'96 GC Air Conditioner Woes

I bought my used '96 Grand in '98. The AC worked fine for about four
years but stopped cooling in '02. I took it to my Jeep dealer and they
fixed it free of charge (I think they replaced the condenser). Things
worked fine for about four years but once again it stopped cooling. I
bought a recharge kit and everything worked ok for about a month than
the AC stopped cooling again. I bought another recharge kit and that
only worked for about a week so it looks like it's back to the dealer .

Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the AC? Do I have to plan on
replacing the condenser every 4 years?


Best Regards,

Marcel

It probably has a leak that is growing worse. Take it to a "real mechanic"
for a leak test


"mlee" > wrote in message
news:yZ0Tf.303$wD1.291@trnddc02...
>I bought my used '96 Grand in '98. The AC worked fine for about four years
>but stopped cooling in '02. I took it to my Jeep dealer and they fixed it
>free of charge (I think they replaced the condenser). Things worked fine
>for about four years but once again it stopped cooling. I bought a recharge
>kit and everything worked ok for about a month than the AC stopped cooling
>again. I bought another recharge kit and that only worked for about a week
>so it looks like it's back to the dealer .
>
> Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the AC? Do I have to plan on
> replacing the condenser every 4 years?
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Marcel

On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 23:46:38 GMT, mlee > wrote:

>I bought my used '96 Grand in '98. The AC worked fine for about four
>years but stopped cooling in '02. I took it to my Jeep dealer and they
>fixed it free of charge (I think they replaced the condenser). Things
>worked fine for about four years but once again it stopped cooling. I
>bought a recharge kit and everything worked ok for about a month than
>the AC stopped cooling again. I bought another recharge kit and that
>only worked for about a week so it looks like it's back to the dealer .
>
>Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the AC? Do I have to plan on
>replacing the condenser every 4 years?
>
>
>Best Regards,
>
>Marcel

The evaporator (under the dash) is what has been going out on the JGC.
I thought they had it fixed by your model. Maybe not. You really
need to go to an A/C shop that knows what they are doing and have the
evaporator checked out. I struggled with A/C problems in our '93
which definitely had the evaporator problem. It was replaced by
Chrysler, but I still had problems about once a year. Finally, I took
it to an A/C shop that does nothing else. They found the problem
right away in the O'rings on the compressor.

Dick

I had one like this, in a Suburban. None of the "Certified AC Service
Centers" I took it to had the brains to do a visual inspection of the rear
AC unit. Guess what was leaking, with oil dripping from a crimped hose
fitting? I figured this out myself, replaced the rear AC hoses, then while
I was at it bought an O-ring kit and replaced all the O-rings in the system
myself. That was interesting. That metering orifice was interesting too.

This guy would be ahead asking an AC shop to replace "all the O-rings and
any hose that looks like it needs it". If one O-ring is leaking the rest
are getting ready.

Earle

"billy ray" > wrote in message
...
> It probably has a leak that is growing worse. Take it to a "real
mechanic"
> for a leak test
>
>
> "mlee" > wrote in message
> news:yZ0Tf.303$wD1.291@trnddc02...
> >I bought my used '96 Grand in '98. The AC worked fine for about four
years
> >but stopped cooling in '02. I took it to my Jeep dealer and they fixed it
> >free of charge (I think they replaced the condenser). Things worked fine
> >for about four years but once again it stopped cooling. I bought a
recharge
> >kit and everything worked ok for about a month than the AC stopped
cooling
> >again. I bought another recharge kit and that only worked for about a
week
> >so it looks like it's back to the dealer .
> >
> > Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the AC? Do I have to plan on
> > replacing the condenser every 4 years?
> >
> >
> > Best Regards,
> >
> > Marcel
>
>

That was probably the problem... you took it to an "ASE Certified
Technician" instead of having a mechanic look at it...

What is the difference you ask?

If you turn a technician loose in a salvage yard with access to a complete
machine shop and every reference book ever written he can build you a
passable lawnmower in six months.

Now give a mechanic 4 wrenches, 2 screw drivers, a hammer, a case of
Hudepohl, and a pouch of Redman and he can build you anything from a patio
set to an ocean liner...

That's the difference..



