QuestionQUESTION: We have a 2003 Dodge Durango SXT this summer we noticed that the a.c. was not blowing out cold air. A mechanic friend found a leak, repaired that and the a.c. worked for a few days and then no more. This mechanic referred me to another mechanic who replaced my discharge hose. Again, I had about three days of a.c. but it gradually got less and less cool until there was nothing left. I don't know how much more I want to spend, but I really miss my a.c. Thanks!
ANSWER: Coincidently I own a 2003 R/T 5.9. Love the truck, its black and AC is a must.
Sounds like you have a leak somewhere. Is yours equipped with rear AC? Did the tech add a dye to the system when it was charged to help find leaks? This would be on your bill.
Wayne
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Wayne,
Thanks for your response. Yes, dye was added. The original mechanic found a leak outside (I know very little about cars, but the dye was outside of the compressor - at least, what I think was the compressor. I could see the dye) He fixed that and added the coolant. Then, when it stopped working again,the second mechanic found a leak in the discharge hose and fixed that. It does sound like yet another leak, but where in the heck could it be and how could we suddenly have so many leaks.
Regarding rear AC - do you mean in the back of the SUV or something else? Told you, I know little about cars!
This is the first time we have had to spend any money on the Durango besides things like brakes, tires, and oil changes and it still really runs well, so we would like to keep it going awhile.
Thanks again for your help!
Answer I have had decent luck with my truck over the years I have owned it. I would not want however to know how much fuel I have put through it. With work, kids in hockey and a busy schedule I bet I have spent more time in front of the pumps than in front of the television.
What I mean by rear AC is does it have Rear passenger heat and AC controls?
Durango's (as well as ALL other chrysler products) have major problems with the evaporators. The evaporator is a component that sits inside of the dash and the refrigerant enters it as a liquid and evaporates to a vapor. This process repeats it self over and over and just like sweat evaporating on your skin cools you off the process removes heat and humidity from the air in the vehicle. (That's a pretty simple explanation anyway)
The unfortunate thing is A:evaporators are expensive (200-400) and the labor is crazy. In most cases for most vehicles the entire dash has to be removed. Its a crappy job and none of us like to find the leaks in evaporators. It means your back is going to be sore for a few days.
There is one small glimmer of hope though. Once it has been identified that one or both are leaking you can use a AC stop leak. They don't repair discharge high side leaks but they DO repair evaporator and some condenser leaks. It is very important that a deep vacuum is pulled on the system before adding the stop leak. It will not work if it is just 'added' on top of the refrigerant that is in the system already. I have much experience making stop leak work to try and help people out.
In the case of older vehicles I don't recommend expensive AC repairs but you might be able to breath one more spark of life into it. If you put lipstick on a donkey...Its still a donkey...
Wayne
