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This is my first post, but I have been reading along for quite a while now and I have learned a lot from you guys. Anyway, I have a '97 Expy and the A/C is not cooling. The dealer said that I am going to need a new A/C compressor, but I don't want to fork over $1,000 (according to the dealer) for something that I may not need. I know how many of you feel about letting a dealer or anyone else for that matter work on your Expy, but I can't do the work myself and I just don't want to get screwed. Any advice on how I could find out for myself what really needs to be done to fix my A/C would be aprreciated. Thanks.
Can you describe in detail a little better what is happening. Does the compressor turn on at all? Does the clutch cycle on and off?
If your not used to working on ac systems, they are not like anything else. Charging one is not as simple as just "toping off" the fluid. Do yourself a favor and take it to another shop. Some places will do a free diagnostic.
Does your truck have rear air ? They have an awfully big cabin and the second air unit really helps. I know on mine when it is really hot, I need to run the rear jst to get it to cool down. once the inside gets cool, it gets almost too cold.
I had the same problem with my expo, not sure if yours is like this, my expo would not blow cold air with the ac on and it only blew warm air with the heat on, it turned out to be my inner dashboard housing, one of the doors was getting stuck between cold and hot therefore it was blowing warm ait all the time, it cost about 600 to get fixed. this happened two days after i got the truck and the dealership completely blew me off.
You might to check out the refrigerant levels first, and if low, to see about any leaks. Wally Mart has a complete re-charge kit for less than $35.00. I think they also sell a "leak detector" can too.
Make sure the fuses and relays are okay too.
I'm currently Expy-less, but looking into a used one soon.
My 97 EB Expy is blowing warm air in the front and cool air in the back...Brought it to the dealer and they told me it was the blend door and actuator...The cheapest i found a dealer to do it for me was $675 parts and labor...BTW i got more than one opinion about what was wrong and 2 of the 3 diagnosed the blend door and actuator...There other one told me the orifice tube which the other two eliminated by checking that oiece of themselves.
If your mechanically inclined and have lots of time and patience then this is a job you can do. Otherwise get a qualified mechanic to do the work for you. The dash will have to come out and it takes lots of time to carefully remove the dash without getting pissed off and wanting to jerk the thing apart. Botom line if you don't have the time or patience then its money well spent to pay a qualified mechanic to do the work for you.