Our KJ's Air conditioning has packed it in!

[Ry' N Jen]

Jen and I brought our Jeep in to the dealership two weeks ago thinking that there was a leak in the steering system...
It turns out that that the leak is somewhere in the A/C system.
The dealership injected a UV dye into the airco system and told us to come back in a couple of weeks and then they will inspect the air conditioning system to find where the problem originates.

Well, the last few days the A/C is not blowing cold air any longer and the sound emanating from under the hood most definitely sounds like the A/C compressor and the clutch pulley.

Our KJ is going back to the dealer on Friday.

Out of curiosity, what do you folks think might be the problem?
(I figure it's the compressor.)
Or could it be the condenser or one of the hoses?
Or all of the above?

Either way, I'm sure it will cost us at least $1000.00 to fix!

Gee, ain't vehicle ownership fun!

 

[mag03kj]

Sorry to hear that man! My ac has been working hard these past few days! Well hell my KJ has been worked hard the past few days!

 

[HoosierJeeper]

You and Yellocoyote...
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=196


Must be something about silver, 02-04 KJ Sports Lifted...

 

[twack]

You and Yellocoyote...
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=196


Must be something about silver, 02-04 KJ Sports Lifted...

hush you mine is going strong at 140k miles. knock on wood

 

[speedracerbubba]

could be a lot from a Schroeder valve not fully sealing, cracked hose, loose fitting, worn compressor, etc..
I had a heck of a time finding the leak in my old Ranchero and it turned out one of the seals on the Schroeder valves wasn't sealing and creating a slow leak. Hopefully it is something small and easy like that for you and not anything too bad.

 

[Luke]

My heat hasn;t worked since I've owned the jeep. A/C used to blow cold as hell, but that was before winter. Now it blows hot air.
Good thing I prefer driving with the windows down anyways.

Jeez.. I hope who ever your tryin' to sell your KJ to never finds your posts ...

 

[twack]

Jeez.. I hope who ever your tryin' to sell your KJ to never finds your posts ...

no joke

 

[LibertyTC]

I am not sure if I would be first going to the dealer. I think I would get first a quote from another automotive air conditioning specialist first, then onto the dealer as the higher quote, can be a bigWow1.gif as they will use OEM$ parts.
Pretty much best do do the clutch and compressor together, for long life without further headaches, they go together. As far as line leaks, it could be a seal or something somewhere as well.
Best of luck, I gave up in the car's air conditioning, it was $1200 last time and I roll down the windows, and have disconnected the belt from compressor. Not sure if there is a bypass pulley or shorter belt, for the kj.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

I am not sure if I would be first going to the dealer. I think I would get first a quote from another automotive air conditioning specialist first, then onto the dealer as the higher quote, can be a bigWow1.gif as they will use OEM$ parts.
Pretty much best do do the clutch and compressor together, for long life without further headaches, they go together. As far as line leaks, it could be a seal or something somewhere as well.
Best of luck, I gave up in the car's air conditioning, it was $1200 last time and I roll down the windows, and have disconnected the belt from compressor. Not sure if there is a bypass pulley or shorter belt, for the kj.

I hear ya Tim, but I'm the type of person to take our vehicle to a dealership to have it fixed...
Ya, I'm sure it will cost more, but at least I get a real warranty.(Something you don't get from a fly by night out fit...
No matter what they claim their warranty might be!(Even on paper, most of the little dives are a bunch of con artists.)

 

[HoosierJeeper]

I hear ya Tim, but I'm the type of person to take our vehicle to a dealership to have it fixed...
Ya, I'm sure it will cost more, but at least I get a real warranty.(Something you don't get from a fly by night out fit...
No matter what they claim their warranty might be!(Even on paper, most of the little dives are a bunch of con artists.)

Same way here.

Though if the AC went out on my KJ, I'd have it towed. Can't drive without AC...](*,)

 

[Warren.fischbeck]

I wouldn't doubt it's the clutch, too bad you have to replace the whole clutch/compressor as a unit

I had to replace the compressor last spring on my Liberty after the clutch seized up. I couldn’t find anyone that offered a rebuild kit or just a clutch so I had to shell out the $ to get the whole thing. Luckily once the A/C lines are evacuated it’s fairly simple to swap out. There is a simple test you can perform to see if the clutch is the issue, with the A/C running just tap the clutch with a small hammer or screwdriver to see if the A/C starts working. If it does then the clutch failed or is failing. Good Luck.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Same way here.

Though if the AC went out on my KJ, I'd have it towed. Can't drive without AC...](*,)

Why would you tow the Jeep if the A/C didnt work?

 

[ptsb5a]

Same way here.

Though if the AC went out on my KJ, I'd have it towed. Can't drive without AC...](*,)

He said it all right there.

HJ can't drive without wax, gellato or a triple shot caramel machiato either. Those Country Club LR3 types wouldn't have it any other way!

 

[kb0nly]

You wouldn't be able to drive it with a seized AC clutch anyway as the serpentine belt would be shredded... So towed...

 

[jnaut]

You wouldn't be able to drive it with a seized AC clutch anyway as the serpentine belt would be shredded... So towed...

Just take the serpentine belt off. \\/

 

[autoboy454]

Also something to keep in mind when replacing the compressor is to replace the dryer component as well. When a compressor implodes/explodes debri can get caught in the system and will end up in the dryer. When you replace the compressor and not the dryer, you may introduce debri/contaminants into the new compressor from the dryer.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

He said it all right there.

HJ can't drive without wax, gellato or a triple shot caramel machiato either. Those Country Club LR3 types wouldn't have it any other way!

I just threw up in my mouth...black coffee please!

(When I go to Star Bucks they look at me funny when I ask for a black coffee)

 

[JeepJeepster]

You wouldn't be able to drive it with a seized AC clutch anyway as the serpentine belt would be shredded... So towed...

Sure you can.. Just bypass it.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Well, the condenser has a leak in it.
So that will be replaced.
I will be bringing it back to the dealer on Monday to have the work done.
The dealer needs to remove the winch/light bar, and winch mount (Why?
They need to remove the grille for access. And to charge more money in
labour costs. $100.00 extra.) So i'll remove those accessories for them and
then bring it back to them for the repair work...

I also asked them to check the commpressor as, like mentioned, the clutch
pulley sounds like the bearing is about to go...

 

[Midgear]

hmm.. glad mine doesn't give me any trouble. 132k miles and it's still freezin my face in the summer and boiling it in the winter.

best A/C I've ever seen in any vehicle ive been in lol