"Earle Horton" > wrote in message
om...
>I had one like this, in a Suburban. None of the "Certified AC Service
> Centers" I took it to had the brains to do a visual inspection of the rear
> AC unit. Guess what was leaking, with oil dripping from a crimped hose
> fitting? I figured this out myself, replaced the rear AC hoses, then
> while
> I was at it bought an O-ring kit and replaced all the O-rings in the
> system
> myself. That was interesting. That metering orifice was interesting too.
>
> This guy would be ahead asking an AC shop to replace "all the O-rings and
> any hose that looks like it needs it". If one O-ring is leaking the rest
> are getting ready.
>
> Earle
>
> "billy ray" > wrote in message
> ...
>> It probably has a leak that is growing worse. Take it to a "real
> mechanic"
>> for a leak test
>>
>>
>> "mlee" > wrote in message
>> news:yZ0Tf.303$wD1.291@trnddc02...
>> >I bought my used '96 Grand in '98. The AC worked fine for about four
> years
>> >but stopped cooling in '02. I took it to my Jeep dealer and they fixed
>> >it
>> >free of charge (I think they replaced the condenser). Things worked fine
>> >for about four years but once again it stopped cooling. I bought a
> recharge
>> >kit and everything worked ok for about a month than the AC stopped
> cooling
>> >again. I bought another recharge kit and that only worked for about a
> week
>> >so it looks like it's back to the dealer .
>> >
>> > Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the AC? Do I have to plan on
>> > replacing the condenser every 4 years?
>> >
>> >
>> > Best Regards,
>> >
>> > Marcel
>>
>>
>
>

Part of the problem is that you can't work on AC for money without a fancy
charging station and an even fancier EPA permit. This prevents the two
mechanics in town from doing any AC work. I don't have a commercial
business, but the two installations I did for myself more than paid for the
vacuum pump and set of gauges I bought. Don't ask me what happened to the
waste refrigerant. It must have all leaked out.

O-rings are 90% of the problem. It is false economy to save a few dollars
on each system, while giving your customers years and years of repair bill
headache.

Earle

"billy ray" > wrote in message
...
> That was probably the problem... you took it to an "ASE Certified
> Technician" instead of having a mechanic look at it...
>
> What is the difference you ask?
>
> If you turn a technician loose in a salvage yard with access to a complete
> machine shop and every reference book ever written he can build you a
> passable lawnmower in six months.
>
> Now give a mechanic 4 wrenches, 2 screw drivers, a hammer, a case of
> Hudepohl, and a pouch of Redman and he can build you anything from a patio
> set to an ocean liner...
>
> That's the difference..
>
>
>
> "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> om...
> >I had one like this, in a Suburban. None of the "Certified AC Service
> > Centers" I took it to had the brains to do a visual inspection of the
rear
> > AC unit. Guess what was leaking, with oil dripping from a crimped hose
> > fitting? I figured this out myself, replaced the rear AC hoses, then
> > while
> > I was at it bought an O-ring kit and replaced all the O-rings in the
> > system
> > myself. That was interesting. That metering orifice was interesting
too.
> >
> > This guy would be ahead asking an AC shop to replace "all the O-rings
and
> > any hose that looks like it needs it". If one O-ring is leaking the
rest
> > are getting ready.
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "billy ray" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> It probably has a leak that is growing worse. Take it to a "real
> > mechanic"
> >> for a leak test
> >>
> >>
> >> "mlee" > wrote in message
> >> news:yZ0Tf.303$wD1.291@trnddc02...
> >> >I bought my used '96 Grand in '98. The AC worked fine for about four
> > years
> >> >but stopped cooling in '02. I took it to my Jeep dealer and they fixed
> >> >it
> >> >free of charge (I think they replaced the condenser). Things worked
fine
> >> >for about four years but once again it stopped cooling. I bought a
> > recharge
> >> >kit and everything worked ok for about a month than the AC stopped
> > cooling
> >> >again. I bought another recharge kit and that only worked for about a
> > week
> >> >so it looks like it's back to the dealer .
> >> >
> >> > Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the AC? Do I have to plan on
> >> > replacing the condenser every 4 years?
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Best Regards,
> >> >
> >> > Marcel
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

Hi Earle,
It's too bad some car don't advertise their assemble lines take the time
to use flared nuts to bolt everything together to see if their sales don't
go up enough to make it cost effective. As anyone knows the AC's retaining
springs alone give up under dusty conditions in no time at all.
God Bless America, L.W(Bill) Hughes III 0|||||||0

