If I recently had the a/c compressor replaced but my a/c quit again, is it likely that it's the evaporator?

Question

When the a/c quit cooling on my '98 Chrysler Concorde LXI, the repair shop said I needed to replace my compressor. This cost $800. About a week after returning from a trip involving approx. 2,000 miles, the a/c quit cooling again. The shop replaced the Schrader valve at no cost to me. About 3 days later it quit cooling again. Now I'm told I need to replace the evaporator, at a cost of $700. Would having to replace the evaporator on the heals of the compressor replacement be considered a typical a/c problem or an unusual one? Should the shop have diagnosed this during one of the previous 2 repairs? Would experiencing further problems once the evaporator is replaced be considered reasonable?

Answer 1

I would consider it unusual! -- If the evaporator doesen't have a leak, it is still probaboy ok!

I would guess they didn't get the "trash" all the way out of the system! And giving it a good "flush out" should take care of it! It either had pieces of the compressor, dessicant bag broke (this is the dryer part), - or they didn't get all the water out, - (moisture is the enemy of aircondirtioners)! If any of this travels through and plugs up the lines, or the expansion valve, -it is going to stop working!

I would do personal check, by starting with "freon", -- push down the little schrader valve (either one) and see if the freon comes out, -- if it is pressureized,--- it doesn't have a leak! If the evaporator isn't leaking, it should be ok (with a good flush out), -since it has no moving parts there is nothing else to wear out! Plus the fact that if there is trash in the system, the evaporator is not causing the problem, --(it was just the place the trash was "stored"), --the trash then went out and plugged it up somewhere else! The evaporator itself is just another "radiator", and being filled with "gas" it normally doesn't have "solids" like the engine cooling raditor has available in water! So it shouldn't "normally plug up"!!

If filled with "freon" (gas) (and then the evaporator doesn't have a hole in it), - I would consider taking it to another shop and having a second opinion! To "evacuate, and flush, and re-charge probably shouldn't run you over $100! So it would be worth checking out!

Answer 2

A/C questions are very hard to diagnose without seeing the vehicle. I would go to the dealer and let them check.

Answer 3

I would question their competency on the initial diagnosis! Sounds like they missed this evaporator leak! :-)=