'96 GC Air Conditioning woes

the AC on my '96 Grand Cherokee has been blowing warm air so I took it
to a local reputiable AC mechanic to have it fixed.

His diagnosis:

Replace evaporator (leaking)
Replace discharge hose (leaking)
Replace what he called the "bendar motor"

His estimate was $1700.00!!!!!!

I just can't afford that right now but I live in Florida and the summer
is almost here so I'm looking for a cheaper alternative.

Is the above described work something I could do myself? What would it
cost me to purchase the items I need to replace.

Any suggestions would be very welcome.


Best Regards,

Marcel

There is no such thing as a "bendar motor". Are you sure he didn't say
"blower motor"? If you have a leaking evaporator and hose, you would be
wise to have all the O-rings replaced at the same time.

You can not do the work yourself, unless you are exceptional and have access
to some expensive tools. After the repairs have been made, the system needs
to be evacuated, and filled with the precise amount of refrigerant.

You can buy a "recharge kit" at many automotive parts stores. This will
contain a can of perhaps 12 oz. of refrigerant, with a hose to dispense it
into the system. This is not a permanent fix, and results are not assured,
but many people have used it as a "temporary" fix. Availability depends on
the laws of your state.

Earle

"mlee" > wrote in message
news:8kS%f.216$yQ.72@trnddc07...
> the AC on my '96 Grand Cherokee has been blowing warm air so I took it
> to a local reputiable AC mechanic to have it fixed.
>
> His diagnosis:
>
> Replace evaporator (leaking)
> Replace discharge hose (leaking)
> Replace what he called the "bendar motor"
>
> His estimate was $1700.00!!!!!!
>
> I just can't afford that right now but I live in Florida and the summer
> is almost here so I'm looking for a cheaper alternative.
>
> Is the above described work something I could do myself? What would it
> cost me to purchase the items I need to replace.
>
> Any suggestions would be very welcome.
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Marcel

mlee did pass the time by typing:
> the AC on my '96 Grand Cherokee has been blowing warm air so I took it
> to a local reputiable AC mechanic to have it fixed.
>
> His diagnosis:
>
> Replace evaporator (leaking)

This is not a good thing. It takes quite a bit of effort to
get at the evaporator.

> Replace discharge hose (leaking)

o-rings probably. Look for grease/dirt around the fittings.
A bit of oil escapes with the R134a and traps dirt.
Resist the urge to overtighten the banjo bolts on the AC
compressor, they are into very weak aluminum.

> Replace what he called the "bendar motor"

Blend-Air motor. This is the doodad that moves the
damper between cold and hot or the cooling coil and heater core.
They can go bad but it's not usual. They do stick and wear, but
it's not common.

> His estimate was $1700.00!!!!!!
>
> I just can't afford that right now but I live in Florida and the summer
> is almost here so I'm looking for a cheaper alternative.
>
> Is the above described work something I could do myself? What would it
> cost me to purchase the items I need to replace.

Check the recall first.

Generally AC work is hard for the backyard mechanic to do because of the
equipment required to pump the system down if you replace major parts
and the evaporator is a MAJOR part.

Given the evaporator might be leaking the price (based on hours of work)
isn't that far out there. Getting that part out is a bitch of a job.

What you could do is get a R134a recharge kit with pressure gauge and put
some more coolant in there. It will leak out again but at least your AC
will probably work for a few more years. (all depends how much of a leak
you have.)

--
DougW

In my experience, which isn't all that much but it is something, if you have
a leak that is enough to stop your AC from working, then one of those
recharge kits is good for a season, maybe. Still, if you don't have the
money this year, but you might have it next year, it will be a good
investment. Especially if you live in Florida.

