Advice needed: A/C is dead

[catmomtoo]

In search of advice. I finally took my 2000 GMC Savana high top 5.7ltr van in to check the air conditioning. It’s come back with needing all new hoses and tubing with a price tag more than I can commit to. Otherwise the van runs fine and is my daily driver. It’s a minimalist build for one person. It has a new Pioneer floating bluetooth deck and backup camera. Six wood bin storage, a seat covering a port-o-loo. Passenger seat swivels. Back side windows are blocked out to provide light block and privacy. Under bed garage holds space to store folding chairs, and a built in lock box to fit a laptop and other goods. 

I can't live without A/C...so what do I do with the van - sell it? What would you price it at? Anyone know any gifted A/C repair specialists? Would you go that route? Or what have I not thought of…? I’m in Salem Oregon. Thank you all in advance.
Here's a link to my Google folder with photos and more description:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Gb2aXOWuRI-quD3bAmyE2g8O9CJNRl75?usp=sharing

 

[tx2sturgis]

Maybe you can install a window or roof A/C unit and drop a generator on a rear cargo hitch like the van freight expeditors do, and go on about life.

 

[RoamerRV428]

your said: I can't live without A/C...so what do I do with the van


-------best I would do is what tx2 said

I would install a small AC and power by genny and not think twice on it. You can also be available to make it shore power so when in a campsite etc you don't need a genny

but cheapest way out is probably that. AC can be had You don't have to sell and maybe?? lose money on your sale?? Van sounds nice and what you wanted cause you bought it but put you 'ac price fix' against just a regular old smaller BTU and power source and pick a route.

wishing you the best

 

[highdesertranger]

Get a couple more estimates. Drive up into the Cascade's when it gets warm. It really doesn't get all that hot in Salem.

Highdesertranger

 

[bullfrog]

Get a seasonal job with housing/AC and save money to get the AC in the van fixed.

 

[Happy Camper]

Definitely get more estimates. How much was the first one? What is your realistic budge to solve the problem? My first thought is that if you didn't have the money for the repair, you don't have extra cash for a generator and AC

I had a similar van and it was a leaker also. I did add coolant and it worked for a little while. I Would actually keep spare bottles in the van. It's not a great solution, but it might help.

I taught myself a ton about auto AC during that time and was going to fix it myself. Then the tranny blew up, the power steering was already needing to be replace, and the costs were more than I bought the van for so I sold it. It wasn't my dwelling, so your situation is much different. Did they say where the leaks were located?

 

[Happy Camper]

I just looked at the link you provided and it shows you paid for AC to be repaired a year ago. What did they fix?

 

[PeterPiper]

The main problem on older cars and often the hardest to repair is the evaporator core inside.  That musty smell you've been smelling...that's rotting leaves and dead tree stuff all in the evap core.  It has to be replaced.  Evap cores are usually good for about 10 years if you park outside chronically and about double that if the car is kept indoors and away from trees.

I just replaced the evap core in my 2006 Dodge Caravan about 4 months ago.  it was rotten through.  Not a fun job.

 

[catmomtoo]

I just looked at the link you provided and it shows you paid for AC to be repaired a year ago. What did they fix?

Yeah, I'm just coming back to this now on July 4th weekend. I moved in May (no notice), new job and getting feet under me now. I had to go back and look at what was done (and it's not fixed nor under warranty as service was NOT recommended - boo!). The mechanic was supposed to seal off the lines that were removed that went to the rear AC (dead, removed). I bet he used silly putty to seal the lines. I understand now that they need to be soldered closed so now need to find a willing mechanic for that. And they need to start working backwards if that's not the solution. But to find a willing mechanic in a hiring shortage, ugh. I'll start making calls next week to see if I can find someone.

 

[catmomtoo]

The main problem on older cars and often the hardest to repair is the evaporator core inside.  That musty smell you've been smelling...that's rotting leaves and dead tree stuff all in the evap core.  It has to be replaced.  Evap cores are usually good for about 10 years if you park outside chronically and about double that if the car is kept indoors and away from trees.

I just replaced the evap core in my 2006 Dodge Caravan about 4 months ago.  it was rotten through.  Not a fun job.

When you say musty smell... would that be something like "it smells like the ocean in here"??? kinda smell? You're scaring me.

 

[catmomtoo]

Get a seasonal job with housing/AC and save money to get the AC in the van fixed.

Well as things would just happen the way they do, I moved and found a room for $450/mo so I'm in the sweet spot. Thanks!

 

[catmomtoo]

I'm going to try to sell this van. 

[size=small]Here's a link to my Google folder with photos and more description:[/size]

[size=small]https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Gb2aXOWuRI-quD3bAmyE2g8O9CJNRl75?usp=sharing[/size]

 

[tradesman]

"Get a couple more estimates. Drive up into the Cascade's when it gets warm. It really doesn't get all that hot in Salem."

Except this June 27, when it was 113 degrees.

 

[highdesertranger]

yeah oops. Highdesertranger

 

[kklowell]

That smell may also be the drain for the AC may be clogged. Do you ever get water on the floor inside?

 

[MrNoodly]

It really doesn't get all that hot in  Salem.

The 10-day forecast: high 80s, low 90s in the day with 70 to 80% humidity, mid 50s at night with 40% humidity.

 

[catmomtoo]

"Get a couple more estimates. Drive up into the Cascade's when it gets warm. It really doesn't get all that hot in Salem."

Except this June 27, when it was 113 degrees.

Well, I'm in Sandy now and it was 115!  ugh!

 

[catmomtoo]

That smell may also be the drain for the AC may be clogged. Do you ever get water on the floor inside?

thanks. Not inside but after having the repair work done, I understand that coolant never drives up and goes away. The smell will never go away... Right?!

 

[kklowell]

I'm trying to think how coolant could leak after an ac repair as they are separate systems. The AC does not use coolant (antifreeze), it uses freon, and the two never run in the same tubes.
It has been my experience that once a leak is repaired, the smell of antifreeze does go away. If you're still smelling antifreeze after a year I think there's a leak. But to make sure, what does it smell like? Is it kind of "sweet" smelling?

 

[catmomtoo]

Well, it just always smell like radiator. I'm done with trying to own an older vehicle. This is now (has been) up for sale. I dropped $150 2x for radiator test with dye and no one wanted to stick around to evaluate why it wasn't holding Freon. These were both "professional" licensed shops.

The workload and lack of qualified staff has allowed small town mechanic shops to pick and choose what they want to work on. Combined with opening up a can of worms on a 20 year old vehicle, where owners can spend a lot of $ and never really get it repaired, or only to uncover other problems that will cost more. My quote for repair was "up to $3200" and if something else is uncovered, well now I'm in way over my head. 

Thank you! Cat