1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport A/C (valve, buy, replace, Texas)

[TFW46]

I have a wonderful little (2-door) 1998 Jeep Cherokee that I bought new in 1997. The a/c recently went out and my honest (yes) repair shop replaced the compressor and drier etal. After all that was done, the a/c worked, although the car always felt like it was straining when the a/c was on. I also always had to run the a/c on the highest level in order to cool off the car.

Then, less than a week later, I heard a single light clink noise and the a/c stopped working again. The repair shop now says that the condenser needs to be replaced.

I trust these guys (they've always done right by me in the past) but I wonder if they should have replaced the condenser at the same time as the compressor etal. Or is there something else going on? Doesnt it seem unusual to have to replace the compressor etal one week and then the condenser the next?

Thanks!

[M3 Mitch]

Possible that the compressor damage put debris into the system, and it took till now to do it's dirty work.

Did the system come as R12 or R 134? Almost certainly they put in R134 this time, which does not necessarily cool as well.

Ask them if the system was dirty when they opened it, tell them to go ahead and flush it good, that you are more interested in a lasting repair than in what it costs today (assuming that's true).

[TFW46]

Thanks so much, M3 Mitch! Yes, I'm all for maintaining the car as well as possible, even if it costs more -- because that usually ends up costing less (in $$$ and frustration) in the long run. I'll ask them if the system was dirty and, if so, will have them flush it.

I'm sure the system was an R12 since the car was 13+ years old and has never required any a/c work. And, yes, I know they had to replace it with an R134, which doesnt cool as well. But that wouldnt cause the car to strain so much when running the a/c this past week, would it? I know, very well, how my car feels and sounds. I originally wondered if I might be having transmission problems but the straining was evident only when the a/c was on.

[motormaker]

Pretty sure it has 134.

[M3 Mitch]

It may be worthwhile to consider a larger than stock condenser if they can get one, if you are lucky there is one available for your Jeep.

Although - I would think a 1998 model would have come with R-134 from the factory.

If it did not come with R134, you may want to think about replacing the rubber hoses with some intended for 134, you may want to think about new hoses anyway if they are deteriorated at all.

[Gimme3steps]

R-12 was last produced December 31, 1995. Your 98 model has R-134.

[motormaker]

Looks like 1994 134a became mandatory.

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by Gimme3steps

R-12 was last produced December 31, 1995. Your 98 model has R-134.

But you can still buy it.

[TFW46]

The repair shop just called me. They put in a new condenser. That didnt solve the problem. They put in another new compressor. That didnt solve the problem. New liquid lines. The freon still isnt circulating. So I'm carless again for the weekend. I just hope they can get the A/C fixed, period.

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by texasfirewheel

The repair shop just called me. They put in a new condenser. That didnt solve the problem. They put in another new compressor. That didnt solve the problem. New liquid lines. The freon still isnt circulating. So I'm carless again for the weekend. I just hope they can get the A/C fixed, period.

This does not sound good for a professional shop - offhand the expansion valve or tube may be plugged, but these guys should be able to check for clear lines when the system is open.

Throwing new parts at a problem hoping to stumble into the right answer is what I call "Easter egging" and is more typical of the worst shade-tree mechanics.