Where I live, if you are too hot, just drive up hill. ;^)

Earle

"DougW" > wrote in message
news:aiT%f.10692$IZ2.4133@dukeread07...
> mlee did pass the time by typing:
> > the AC on my '96 Grand Cherokee has been blowing warm air so I took it
> > to a local reputiable AC mechanic to have it fixed.
> >
> > His diagnosis:
> >
> > Replace evaporator (leaking)
>
> This is not a good thing. It takes quite a bit of effort to
> get at the evaporator.
>
> > Replace discharge hose (leaking)
>
> o-rings probably. Look for grease/dirt around the fittings.
> A bit of oil escapes with the R134a and traps dirt.
> Resist the urge to overtighten the banjo bolts on the AC
> compressor, they are into very weak aluminum.
>
> > Replace what he called the "bendar motor"
>
> Blend-Air motor. This is the doodad that moves the
> damper between cold and hot or the cooling coil and heater core.
> They can go bad but it's not usual. They do stick and wear, but
> it's not common.
>
> > His estimate was $1700.00!!!!!!
> >
> > I just can't afford that right now but I live in Florida and the summer
> > is almost here so I'm looking for a cheaper alternative.
> >
> > Is the above described work something I could do myself? What would it
> > cost me to purchase the items I need to replace.
>
> Check the recall first.
>
> Generally AC work is hard for the backyard mechanic to do because of the
> equipment required to pump the system down if you replace major parts
> and the evaporator is a MAJOR part.
>
> Given the evaporator might be leaking the price (based on hours of work)
> isn't that far out there. Getting that part out is a bitch of a job.
>
> What you could do is get a R134a recharge kit with pressure gauge and put
> some more coolant in there. It will leak out again but at least your AC
> will probably work for a few more years. (all depends how much of a leak
> you have.)
>
> --
> DougW
>
>

On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 19:01:24 GMT, mlee > wrote:

>the AC on my '96 Grand Cherokee has been blowing warm air so I took it
>to a local reputiable AC mechanic to have it fixed.
>
>His diagnosis:
>
>Replace evaporator (leaking)
>Replace discharge hose (leaking)
>Replace what he called the "bendar motor"
>
>His estimate was $1700.00!!!!!!
>
>I just can't afford that right now but I live in Florida and the summer
>is almost here so I'm looking for a cheaper alternative.
>
>Is the above described work something I could do myself? What would it
>cost me to purchase the items I need to replace.
>
>Any suggestions would be very welcome.
>
>
>Best Regards,
>
>Marcel

As others have pointed out, replacing the evaporator is a MAJOR job.
It took the dealer an entire day, and they knew what they were doing.
It involves taking out the entire dash among other things. You really
don't want to try to do it yourself. Never got all the rattles out of
the dash after that. Even today.

When our evaporator was replaced in 1994, it cost over $1,000. I'm
sure it's a lot more now. Between rebuilding the compressor head
(O'Rings), replacing the hose and heater motor, I'm sure what you were
quoted is not out of line.

Dick

What your dash must have looked like:
http://www.billhughes.com/jeepDashRemoved.jpg
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O


RAH wrote:
>
> As others have pointed out, replacing the evaporator is a MAJOR job.
> It took the dealer an entire day, and they knew what they were doing.
> It involves taking out the entire dash among other things. You really
> don't want to try to do it yourself. Never got all the rattles out of
> the dash after that. Even today.
>
> When our evaporator was replaced in 1994, it cost over $1,000. I'm
> sure it's a lot more now. Between rebuilding the compressor head
> (O'Rings), replacing the hose and heater motor, I'm sure what you were
> quoted is not out of line.
>
> Dick

Not a pretty sight.

Dick

On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 18:15:23 -0700, "L.W.(Bill) Hughes III"
> wrote:

> What your dash must have looked like:
>http://www.billhughes.com/jeepDashRemoved.jpg
> God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O

>
>RAH wrote:
>>
>> As others have pointed out, replacing the evaporator is a MAJOR job.
>> It took the dealer an entire day, and they knew what they were doing.
>> It involves taking out the entire dash among other things. You really
>> don't want to try to do it yourself. Never got all the rattles out of
>> the dash after that. Even today.
>>
>> When our evaporator was replaced in 1994, it cost over $1,000. I'm
>> sure it's a lot more now. Between rebuilding the compressor head
>> (O'Rings), replacing the hose and heater motor, I'm sure what you were
>> quoted is not out of line.
>>
>> Dick

Ok, I have read in a few places that the blend air door is defective
which effectively stops the AC from working because it won't go from
'heat' mode to AC mode under the dash.

I believe it is also vacuum operated and the vacuum line can become
disconnected. Hear any strange hisses or have any other vacuum related
things that work slowly?

I am wondering if this is all that is wrong?

If you turn on the AC and things under the hood appear to work, than
maybe it's just that door?

