Cost to fix air conditioning

[Teddie]

Hi, have not been on here for a while, but I hope everyone is doing well.

The vehicle I have questions about is 1995 Voyager with the 3 Litre V6.

My mechanic says that repairing the air conditioning will cost about $1,000 and that those vans (2nd generation) go through air conditioning compressors like a crack whore goes through cocaine. Not his exact words, I made up the analogy. The problem is that the condenser was ruined by a Deer collision, the van has gone through 6 or so compressors in its 17 year life, and this is what more annoyed me. "No telling how much damage has been caused by having the system open to the elements." So, is it normal for these vans to eat air conditioning compressors, is there a cheaper way to get the system working, and what damage could have been caused by having the system open to the elements? I rather not be stuck in the Northeast for the Summer and I might be going to college in Florida.

Is there are any good place to get hubcaps for these vans or should I just give up? Rock Auto does not have them, the reconditioned ones I got online are falling apart, and none of the junkyards around here have them. I can put Subaru hubcaps on, but it just does not look right.

Aye, yie, yie, keeping an older vehicle going is hard at times.

[mishalah]

Your experience isn't normal. The repeated replacements tells me that your system has metal shavings in it. If a compressor destructs, there is gonna be garbage left from it. If the system just leaks and the compressor quits doing its job that's no big deal. But yours has to be full of contaminants or the installation was done wrong and/or the oil level was incorrect.

I recently replaced my original compressor and drier on my '96 T&C with over 140K miles on it (and 15 years). Mine has been run constantly since I brought it to Vegas in 2001, so I think they can survive if taken care of.

If you want to R&R yours again you need to flush that whole system thoroghly, vacuum the crap out of it, and start over. BTW: I get my compressors/driers for less than $200 and have used Enviro-Safe (substitute for R-134) for most of its years.

[mishalah]

Just checked my log again: I did not have to replace any components in the system (was thinking of my wife's '96 Sable wagon), but because it wasn't cooling the van when it was 100+ outside I vacuumed it down, checked for leaks, and refilled it with the ES. It's worked pefectly since last year.

If only the rest of the van was that dependable. I have replaced every engine accessory at least once, all suspension components, all brake components, the BCM, stereo head unit, transmission TWICE, and a ridiculous number of tires (due to the crap that Pep Boys sells -- even the Goodyears), the radiator, and a few things forgotten....but that a/c system is still original. I do think the ES gas, which is much lighter and creates less pressure/stress on the compressor, does make a difference. And, now it is much cheaper since R-134 has been reformulated and doubled in price (thank you, DuPont).