Mailto:LWHughes3rd http://billhughes.com/
"Earle Horton" > wrote in message
om...
> Part of the problem is that you can't work on AC for money without a fancy
> charging station and an even fancier EPA permit. This prevents the two
> mechanics in town from doing any AC work. I don't have a commercial
> business, but the two installations I did for myself more than paid for
the
> vacuum pump and set of gauges I bought. Don't ask me what happened to the
> waste refrigerant. It must have all leaked out.
>
> O-rings are 90% of the problem. It is false economy to save a few dollars
> on each system, while giving your customers years and years of repair bill
> headache.
>
> Earle
>
> "billy ray" > wrote in message
> ...
> > That was probably the problem... you took it to an "ASE Certified
> > Technician" instead of having a mechanic look at it...
> >
> > What is the difference you ask?
> >
> > If you turn a technician loose in a salvage yard with access to a
complete
> > machine shop and every reference book ever written he can build you a
> > passable lawnmower in six months.
> >
> > Now give a mechanic 4 wrenches, 2 screw drivers, a hammer, a case of
> > Hudepohl, and a pouch of Redman and he can build you anything from a
patio
> > set to an ocean liner...
> >
> > That's the difference..
> >
> >
> >
> > "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> > om...
> > >I had one like this, in a Suburban. None of the "Certified AC Service
> > > Centers" I took it to had the brains to do a visual inspection of the
> rear
> > > AC unit. Guess what was leaking, with oil dripping from a crimped
hose
> > > fitting? I figured this out myself, replaced the rear AC hoses, then
> > > while
> > > I was at it bought an O-ring kit and replaced all the O-rings in the
> > > system
> > > myself. That was interesting. That metering orifice was interesting
> too.
> > >
> > > This guy would be ahead asking an AC shop to replace "all the O-rings
> and
> > > any hose that looks like it needs it". If one O-ring is leaking the
> rest
> > > are getting ready.
> > >
> > > Earle
> > >
> > > "billy ray" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > >> It probably has a leak that is growing worse. Take it to a "real
> > > mechanic"
> > >> for a leak test
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> "mlee" > wrote in message
> > >> news:yZ0Tf.303$wD1.291@trnddc02...
> > >> >I bought my used '96 Grand in '98. The AC worked fine for about four
> > > years
> > >> >but stopped cooling in '02. I took it to my Jeep dealer and they
fixed
> > >> >it
> > >> >free of charge (I think they replaced the condenser). Things worked
> fine
> > >> >for about four years but once again it stopped cooling. I bought a
> > > recharge
> > >> >kit and everything worked ok for about a month than the AC stopped
> > > cooling
> > >> >again. I bought another recharge kit and that only worked for about
a
> > > week
> > >> >so it looks like it's back to the dealer .
> > >> >
> > >> > Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the AC? Do I have to plan
on
> > >> > replacing the condenser every 4 years?
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > Best Regards,
> > >> >
> > >> > Marcel
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

The Evaporator on my 97 JGC went last year.


Dick wrote:
> On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 23:46:38 GMT, mlee > wrote:
>
>
>>I bought my used '96 Grand in '98. The AC worked fine for about four
>>years but stopped cooling in '02. I took it to my Jeep dealer and they
>>fixed it free of charge (I think they replaced the condenser). Things
>>worked fine for about four years but once again it stopped cooling. I
>>bought a recharge kit and everything worked ok for about a month than
>>the AC stopped cooling again. I bought another recharge kit and that
>>only worked for about a week so it looks like it's back to the dealer .
>>
>>Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the AC? Do I have to plan on
>>replacing the condenser every 4 years?
>>
>>
>>Best Regards,
>>
>>Marcel
>
>
> The evaporator (under the dash) is what has been going out on the JGC.
> I thought they had it fixed by your model. Maybe not. You really
> need to go to an A/C shop that knows what they are doing and have the
> evaporator checked out. I struggled with A/C problems in our '93
> which definitely had the evaporator problem. It was replaced by
> Chrysler, but I still had problems about once a year. Finally, I took
> it to an A/C shop that does nothing else. They found the problem
> right away in the O'rings on the compressor.
>
> Dick

Are they anything like registered nurses?

http://earlehorton.tripod.com/nurse/letter.tif
http://earlehorton.tripod.com/nurse/finding.tif

Earle

"philthy" > wrote in message
...
> ins't it funny how ase tech are so busy patting them selfs on the bac!!!!
> i can tell u how many i had to explain how to do a voltage drop test
>
> billy ray wrote:
>
> > That was probably the problem... you took it to an "ASE Certified
> > Technician" instead of having a mechanic look at it...
> >
> > What is the difference you ask?
> >
> > If you turn a technician loose in a salvage yard with access to a
complete
> > machine shop and every reference book ever written he can build you a
> > passable lawnmower in six months.
> >
> > Now give a mechanic 4 wrenches, 2 screw drivers, a hammer, a case of
> > Hudepohl, and a pouch of Redman and he can build you anything from a
patio
> > set to an ocean liner...
> >
> > That's the difference..
> >
> > "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> > om...
> > >I had one like this, in a Suburban. None of the "Certified AC Service
> > > Centers" I took it to had the brains to do a visual inspection of the
rear
> > > AC unit. Guess what was leaking, with oil dripping from a crimped
hose
> > > fitting? I figured this out myself, replaced the rear AC hoses, then
> > > while
> > > I was at it bought an O-ring kit and replaced all the O-rings in the
> > > system
> > > myself. That was interesting. That metering orifice was interesting
too.
> > >
> > > This guy would be ahead asking an AC shop to replace "all the O-rings
and
> > > any hose that looks like it needs it". If one O-ring is leaking the
rest
> > > are getting ready.
> > >
> > > Earle
> > >
> > > "billy ray" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > >> It probably has a leak that is growing worse. Take it to a "real
> > > mechanic"
> > >> for a leak test
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> "mlee" > wrote in message
> > >> news:yZ0Tf.303$wD1.291@trnddc02...
> > >> >I bought my used '96 Grand in '98. The AC worked fine for about four
> > > years
> > >> >but stopped cooling in '02. I took it to my Jeep dealer and they
fixed
> > >> >it
> > >> >free of charge (I think they replaced the condenser). Things worked
fine
> > >> >for about four years but once again it stopped cooling. I bought a
> > > recharge
> > >> >kit and everything worked ok for about a month than the AC stopped
> > > cooling
> > >> >again. I bought another recharge kit and that only worked for about
a
> > > week
> > >> >so it looks like it's back to the dealer .
> > >> >
> > >> > Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the AC? Do I have to plan
on
> > >> > replacing the condenser every 4 years?
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > Best Regards,
> > >> >
> > >> > Marcel
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
>