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

mlee wrote:
>
> the AC on my '96 Grand Cherokee has been blowing warm air so I took it
> to a local reputiable AC mechanic to have it fixed.
>
> His diagnosis:
>
> Replace evaporator (leaking)
> Replace discharge hose (leaking)
> Replace what he called the "bendar motor"
>
> His estimate was $1700.00!!!!!!
>
> I just can't afford that right now but I live in Florida and the summer
> is almost here so I'm looking for a cheaper alternative.
>
> Is the above described work something I could do myself? What would it
> cost me to purchase the items I need to replace.
>
> Any suggestions would be very welcome.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Marcel

Billy Ray,

I figure the leak just started in the past year, and then drained down the
system, to the point that it would not cool. That is my experience with
leaks anyway. It is unrealistic in the extreme, to expect that a recharge
can is going to give another ten years of service. Otoh, they cost a lot
less than $1,700.00!

Earle

"billy ray" > wrote in message
...
> His Jeep is 10 years old. If the leak took 10 years to show up then the
> leak is pretty slow...
>
>
> "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> om...
> > In my experience, which isn't all that much but it is something, if you
> have
> > a leak that is enough to stop your AC from working, then one of those
> > recharge kits is good for a season, maybe. Still, if you don't have the
> > money this year, but you might have it next year, it will be a good
> > investment. Especially if you live in Florida.
> >
> > Where I live, if you are too hot, just drive up hill. ;^)
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "DougW" > wrote in message
> > news:aiT%f.10692$IZ2.4133@dukeread07...
> > > mlee did pass the time by typing:
> > > > the AC on my '96 Grand Cherokee has been blowing warm air so I took
it
> > > > to a local reputiable AC mechanic to have it fixed.
> > > >
> > > > His diagnosis:
> > > >
> > > > Replace evaporator (leaking)
> > >
> > > This is not a good thing. It takes quite a bit of effort to
> > > get at the evaporator.
> > >
> > > > Replace discharge hose (leaking)
> > >
> > > o-rings probably. Look for grease/dirt around the fittings.
> > > A bit of oil escapes with the R134a and traps dirt.
> > > Resist the urge to overtighten the banjo bolts on the AC
> > > compressor, they are into very weak aluminum.
> > >
> > > > Replace what he called the "bendar motor"
> > >
> > > Blend-Air motor. This is the doodad that moves the
> > > damper between cold and hot or the cooling coil and heater core.
> > > They can go bad but it's not usual. They do stick and wear, but
> > > it's not common.
> > >
> > > > His estimate was $1700.00!!!!!!
> > > >
> > > > I just can't afford that right now but I live in Florida and the
> summer
> > > > is almost here so I'm looking for a cheaper alternative.
> > > >
> > > > Is the above described work something I could do myself? What would
it
> > > > cost me to purchase the items I need to replace.
> > >
> > > Check the recall first.
> > >
> > > Generally AC work is hard for the backyard mechanic to do because of
the
> > > equipment required to pump the system down if you replace major parts
> > > and the evaporator is a MAJOR part.
> > >
> > > Given the evaporator might be leaking the price (based on hours of
work)
> > > isn't that far out there. Getting that part out is a bitch of a job.
> > >
> > > What you could do is get a R134a recharge kit with pressure gauge and
> put
> > > some more coolant in there. It will leak out again but at least your
AC
> > > will probably work for a few more years. (all depends how much of a
> leak
> > > you have.)
> > >
> > > --
> > > DougW
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

That actually makes it look easy. What the picture doesn't show, is how
many connections and how many fasteners you have to remove, to get to that
point. I'll bet, it's a few.

Earle

"L.W.(Bill) Hughes III" > wrote in message
...
> What your dash must have looked like:
> http://www.billhughes.com/jeepDashRemoved.jpg
> God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
>
>
> RAH wrote:
> >
> > As others have pointed out, replacing the evaporator is a MAJOR job.
> > It took the dealer an entire day, and they knew what they were doing.
> > It involves taking out the entire dash among other things. You really
> > don't want to try to do it yourself. Never got all the rattles out of
> > the dash after that. Even today.
> >
> > When our evaporator was replaced in 1994, it cost over $1,000. I'm
> > sure it's a lot more now. Between rebuilding the compressor head
> > (O'Rings), replacing the hose and heater motor, I'm sure what you were
> > quoted is not out of line.
> >
> > Dick