2007 AC needs replaced

[mike]

The AC in our '07 Liberty hasn't worked for about 10 years. I recently decided it needs to. I plan to have a local mechanic replace everything AC related, so that it's all new. What needs to be replaced? Any specific brand? Or brand to avoid? By the way, we live in Colorado Springs, CO. The Jeep rarely gets driven, less than 1,500 miles a year.

 

[lfhoward]

I’m in a similar place, where my AC hasn’t worked in about 2 years. My compressor is about 2 years old, but the AC only worked for a few months after replacing that. All of the other components are original to 2007. I noticed that Rock Auto has the entire system for sale. I don’t know about the quality of the parts though. I’ll be interested to see where you get your parts from.

 

[JeepJeepster]

I've only completely replaced the A/C system on 1 Jeep and I used Four Seasons. Its working good so far. Ordered it from Summit racing and had a heck of a time getting the parts undamaged. They direct shipped the parts from Four Seasons, so it wasn't their fault at all, and they did everything they could to make it right. I purchased the extended warranty through Summit since most everything is junk now a days.

 

[mike]

I’m in a similar place, where my AC hasn’t worked in about 2 years. My compressor is about 2 years old, but the AC only worked for a few months after replacing that. All of the other components are original to 2007. I noticed that Rock Auto has the entire system for sale. I don’t know about the quality of the parts though. I’ll be interested to see where you get your parts from.

Thanks ifhoward. I saw the sale at RA, that's what inspired me to do something. That and the fact that the Jeep was our only car for about a week (the 2021 Escape was in the shop getting hail damage repaired). If I remember right, the brand of the stuff on sale at RA is Nissen. I've never heard of that brand before, but I don't know anything about AC!
Thanks again!

 

[mike]

I've only completely replaced the A/C system on 1 Jeep and I used Four Seasons. Its working good so far. Ordered it from Summit racing and has a heck of a time getting the parts undamaged. They direct shipped the parts from Four Seasons, so it wasn't their fault at all, and they did everything they could to make it right. I purchased the extended warranty through Summit since most everything is junk now a days.

What parts would you suggest replacing? I pretty much want an entire new system. The Jeep has less than 80,000 miles, shows no rust (lives in a carport in Colorado Springs), had a good report from Blackstone, so I expect it to last a while. I like that there was an extended warranty available when you bought the system, would you purchase the extended warranty if you had to replace the AC system again? Did the Four Seasons brand of parts seem good? I know nothing about the AC in a vehicle, I pretty much know nothing about HVAC in general!

 

[burntkat]

I'm in the same place, wurh my 05. Here is what I ordered from Rock Auto...
Add a seal kit for a whopping 6 bucks, just in case...
My son is about to make $400 in side work off me alone.... After he made $200 doing 4 tires and an alignment earlier this month....

EDIT - haven't had a functional AC in a vehicle for longer than 2 weeks..... In 30 years... In South Carolina. I may be getting soft in my old age, after I spent 3 hours covering 25 miles to get home this week owing to RR Xing work...in a black Jeep with the thermometer in the vent reading 135 degrees...

 

[burntkat]

I noticed that Rock Auto has the entire system for sale. I don’t know about the quality of the parts though. I’ll be interested to see where you get your parts from.

I posted my 'forklift' list off of RA in the previous post. Everything is name-brand same vendors I'd get from the LAPS. Four Seasons, with the Condensor being an "upgraded anti-corrosion" Denso unit. Going this route, I've had excellent results with RA with the other parts I've got from them. But yes, by ALL MEANS do not trust the unknown/unfamiliar names there. Saving $30 on a coolant recovery tank cost me 2 grand rebuilding the top end.

 

[burntkat]

What parts would you suggest replacing? I pretty much want an entire new system. The Jeep has less than 80,000 miles, shows no rust (lives in a carport in Colorado Springs), had a good report from Blackstone, so I expect it to last a while. I like that there was an extended warranty available when you bought the system, would you purchase the extended warranty if you had to replace the AC system again? Did the Four Seasons brand of parts seem good? I know nothing about the AC in a vehicle, I pretty much know nothing about HVAC in general!

See my list. All that was about $450.

You need...
-Compressor (check the type of compressor you presently have)
-PAG oil (should come with compressor)
-suction line
-liquid line (may come with the compressor, especially if you buy a kit)
-discharge line
-condensor
-seal kit
-receiver/dryer (should come with the compressor if you buy a kit)

It should arrive by Wednesday, ordered last night. Unfortunately, my son won't be able to install it until about the 25th, as he works next weekend. It books out to about 5 hours of labor. I expect this will take a full day being it's the first time he's done a full system in a Liberty. They don't get many Liberties at the dealership anymore.

I will be documenting the job in case anyone wants to see how big a job it is. This should replace everything under the hood (that's what I mean when I say we forklift something. Nothing beyond basic troubleshooting, just replace EVERYTHING in that system). With SC systems, it's best to do this, especially if there's a slow leak and the system has been open to atmo for a while. The humidity in the air will interact with the chemistry in the oil in the compressor and basically form acid... Plus there are likely metal shards in the lines. At that point, the whole system is contaminated, and replacing this or they individual component is likely to be a fool's errand.

 

[lfhoward]

I hope the original leak wasn't in the evaporator... (and that it doesn't contain any metal shards...) because changing that means taking the dash apart. I noticed the evaporator core isn't on your list.

 

[mike]

Thanks for the list burntkat.

I hope the original leak wasn't in the evaporator... (and that it doesn't contain any metal shards...) because changing that means taking the dash apart. I noticed the evaporator core isn't on your list.

Is this in your KK? If so, I wonder if getting to the evaporator is the same in an '07 Libby.

 

[burntkat]

I hope the original leak wasn't in the evaporator... (and that it doesn't contain any metal shards...) because changing that means taking the dash apart. I noticed the evaporator core isn't on your list.

Honestly, I overlooked that one. I will have to hope it is fine...

 

[JeepJeepster]

What parts would you suggest replacing? I pretty much want an entire new system. The Jeep has less than 80,000 miles, shows no rust (lives in a carport in Colorado Springs), had a good report from Blackstone, so I expect it to last a while. I like that there was an extended warranty available when you bought the system, would you purchase the extended warranty if you had to replace the AC system again? Did the Four Seasons brand of parts seem good? I know nothing about the AC in a vehicle, I pretty much know nothing about HVAC in general!

Its tough to tell you what I think you should replace. Since it only has 80k miles, I would personally leave the factory compressor unless I had a reason to think it was leaking or had an issue. I think I would start with just replacing the accumulator and the pressure hose. Flush the system, including the compressor, then add the proper amount of oil and refrigerant.