2005 Caravan SE 2.4. 48k(yes- 48k)
Replaced rack, otherwise drives great
AC not cold. Local shop says metal bits (?)
in system ; need new compressor and should replace evaporator etc (kit).
I have another car, but this van has a Bruno lift for mobility scooter. Should I get another opinion & estimate? Not fix & use it October- March (wife needs ac). Sell ?
Thanks for help.
It is a Chrysler product, after all, but you may want to get a 2nd opinion.
If there actually are metal chunks in the air conditioner, you'd need a complete replacement of really everything in the system, not just a compressor and evaporator, metal fragments really only enter your system if someone blew up the compressor, everything else that's metal is plumbing or housings, and is fixed in place. Blowing up a compressor would only happen if it ran with no lubrication, or it was way overfilled and the safety switches failed in both instances. You'd know it if you blew it up. Most of the damage from a compressor failure will be in the condenser, which is in front of the radiator and immediately downstream of the compressor, not the evaporator. That's on the complete opposite side of the system.
At that mileage, I'd keep it until closer to 100k, change transmission fluid now and that will help prolong the tranny life, that's the first thing that dies in Chrysler minivans. Just baby the thing and it should last a little while. That was made before Fiat bought Chrysler, so it has somewhat better quality than these new minivans. My mom had a 2001 Caravan. The water pump blew up around 113k when it was 10 years old, so you may want to check out those kinds of things.
If I left the ac alone and if there is metal shavings or bits; would this affect the heater system ? Thanks 😊
Nope, it won't! The heater runs on a completely separate system. It runs on the engine's hot coolant. As long as your temp control doors in the dash work correctly, and the heater core has coolant flowing through it, the heat will work!
One caveat to that. The ac probably runs during defrost mode, at least some of the time. Could cause the compressor to lock up and throw the belt.
That is a possibility. In my experience, the compressor won't engage if there isn't enough pressure in the system to allow the switch to engage. My 1999 Ford Ranger wouldn't run the compressor without refrigerant on defrost before I repaired the A/C. I'm sure a Chrysler product works in a similar manner. That wpuld come down to whether or not there is actually refrigerant in the system.
Disconnect the compressor clutch and it can't engage, the clutch pulley will just act as an idler.
I would get another opinion and estimate just for the simple fact that you can never be too sure. especially if you need this vehicle. never know might find some help for a fraction of what the other guy is charging
I would definitely get a second opinion, that will be a very expensive repair. Maybe ask the folks working at your local parts stores who they recommend for A/C work.
