I have to get the compressor and one of the high pressure hose replaced since they show that they are leaking...slowly. The mechanic I go to and trust filled it will dye and after a year of working just fine it went out like a light switch was turned off. He saw some dye stains around one of the hoses and the center seal of the compressor. He said the compressor needed to be replaced and the hose but that when replacing the compressor you should replace the dryer, expansion valve along with it to prevent contaminates etc.. He said the whole job would cost $1600. Is this a good deal? Does all that have to be replaced?

That sounds a bit steep to me. You could probably get the compressor and the hose for 3-400; it's an easy replacement if you know what you're doing.

The EPA might be upset if you open the system yourself, but I doubt there's anything left in the system at this point.

A few cans of R34(that is the new stuff I think) and you should be working again.

that is what I thought but in reading the material that comes with the compressor they talk about how the dryer and expansion valve should be replaced since they can have filings and such from the system that can damage the new compressor. Then the question is how do you get the balance of the system right? I do not have any pressure tools. I did offer to replace all the parts....you know do the wrench work. That I can do. I then thought I would just take the finished job into the mechanic to add the fluid and balance the system. The parts cost almost $700 - $800. Then I don't have any guarantee...with the shop they will guarantee the work and the charge.

I think the question to ask yourself is what's it worth to you?

The vehicle's a 93 and something tells me that price you have isn't out of whack to have a good wrench do a guaranteed job. He has to use parts from his supplier who will back him up if you darken his door down the road with a claim on a defective compressor.

Or you can say hey, it's a 13 yr old vehicle. Time for me to try to save a little cash and do it myself. Get the parts from salvage or ebay and so what if it takes you 4 times what the book specs for the job. It'll cost you a lot less than $1600 and you'll be able to come back on here and say I did it myself. :grinyes:

Point well taken. I guess at this point I'd rather leave the expertise to him. I could wrench on it and I know I can do that but he will not guarantee the work and rightfully so. The rest of the Jeep is in great shape...those 6 cyc motors will run forever.

There's no sin in paying a man a fair wage to do a good job.

Just the re-mfg compressor with a clutch was $446 at a local parts store to me. Look up a few more of the big ticket items and you'll get a fair idea of the parts cost for the job.

As far as putting the correct pressure in the system, on older vehicles I've just used the small cans of refrigerant, until no more will go in. I haven't had a problem.

edit: and the systems always worked fine.

Well here we are again and after all that has been replaced it still seems to leak but no one can see any dye under the hood so they are now saying it must be the evaporator that is located in the passengar area under the dashboard...ugh! I looked up the task of removing the dashboard and it is a hugh job and could get rather dicey. If they replace this part of the AIR there is nothing left. It supposedly was replaced by the dealer when we bought the car used since the air did not work right then. It lasted about a year or two and then this same thing of filling the system once a year to get us through and then the saga of replacing everything.
It seems like once they have problems they never stop. I had a Camary for 15 yrs and never once had a problem or had to re-charge it. I also have a 92 Audi and works just fine. Also a Dodge Van and it works fine not re-charging etc..
Is it just bad luck or poor engineering. I can not afford a new Jeep and this one works great other wise.
Anyone got any advice?
What do you think about just re-charging it every year and living with that. To replace the evaporator is about $800

You could recharge the system every year but that is just throwing money away and the evap leak is going to get worse I would just replace the evap core and hopefully you will be good to go. The Evap Core replacement isn't that bad actually, a little time consuming, will probably take you a few hours (3-4), but it's not that bad, I think you emailed me today about the instructions, I sent them to you, you can save alot of money by doing the replacement yourself, but make sure you take it to a shop to have them vacuum down the system (also to recheck to make sure there are no leaks) and recharge the system.

You will be able to see if the system is leaking after you vacuum it down if it loses vacuum after sitting before recharging. Whenever I do any A/C work @ work, I always wait about 30 minutes after the vac to make sure there are no leak. Now you won't be able to see the leak until you add freon and dye but atleast you will no wether you have one or not. also make sure you put a little PAG oil around the O-RINGs of the liquid Line (orifice Tube) and the line to the Accumulator (Reciever/Drier).

Buy yourself a few cans of R12A on Ebay and a tap and put some in every year when needed, you'll come out way ahead in terms of money and also the R12A runs alot colder than the R12 that leaked out.

Filling your a/c with a propane and butane mix with evap leak might not be the best idea, no?

Buy yourself a few cans of R12A on Ebay and a tap and put some in every year when needed, you'll come out way ahead in terms of money and also the R12A runs alot colder than the R12 that leaked out.

I've used the stuff for years, never blew a car up yet.:)

These guys didnt think hydrocarbon refrigerants and a match was a big deal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjtowzVzl_4

I've used the stuff for years, never blew a car up yet.:)

Good video, haha, what idiots! That stuff still works better than R12 though, just gotta use some common sense and hope you don't have a gigantic leak in the evaporator.