Durango A/C Compressor Woes
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Durango A/C Compressor Woes
I have a 2002 Durango that has had A/C problems for the past 4 years. I have front and rear A/C controls.
When the compressor died in 2009, I purchased a remanufactured one off of ebay for $350, I believe. I took it to my mecahnic to get it installed.
That compressor lasted for about a year and a half until 2011. I took it back to my mechanic, who lectured me about not buying parts online. He didn't have time to fix the A/C so I ended up taking it to the Dodge dealer.
The dealer replaced the compressor and the other associated genuine mopar parts to the tune of $1,500. A lot of money for an old car, but it was in the middle of the NC summer.
Exactly 13 months later, it seems to have broken again. What in the world? The A/c system in the durango, at least with 3 rows, has never really cooled the cab during the summer time. Now, I have to replace the compressor ever year? Something is not right here.
Is this normal?
When the compressor died in 2009, I purchased a remanufactured one off of ebay for $350, I believe. I took it to my mecahnic to get it installed.
That compressor lasted for about a year and a half until 2011. I took it back to my mechanic, who lectured me about not buying parts online. He didn't have time to fix the A/C so I ended up taking it to the Dodge dealer.
The dealer replaced the compressor and the other associated genuine mopar parts to the tune of $1,500. A lot of money for an old car, but it was in the middle of the NC summer.
Exactly 13 months later, it seems to have broken again. What in the world? The A/c system in the durango, at least with 3 rows, has never really cooled the cab during the summer time. Now, I have to replace the compressor ever year? Something is not right here.
Is this normal?
THE ULTI-MOD
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,797
Likes: 36
From: Union NJ
if you have front a/c only then the cooling being lacking is normal, for the most part the dual systems tend to cool pretty well when properly charged up.
eating up compressors like you are is NOT common, and FAR from normal, sounds to me like one of a few options is happening here
1) the compressors are being installed wrong causing extra stress on the bearings/internals (seems unlikely since you had 2 different installers do it)
2) you got bad units (again, unlikely that it would happen twice)
3) the system was recharged wrong(it needs to be vacuumed and the vacuum held overnight to confirm the system is properly sealed before recharging)
4) they did not put the correct type or amount of oil into the refrigerant and the compressor is not being lubricated while it is in use hence wearing it out VERY prematurely
eating up compressors like you are is NOT common, and FAR from normal, sounds to me like one of a few options is happening here
1) the compressors are being installed wrong causing extra stress on the bearings/internals (seems unlikely since you had 2 different installers do it)
2) you got bad units (again, unlikely that it would happen twice)
3) the system was recharged wrong(it needs to be vacuumed and the vacuum held overnight to confirm the system is properly sealed before recharging)
4) they did not put the correct type or amount of oil into the refrigerant and the compressor is not being lubricated while it is in use hence wearing it out VERY prematurely
