A/C Shot - Should I Permanently Remove The Compressor??

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mburgess - 22 Sep 2005 16:02 GMT

So the shop says I need a new evaporator assembly and it'll cost over ***
$1400***

It's my third vehicle, so I'm thinking of just going without A/C.

It's a 96 Grand Caravan w/3.3L engine, 82k miles

Would I save mileage if I permanently removed the compressor, or is there any
other reason why I *should* remove it (like it'll burn out/seize or something
if it's never used)?

How many mpg improvement would I expect?

Any ill side affects of removing it?

Can I just get a smaller belt and bypass the compressor (i.e., leave the
compressor where it is), or will I have to remove it and put in some sort of
pulley to keep the geometry of the belt similar?

Thanks for your help,
Mike

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mburgess - 22 Sep 2005 17:01 GMT

If it matters - it's actually a 1997...

>So the shop says I need a new evaporator assembly and it'll cost over ***
>$1400***
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>Thanks for your help,
>Mike

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Adam F. - 22 Sep 2005 18:55 GMT

I dont have alot of experience with this but I think you can get away with
just unhooking all electrical connectors from the compressor, that way it
wont ever come on, it wont hurt anything and it will be cheeper than having
to maybe buy the other pulley to bypass the routing of the belt

> If it matters - it's actually a 1997...
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> >Thanks for your help,
> >Mike

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Sarge - 22 Sep 2005 21:03 GMT

"mburgess via CarKB.com wrote: "So the shop says I need a new evaporator
assembly and it'll cost over *** $1400***
It's my third vehicle, so I'm thinking of just going without A/C. It's a 96
Grand Caravan w/3.3L engine, 82k miles
Would I save mileage if I permanently removed the compressor, or is there
any other reason why I *should* remove it (like it'll burn out/seize or
something if it's never used)?
How many mpg improvement would I expect?
Any ill side affects of removing it?
Can I just get a smaller belt and bypass the compressor (i.e., leave the
compressor where it is), or will I have to remove it and put in some sort of
pulley to keep the geometry of the belt similar?"

Not sure what the labor charge is but the evaporator is about 325 dollars.
Drier will need to be changed and it runs around 47 dollars. Not sure what
else he is changing but 1400 dollars seems like a lot of labor charge added
with the parts. Here is a rough estimate of what parts may cost not
including freon. Not all these parts need to be changed.
Evaporator 325 dollars
Drier 47 dollars
New suction hose 70 dollars
New liquid hose 92 dollars
New Compressor 385 dollars complete
New expansion valve 46 dollars
New condenser 160 dollars

I get a second estimate or tackle the job yourself. Since the evaporator
has leaked out the freon, you could change it and the drier yourself then
pay him to pull vacuum and recharge it with some oil and freon.

Sarge

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maxpower - 23 Sep 2005 00:55 GMT

> So the shop says I need a new evaporator assembly and it'll cost over ***
> $1400***
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> Thanks for your help,
> Mike

If you have no freon in the system the compressor will not engage therefore
you will not need to unhook/dissable or remove anything.
Gas mileage is reduced when there is a load on the engine if the comprssor
is working..... there is no load!!!.leave it alone if you dont want to fix
it

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

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Abby Normal - 23 Sep 2005 05:22 GMT

3rd. vehicle? I would do salvage yard parts and new R134a and do it
yourself. That would be a lot cheaper than $1,400 and it would probably
work.
http://www.car-part.com/noninterchange.htm

I just bought a radiator for my son's 2000 Dakota from these folks and it
looks new. Price was $119 shipped. I am very impressed with these folks.
Sales@FlagAuto.com

If you have any questions please call KC or Gabe at
1-800-352-8737

I will go back for more.

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Leo (Bing) Whiteway - 23 Sep 2005 06:42 GMT

> So the shop says I need a new evaporator assembly and it'll cost over ***
> $1400***
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> Thanks for your help,
> Mike

Don't bother removing it. Just unplug the wires to the airconditioning clutch.
That will stop the airconditioner from rotating and should save wasting power.

Signature

Leo in Canada:
A computer without Microsoft is like a chocolate cake without mustard.
< running Linux >

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maxpower - 23 Sep 2005 20:28 GMT

> > So the shop says I need a new evaporator assembly and it'll cost over ***
> > $1400***
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> Don't bother removing it. Just unplug the wires to the airconditioning clutch.
> That will stop the airconditioner from rotating and should save wasting power.

If there is no freon in the system it wont turn on, you dont need to unhook
it

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mburgess - 28 Sep 2005 22:09 GMT

>So the shop says I need a new evaporator assembly and it'll cost over ***
>$1400***

.snip

>Can I just get a smaller belt and bypass the compressor (i.e., leave the
>compressor where it is), or will I have to remove it and put in some sort of
>pulley to keep the geometry of the belt similar?

Thanks for all the advice - I'll try getting a second quote, otherwise leave
as is.
For those that asked, apparently most of the labor is taking the dash out to
get at it - a lot of work.

Mike

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