Old car needs AC fix, what would you do?

[Eddo Rogue]

So I got this '97 cavalier for free....Needs TLC of course, still has potential. I adopter her.

Got most of it covered other than the AC...of course it doesn't work.

The compressor is underneath in sort of a tight spot, so I'd rather not have to replace it.

I am thinking try and just charge it with the parts store fix stuff with leak repair and see if it holds....Am I wasting my time and money? or is it worth a shot? should I at least do the o rings first?

My HVAC guy says that leak stop isnt good for the compressor....but this is gonna be my beater vehicle.

 

[superj]

Its the 2.2 or whatever the small four banger is? Thats a great engine. I had one in my 98 sonoma. Rock solid and easy to work on. Was fun behind a fice speed too. The tuck was the gmc version of my ranger, ha ha ha, red, stepside, standard trans, everything was almost the same.

Parts are so cheap for tha engine. It will run forever.

Put a vacuum on it and see what happens. If it holds, put some 134 in it or even use that green can of propane from the camping section in walmart. Its cheaper than freon and will freeze your butt out. That what i have put in a bunch of older vehicles when they needed ac work to get back to freezing temps.

Its r234 or something, propane's refrigerant number.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Open the window....its almost winter.

 

[rubydist]

If you open the windows in CA all you get is hot air from all the politicians...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You can try the stop leak but ive never haa much luck with any of the mechanic in a can stuff.

But being a 97 who knows when or if its ever been charged. I would try it and you might get lucky. Like most other automotive ventures its a gamble

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Its the 2.2 or whatever the small four banger is? Thats a great engine. I had one in my 98 sonoma. Rock solid and easy to work on. Was fun behind a fice speed too. The tuck was the gmc version of my ranger, ha ha ha, red, stepside, standard trans, everything was almost the same.

Parts are so cheap for tha engine. It will run forever.

Put a vacuum on it and see what happens. If it holds, put some 134 in it or even use that green can of propane from the camping section in walmart. Its cheaper than freon and will freeze your butt out. That what i have put in a bunch of older vehicles when they needed ac work to get back to freezing temps.

Its r234 or something, propane's refrigerant number.

Yes the 2.2. They actually have two lil 4 bangers (2.2 and 2.4).
Idk why they would make a .2l difference motor but whatever.
Yes parts have been cheap, and easy to work on.
I kinda love this thing lol. It's an automatic trans, but has manual crank windows.

Good call, my renter friend does HVAC and has a nitrogen tank for checking leaks. I'll start there.

 

[Ranger850]

@Eddo Rogue , Sorry to hear about you driving a Chevy. Hope it gets better for you.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

@Eddo Rogue , Sorry to hear about you driving a Chevy. Hope it gets better for you.

lol Im not driving it, just working on it. Its a chevy.

Besides its only temporary till she finds permanent home.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

You can try the stop leak but ive never haa much luck with any of the mechanic in a can stuff.

But being a 97 who knows when or if its ever been charged. I would try it and you might get lucky. Like most other automotive ventures its a gamble

Yes me either. But like you said figure its worth a shot in this case.
This will end up going to a buddy who has an even crappier ride and could use an "upgrade"
I will charge what I dumped into it in parts and registration. It was a labor of love.
Or trade for their beater and a few bucks, then fix & flip or scrap that.
If its metal, it aint waste.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Yes me either. But like you said figure its worth a shot in this case.
This will end up going to a buddy who has an even crappier ride and could use an "upgrade"
I will charge what I dumped into it in parts and registration. It was a labor of love.
Or trade for their beater and a few bucks, then fix & flip or scrap that.
If its metal, it aint waste.

That was kinda my feelings on the cobalt i bought. If it was junk i could scrap it for pry close to what i paid.

 

[4x4prepper]

It has been 20+ years since I worked on a Cavalier, but, I would consider that one of the few GMs worth putting time and money into from the 1981-2005 era. I would say they are sort of like a Ford Tempo 2.3L in GM's product line. Simple, reliable, and inexpensive to own. I would take that any day over a PT Cruiser or Fiero.

 

[mikkelstuff]

Yes, pull a vacuum on the A/C and make sure it holds. Then refill with a propane based refrigerant like EnvirOSafe. This works well in my '75 Ranchero with the original A/C hoses which otherwise leak freon based refrigerants.