm day to tear the dash apart and replace it and the dryer and install new o-rings and seals.

 

[telliott]

mine didn't work when i test drove it at the dealer. Made them fix it before i bought it (50K miles on it). The fix lasted about 2 months. Now i have to recharge mine every couple months when its hot out.

 

[diesel DOG]

mine didn't work when i test drove it at the dealer. Made them fix it before i bought it (50K miles on it). The fix lasted about 2 months. Now i have to recharge mine every couple months when its hot out.

that gets expensive no?

 

[Matt42]

This may vary by climate and usage.

 

[sleddog]

ok. this is a heavy hitter. i paid 125. 00 to hacve mine recharged. lasted maybee 3 monthes. what the specific repairs?i wasx qouted 750. 00 bucks to rebuild the system. did my own vp44 and wondering if i can fix. what parts?at 80k mine went out. buddys chevys and fords still going,but they have there own problems...

 

[Matt42]

Not difficult to rebuild if you have the tools. The worst of it is replacing the evaporator. That requires partly taking out the dash. It's also a known trouble spot. Buying the tools (AC vacuum, gauge-manifold, set of green O-rings, O-ring lube, PAG-100 oil, garter spring release snap tools, etc) plus the compressor (probably a good idea) and evaporator will be less than the cost of having it done, if you don't count your time. Then you have the tools when you are done.

 

[Texis]

My 97 evaporator was leaking badly and dead at 130K, changed it and the 2nd one has 200K on it, still good. The clutchs on the compressor come apart every 100K... I have been through 3 of the clutchs. The compressors are strong. I still have the original compressor at 320K.



I'm on the Texas Gulf Coast and we run the AC 7 months a year... . on high / recycle. The truck has always had a great AC system, ice cold in a 98 degree traffic jam.

 

[GAmes]

I replaced my compressor at 200k because it wasn't cooling enough. I bought the compressor on line and had a local shop do the work. The tech told me the only thing wrong was the little inline filter after the work was done. I've had it replaced once (the filter) since then. I'm getting 40 degree air out the vent when the outside temp is 90 and this compressor has been installed over 500k now.

 

[telliott]

that gets expensive no?

I charge it myself, and its cheaper to do it that way than to fix the whole system.

 

[VicR]

The compressor went bad on mine at about 90k. Unfortunately I just noticed that the pulley on the replacement compressor is not straight and true so that's the next project.

 

[surfbeetle]

Mine's starting to get finicky, I have to turn on/off the top dial on the dash unit for it to kick in, makes no difference if I turn the a/c fan switch on/off. Makes me think that it's the dash controller, I hear that's a $300. 00 part. Anyone have ideas on how to check it?

 

[emarsh]

only 22k, replaced under warranty

 

[SDrake]

My evaporator (under the dash) sprung a leak at around 230K miles, but by then the compressor was leaking oil so while I was at it I just replaced the evaporator (dash project) all flexible lines, compressor and accumulator unit. bought all parts for somewhere around $500 online.



You can do all the work of installing and then have the system evacuated and charged by a shop. I did my self using a frineds vacuum pump and freon bought at Wal-mart.



Cleaned the leaves out of the intake area and heater box and learned that we need to have some filters to keep trash out of the intake air system. System works about the same as when new. Condenser (in front of the radiator) needs a fan when truck is sitting still in traffiic. On the move works as I would want it to work.

 

[Pavemen]

my 99 needs 1-2 cans every year. not sure where the leak is, but my luck would have it be the evap coil