A/C blowing hot air

CHEWBUG2

MEMBER
DODGE CARAVAN

I am a lady and do not know alot about cars, but I think I got scammed when I took my car in to have the a/c fixed. I have a 1994 Dodge Caravan with 130,000 miles on it. I bought it used, but the air worked fine when I bought it in 2004. This year when I turned it on all I got was hot air. I figured it needed maintenance, so I took it to a recommended menchanic. He checked belts, compressor, recharged it, etc. I have a long list of things he did. It blowed cold when I picked it up from the garage. It was fine for about a week, then it starting blowing hot again. What happened was when I got in and started the car, it would be cold. After driving 10 miles or so, shutting it off to go in a store etc, I would restart it again it would then blow hot. It did this each time I took it out. It finally just blowed hot all the time. Can you tell me what the heck is going on? I paid this guy over $200.00 and it still doesn, t work. :X

Saturday, July 22nd, 2006 AT 11:14 AM

3 Replies

ZOMBIE1243

MEMBER
6 POSTS

Did you hear the compressor cycling on and off, Im not sure but I think that has a expansion valve instead of a orfice if the valve hangs you will not get cold air, if the compressor was cycling on and off that means its usually low on freon or you have a clog some where in your system causing too high head pressure.

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Saturday, July 22nd, 2006 AT 7:26 PM

MIKEYBDMAN

MECHANIC
623 POSTS

You have all of the symptons of a leaking air conditioning system. Look on the list of things the mechanic did, and see if one of the items is a leak check of the system. If so, what kind of warrenty did he offer? I would first take it back to him and see if he will make good on any promises he may have made. If he suspected leaks, he should have put some dye in the system. Now he should be able to look and see where the leak is, and hopefully it will be something easy.
I have to warn you, that if that is the original compressor, it may be ready to be changed. They usually will run around $500 or more to replace, and the accumulator and orifice tube will have to be replaced also.
If by some chance it is not leaking, then he should be able to fix your problem. I know this is costing a lot of money, and if your climate is where you can do without a/c, then just run the air on vent with the windows down. If you can make it another month, things will start to cool down, and give yourself all winter to save some cash for repairs.

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Saturday, July 22nd, 2006 AT 8:20 PM

CHEWBUG2

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks guys. I, ve been told by my brother who is a retired mechanic, that its probably the expansion valve. I just hate to get that replaced and find out that wasn, t the problem. I got a good deal on this car$1200.00(cheap), and I hate to put alot of money into it. I live on a fixed income, so its hard for me to play musical parts replacement. Thanks again.

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Sunday, July 23rd, 2006 AT 10:27 AM