When I bought my 01 a few weeks ago , guy said he just charged AC and blew cold . Now it's hot. Does that mean I need a new compressor ? Thanks

 

could mean a few things. I recommend taking it to a shop and having them test it to see if there is a leak somewhere. probably just lost the coolant, but thats my 2 cents.

 

unless you have done ac work b4 let a shop check it out

 

you're lucky, my a/c doesn't even work

 

if you are an AC novice about the only thing you can do is check the high low switch. But it sounds like you have a leak, so shop bound you must be.

 

its about to be november, roll the window down lol

if it blew cold now it blows hot, it means it has a leak, someone recharged it, and it all leaked back out.

 

I'm fine With the windows down, its the wife that is not. Haha. I can throw on a lift, change oil and most other jobs. But I know nothing about AC. Do shops charge to look at it generally? Is it expensive to fix if it's a leak? And last of they tell me what it is can I then do my self, or are they using special equipment ? Thanks

 

Flex, you definitely have a A/C leak.

Here are the components for an A/C system

Condenser (in front of radiator, looks like another radiator).
Compressor.
Evaporator/Drier....canister near the compressor.
Compressor Drier valve (square silver metal box where A/C hard lines go into).
A/C lines and hoses.

Where you have a leak is probably;

A. Condenser had a rock or stick hit it while driving anywhere causing a crack or split between the vanes (similar to a radiator crack etc.)

B. Compressor internals are worn (causing R134 to leak out)

C. Any one of the A/C lines o-rings where they attach to Compressor, or Condenser, or drier valve, or evaporator/Drier.

D. Drier valve is shot.

E. One of the A/C lines is split or corroded and has a hole in it.

A shop will charge for a pound of refrigerant during a test, and then will use a dye to isolate where leak is. Now, depending on where leak is..
IF you are lucky, its only an o-ring and they will charge about $60 bucks for labor for the hour, plus the charge for refrigerant used and to evacuate the system.
EVACUATION of the A/C system is REQUIRED once a component is replaced on an Automotive A/C system!

Now, if you have a working relationship with a shop which specializes in A/C repair,,, you can have them identify your component failure, then you can buy whatever replacement part and bring back to them to have them install it.

What I did, Is I fully charged my A/C and then while parked ran the A/C full blast and sniffed around the engine compartment and listened also.
I found that I had a hole in my condenser (saw it hissing out and smelled it too [ CAREFUL!!! R-134 is TOXIC TO BREATHE!]),,,,sooooooo....I bought one from rockauto.com.......installed it myself, with new o-rings everywhere there is one.....then brought to a shop whom I know does auto A/C.. had them evac and test. They found the system was ok, and I told them I had put new condenser in, so they only charged me for pressure test, evac, and fill of the system.....it cost me $120.00 bucks.
It would have cost me $600 had I let them find the leak, order the condenser, take the old one out, put the new one in and pressure test, evac and fill. (etc etc etc)

SO Flex, depending on your threshold of pain (i.e. $$$$$),
study your system, get a good visual of the components in the Jeep, see if you have any wetness near any of the connection fittings on compressor, or drier, or drier valve etc etc.
and make your decision.

good luck sir!

cpnwrench

 

Thanks! what is the deal with $20 leak finder/sealer and recharge can... Is that just crap? thanks

 

you can try it, but from what you wrote originally the fact that the PO charged it up and the next day (approx) there was no cold air...you have bigger problem than a can-o-wizard can do!

cpnwrench

 

Check the evaporator. Mine had a leak! Bad news. You have to pull the dash to fix!

 

Damn, How did you decide that was the issue? Also did you find any pics or a write up on this?

 

ive used it before on my XJ. worked great. my dad was having A/C problems with his SUV and he recharged it himself but he has to do it monthly since there is a leak. there is an additive that will seep out of any crack so you can see if there is a leak. but if there is not leak, the 134a recharge cans work great. mine still blows cold air 5 months later.

 

Look at the weep hole located on the passenger side firewall. The hole has a small black rubber L shaped tube about the diameter of your little finger.The L shape is only a couple inches long. This hole is used to provide a way for moisture generated by the "sweat" of the A/C operation to get out. I had a greenish looking discharge coming out from the A/C discharge hole. It charges OK and runs for awhile then blows hot. Light green looking moisture coming out of the weep hole. Hence bad evaporator.