I have a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport 4WD 3.0L. The air conditioning would no longer put out cold air. I ordered a compressor from an auto salvage yard that was in Grade A condition. I took the Sport to Mieneke to have them put in the compressor and charge the system. They changed it but said the expansion valve was clogged sooo... I bought a new Expansion Valve and they put it in but they had a leak around the expansion valve and they had to fix the leak. Total so far $354. This still did not fix it sooo... Mieneke said I needed a receiver drier assembly. I bought a new receiver drier assy ($100) and they installed it AND it still was not cold. Sooo... now they say the compressor is bad. They admit they are stumped. Does ANYONE have any thoughts on what might be wrong? Any suggestions on how I should handle Mieneke? If they can't fix it I don't think I should have to pay them.

Help Help I really need it!!!

 

I had a similair problem with my '02 I just bought. In stop and go traffic trafiic the engine temperature would heat up and the ac would blow hot air. I took it in to the dealership and they replaced the thermostate even though I said I dont think that is the problem. The next week I was having the same problem so I went and bough an AC charge refill from Checker and put it on. The gauge was in the red so back to the dealer I went. The put there computer on it to find out it was the AC compressor, it wasnt working right so it was causing the engine to overhear too. They replaced taht as well. My total cost was about $270.

My advice, take it to the the dealer and pay the $50 to hook up their machine and run a diagnostic. Dont let them try and fix anyting without it. Otherwise they are most likely replacing perfectly good parts. Pay for the diagnostic first even if the mechanic thinks he knows the problem and the diagnostic is waste money.

 

Your meineke repair guy does not know what he is doing. You cannot replace a compressor without replacing the dryer at the same time. The driers are like a one-time use thing. He probably does not even know the correct amount of oil to put in your system. Take it to the dealer or an AC system specialist. They can easily verify whether the compressor is working properly by checking the high and low system pressures.

 

take it to someone thats not an idiot.

anyone with half a brain should be able to diagnose an AC system. try your local dealership.

 

did you ever get that thing figured out?
talking to an A/C tech about my expansion valve, he claims that most a/c troubles start at the Schraeder valve, and its only a $2 part that many mechanics will overlook and charge $$ to test and repair a perfectly good system. It happened to me, someone added a buttload of stop-leak to my Sport, trying to find a leak that was right in front of them! Anyway, the expansion valve was clogged/damaged because of this mistake.

so, if you have any info about expansion valves please tell... Im installing one this week.

 

any tech or person that adds "stop leak" to an AC system (or any system on a car) is a complete idiot.

I honestly cant believe there is any tech on the planet that stupid in this day and age, but it is obviously so.
there is only one way to correct a leak; fix it.

 

i dont know who added the stopleak, but yes if it was a technician then he's a fool-
as seen thru the viewing window, the freon emits a bright chartreuse and its obviously WAY too much if its caking around seals and clogged the expansion...
well anyway, its my second car, rarely used vehicle which is nice because the summer in Phoenix is a real bitch