The AC in the brick has been non-functioning for a long time. Planning a major road trip this summer and got an ultimatum from the missus that we must have air!
All the component kits I'm seeing consist of unknown manufacturer compressors that I guess are Sanden copies? Does it matter? They're also set up for R134a which I thought was one the way out?
Not finding new hoses for r134, so have to have them custom made? What do shops use, Four Seasons, GPD?
Is R12 or equivalent still available? I can make calls to a couple local shops, but I'm not wanting to pay $1,000 plus for them to do it. I was told around $700 to do my Cherokee XJ over a year ago and that one is easy with the compressor right up top in your face.

Thanks

 

There should be a sticker under your hood that says what refrigernant and how uch it takes. There is a thread in the stickies about somebody refreshing their A/C which I followed but using R-134 in a system originally designed for R-12 will be less that satisfactory IMHO.

Last year I bought some reclaimed R-12 enough for a full recharge which is quite expensive comparably but I haven't installed yet. I have all the other components and compatible oil as well ad flush spray to clean it out. You can buy all of the components other than R-12 at RockAuto or O'Reillys. You need a vacuum pump also to suck the air out and check for leaks.

I got the R-12 off Ebay I think.

 

the newest referigerant is more expensive than r12, the condenser lacks efficiency for r34a, look around for a parallel flow condenser if possible, mine gets down to the 20's in 100 degree heat, wife hates it, this requires a full flush of all components, oreilly sells system as a kit, with flush, oil, referigerant, compressor, dryer, and expansion valve, all r134a compatible, and guarantees system for a year. renewed my truck 10 years ago, works awesome.

 

Thanks for replies.
Talked to one shop and he said yes r134 wont cool as well but didn't think the new condenser would help. He's been doing it a long time. Also says r12 is real expensive and he can't get it. So I'm going r134a and going to bite the bullet and get all new components including parallel flow condenser - except evaporator, I don't want to get into that can of worms again.

 

Year before last I got 11 cans of R12. Not sure if it's enough to do the Duster and the truck. Both need fixing. I have it at the ready.

 

Well, can't find AC lines. Can find them for everything except intercooled diesel. There's one ebay seller that has a kit including new condenser, otherwise no one else has a condenser. Kind of surprising that you can find everything for non-IC but not the intercooled. Everything on the market just old stock and nobody is making new parts?
Will second gen parts work?

 

I needed a line that wasn't available through O'Reilly's so I found an A/C shop in Tulsa that put new hose on my old aluminum ends.

 

All the hose fittings on my lines are painted steel and the ones at the condenser are pretty rusty and crusty! Pulled the lines today but didn't take any pictures.

 

Gotta be a pinhole under one of those barnacles

 

Maybe...There could also be a leak at any other point in the system including the hoses, seals, dryer, liquid line, evaporator, condenser and compressor...One way to know is by recharging the assembled system, and checking every joint and surface with your electronic leak detector...Also I don't remember whether you're using R-12 or R-134a, but bear in mind that R-134a is molecularly smaller than R-12 and can seep through any rubber part that was rated for R-12 only...Rubber parts include any seals at any joints and the shaft seals in the compressor...Good luck......Ben

 

AC hasn't been functional for over 10 years. Replaced heater core and never recharged it. So, have no idea what leaks, just going to replace everything at this point. Except, haven't found the lines and based on experience with other tubing on the truck it has to be rusted through.

 

You don't need to replace the hoses unless they are leaking. You can enhance the performance of the r134a by adding a couple small fans to the condenser. You have to find really slim line 8" pusher fans to add to the condenser. I had to clearance the grille inserts a little but it fits and works pretty good. Do not add too much oil!

 

the lines usually have leaks at single bolt/nut dryer connection, nut one side, pass thru line on other, highest pressure in system is before expansion valve, when they dont seal well ill take a thick washer and bend the edge over and place it under the nut putting angle towards hose to increase pressure to other side of line, another better option would be to have a line made/modded for tube and oring connections changing a better more popular dryer

 

When you mention tube and o-ring connections is that like what my 2000 Cherokee has? I'm thinking staying with the s-709 type compressor and the stock evaporator and changing everything else. Have to figure out size of condenser and plan for future PS intercooler so no room for fans. Whats a good source for parts and info?

 

four seasons is a premium source for oem and universal upgrade components, murray from oreilly has oem but no aftermarket offerings by application, i found my parallel flow condenser on parts geek, ill look to see if i can get the brand and part number, but physically the bigger the better, more rows remove more heat, the oem evaporator is plenty big for the job. also your clutch fan will pull more cfm than any electric will, as long as shroud is doing its job.