A change like that might make your typical new vehicle go several years
without needing AC service, and would keep the tree-huggers happy too.
Fewer leaks, means less refrigerant released into the atmosphere. The new
stuff, R134a, is supposed to be less harmful to the ozone layer, but it
can't be "good" for it.

As an individual consumer you can't do much, but you *can* be aggressive
(i.e. not stingy) when things have to be repaired. This should make the
system last longer until the next repair stop.

Earle

"L.W. (Bill) Hughes" > wrote in message
news:nj5Tf.1111$5F1.944@fed1read08...
> Hi Earle,
> It's too bad some car don't advertise their assemble lines take the
time
> to use flared nuts to bolt everything together to see if their sales don't
> go up enough to make it cost effective. As anyone knows the AC's retaining
> springs alone give up under dusty conditions in no time at all.
> God Bless America, L.W(Bill) Hughes III 0|||||||0
>
> Mailto:LWHughes3rd http://billhughes.com/
> "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Part of the problem is that you can't work on AC for money without a
fancy
> > charging station and an even fancier EPA permit. This prevents the two
> > mechanics in town from doing any AC work. I don't have a commercial
> > business, but the two installations I did for myself more than paid for
> the
> > vacuum pump and set of gauges I bought. Don't ask me what happened to
the
> > waste refrigerant. It must have all leaked out.
> >
> > O-rings are 90% of the problem. It is false economy to save a few
dollars
> > on each system, while giving your customers years and years of repair
bill
> > headache.
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "billy ray" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > That was probably the problem... you took it to an "ASE Certified
> > > Technician" instead of having a mechanic look at it...
> > >
> > > What is the difference you ask?
> > >
> > > If you turn a technician loose in a salvage yard with access to a
> complete
> > > machine shop and every reference book ever written he can build you a
> > > passable lawnmower in six months.
> > >
> > > Now give a mechanic 4 wrenches, 2 screw drivers, a hammer, a case of
> > > Hudepohl, and a pouch of Redman and he can build you anything from a
> patio
> > > set to an ocean liner...
> > >
> > > That's the difference..
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> > > om...
> > > >I had one like this, in a Suburban. None of the "Certified AC
Service
> > > > Centers" I took it to had the brains to do a visual inspection of
the
> > rear
> > > > AC unit. Guess what was leaking, with oil dripping from a crimped
> hose
> > > > fitting? I figured this out myself, replaced the rear AC hoses,
then
> > > > while
> > > > I was at it bought an O-ring kit and replaced all the O-rings in the
> > > > system
> > > > myself. That was interesting. That metering orifice was
interesting
> > too.
> > > >
> > > > This guy would be ahead asking an AC shop to replace "all the
O-rings
> > and
> > > > any hose that looks like it needs it". If one O-ring is leaking the
> > rest
> > > > are getting ready.
> > > >
> > > > Earle
> > > >
> > > > "billy ray" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > >> It probably has a leak that is growing worse. Take it to a "real
> > > > mechanic"
> > > >> for a leak test
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> "mlee" > wrote in message
> > > >> news:yZ0Tf.303$wD1.291@trnddc02...
> > > >> >I bought my used '96 Grand in '98. The AC worked fine for about
four
> > > > years
> > > >> >but stopped cooling in '02. I took it to my Jeep dealer and they
> fixed
> > > >> >it
> > > >> >free of charge (I think they replaced the condenser). Things
worked
> > fine
> > > >> >for about four years but once again it stopped cooling. I bought a
> > > > recharge
> > > >> >kit and everything worked ok for about a month than the AC stopped
> > > > cooling
> > > >> >again. I bought another recharge kit and that only worked for
about
> a
> > > > week
> > > >> >so it looks like it's back to the dealer .
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the AC? Do I have to
plan
> on
> > > >> > replacing the condenser every 4 years?
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Best Regards,
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Marcel
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>