Rear air conditioning

['97ventureowner]

One of my Venture vans came equipped with air conditioning in the rear of the vehicle. Last year when I went to recharge the system, everything seemed fine right after the procedure. However, the next day, it was blowing warm air again. The guy that did the recharge tested the system, and said there was a leak somewhere. He then added that he has seen many vans in our area that have rear air conditioning tend to leak in the lines under the van that service the back. Our area uses a lot of road salt and that tends to corrode the lines. My question is: If I take it in to have it checked out next Spring, and it is found to have a leak in one of these rear lines, can I somehow disconnect the rear system, and re-route the lines and only use the front system? I haven't yet checked into how much the lines cost, but I'm sure they are expensive. And I figure I can do without air conditioning in the back of my van if it is cost prohibitive to repair. Anybody have any info on this situation they can share? Thanks!

[smithte]

I had the same problem with my 1998 Venture. The leak was located in the rear, so the mechaniic cut the piece out and installed a rubber flex hose with a connector at each end( got it off of an A/C installer). He came up with is idea and had some success. Mine did not leak for a year, when it started to blow warm air again, he ended up cutting and capping it.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by smithte

I had the same problem with my 1998 Venture. The leak was located in the rear, so the mechaniic cut the piece out and installed a rubber flex hose with a connector at each end( got it off of an A/C installer). He came up with is idea and had some success. Mine did not leak for a year, when it started to blow warm air again, he ended up cutting and capping it.

So what you are saying is that you were successful in capping off the rear a/c and only running the front? Are you only using the front a/c now? And where did your mechanic cut and cap the line?