I've got a 2006 GC SXT with the 3.8L V6. It has 44,000 miles on it, and when we left for vacation (we didn't take the GC) 9 days ago, the A/C worked just fine. The van sat in our garage for those 9 days, and then today, when we got home on a nice warm (85F) day, my wife noticed that the A/C only blows hot air. I only had a few minutes to look at it, but I did some searching here to see what I could come up with.

Here is what I discovered. I had a new can of R134 that I had gotten for my personal car that I ended up selling a few months back. I also have one of those hoses with the built in gauge, and I've refilled A/C systems before (again, in my old car that I got rid of)... I was about ready to try "topping it off" to see if there was a slow leak, and the first thing that I noticed that was different is that in my old car that used to need more R134 every summer, the A/C compressor would kick on and off and on and off until it had enough refrigerant in it. With the GC, it doesn't seem to ever sound like it "kicks in"... I made sure that the A/C was on, and it wasn't on vent, etc, and nothing.

Then I said to myself, what the heck, it is only a $4.50 can of R134, I'll see if it is low. I connected it up, and the can never got cold like it was actually putting any or at least much R134 into the system. Still nothing.

So if the A/C compressor isn't kicking on, what can I check? A fuse or relay? If so, which one? I would like to at least try a few things before taking it to some place that will take my money and run. I'm up for trying just about anything short of replacing a compressor.

Thanks everyone...

 

Your van should still be under warranty. It's only 2 years old and the a/c has a 3 year warranty I beleive. It shouldn't cost you anything to get it fixed.

 

Yeah, 2 years old, but 44,000 miles. Warranty was 3 years or 36,000 miles. [sm=boohoo.gif]

 

My wife's van did pretty much the same thing, and turns out it was low ( empty actually)of refrigerant due to a leak in the rear A/C lines. To make sure the compressor is OK. This is the procedure to test the clutch that I was given: "Jump contacts 30 to 87 at the A/C compressor clutch relay socket. You'll complete a hot feed straight from the battery simulating closing the contacts of the relay and apply power to the clutch. If the clutch engages, check freon pressures. If it still doesn't come on check for power at the compressor clutch connector with a meter or test light. If it's there change the clutch and or compressor. If it's not there, find the open in that small part of the circuit." If it engages do not let it run for more than 30 seconds. If its low on r134a then its low on oil and can burn up the clutch.

 

I took the van in to get looked at today. Their "diagnostic" showed that it was relaly low on refrigerant, so they were going to charge it and use the dye. That would have run me $183. Then they call me back saying that they did that, and it was working fine, but when they turned off the van and let it sit a few minutes, they saw A/C oil on the ground. Sure enough, it had almost all leaked out the back.

Now they are telling me that it is the rear evaporator coil and expansion valve. He is "getting me a price" which I am sure will be a LOT more than I was hoping after doing some searching. Damn it! This van is only 2 years old!

 

OK. So now they are telling me that they don't think that the evaporator coil is bad, but the expansion valve and some "other seals" need to be replaced to the tune of about $350. Add in the $183 and I will be at $533. Not as bad as an evaporator coil, but still... I just hope that this fixes the problem.

 

OK. So NOW they put all of that in and it is "mostly" fixed. They are now telling me that there is a "pin hole" leak in the "expansion block" and want another $175 plus labor to fix that.

I argued with them a little bit on the parts pricing and labor and managed to get them talked down quite a bit, but who knows what will happen tomorrow when they get it back to put that piece on...

 

That's the problem with the dealerships, they nickle-and-dime you to death with useless charges. I would have contacted corporate office and had them fix it for free or at least a cheap rate.

 

Yeah, but what is the corporate office going to do about a vehicle that is out of warranty? While it stinks for me, I don't see how it is their fault since I am about 10,000 miles out of warranty. I could see if I was 100 or 1,000 maybe, but who knows. Maybe I am just trying to make myself feel better that I have to pay the bill[]. Of course, this is the same area that they had problems in previous years and needed a recall issued, but no such recall (yet) for a 2006....

 

I agree it should have been a recall issue. I would like to think that the corporate office would at least consider helping you out seeing that the van is not that old and what the problem is. I'm fortunate where as I can go to the plant manager directly and present my issues instead of the dealership. I've owned 5 minivans and all have been great but 1.