97 Stratus A/C problems

[mouthsuit]

Hi. I've been having problems with my a/c for the last year, and I've been procrastinating getting it fixed due to the prices, and differences in diagnosis. One place said I should replace everything, which would cost somewhere around $1000. Another placed used some beeping tool to tell me that I had a freon leak, and that I'd have to replace the evaporator and condenser (I think) for around $400. Two other people I know, one of which has a stratus, said their problem was just a switch somewhere.

Here's what it does. Sometimes it works great and freezes me out of the car, but only on the 3rd and 4th fan setting. 1st and 2nd usually don't work at all. And sometimes, 3rd and 4th don't work either. It blows air, but not cold air. I can usually feel the compressor kick on when I turn the a/c on, even when the cold air doesn't blow. Also, a lot of times when it's not hot outside, it works fine. Go figure. Also, the heater works great.

Any help would be appreciated, and if you need any more information, please let me know. Thanks.

[rkfsm]

You may have a leak that has allowed water to enter your system. As the freon goes through the needle valve in the evaporator, water freezes there and blocks the valve. The AC stops working and melts the water which allows freon to pass again, repeating the cycle. You need to have the leak found and repaired and your freon needs to be dried and topped off. Remember to add the correct oil to the system to lubricate the pump. It sounds as if the leak is in the evap itself or between the evap and the pump on the low pressure side.

Simply draining and refilling the freon is not only illegal, expensive and very dangerous, but probably won't help anyway. Bring the car to an AC specialist or the dealer. The best place sounds like the guy with the leak detector. Leak detectors aren't cheap and the proper use of one is a sign of a real pro.

Russ