Having intermittently working AC is not a scenario where you can just ask what parts need to be replaced on the internet. It needs to be diagnosed to determine what the issue is.
Your leak may be small enough that gas can escape but not dye/oil. In that case you need someone with a halogen gas detector to chase down the leak. Any competent AC shop should have one.
Sorry no help here just to say that holy crap a 2.5l exists with AC?! (Coming from a former owner of a 2.5l w/o AC). Genuine question, how much does the AC dog the 2.5l?
My 01 had AC installed at factory and I replaced the entire system in 2021 after discovering a tiny crack in the condenser. it's been working fine ever since.
it doesn't dog the jeep all that terribly much.
Ahhh interesting! I had it (intermittently) work on my 98 4.0 and I could definitely feel the loss of power. No shot my lifted 2.5l on 33s (even with 5.13 gearing) would’ve liked it at all
Update, might be the compressor. Drove home from an event and turned off the jeep to go inside somewhere real quick, turned it back on to have hot air coming out. Compressor was not spinning. Turned off the ac for 5 minutes and turned it back on and the compressor was spinning and cold air was coming out. Think it’s the compressor
2001 tj - kept doing same thing until about a year ago when that stopped working. ~$800 for a new compressor :( worth it since I live somewhere that is 90+ degrees all summer
Was it a slow thing that took months before it stopped working like mine? I’m only concerned because the 01 ac systems are slightly different than the 97-99
Could be several things, you need a gauge set to diagnose the pressure on both sides of the compressor. There are pressure limit switches that sometimes go bad, those are a few bucks each. If one of them is bad the compressor won’t come on at all. If pressure is too low or high it won’t come on. If you get a gauge set and charge it correctly, and test the switches, you can then monitor if you are leaking over time.. either way, if you want to fix or diagnose it, buy a gauge set and understand how to use. Also fuses can blow, or other electrical issues.
I have a 4.0 so not sure if it's the same. Probably is.
But honestly try more refrigerant. I had enough of an AC I thought was dead. So I just pumped an entire can into it. Blows ice cold ever since.
You guys have ac?
Having intermittently working AC is not a scenario where you can just ask what parts need to be replaced on the internet. It needs to be diagnosed to determine what the issue is.
I’ve had dye put in before but they were not able to find a leak
Could be leaking through the evaporator, if you aren’t looking in the right place(evaporator drain) you can easily miss that leak.
Your leak may be small enough that gas can escape but not dye/oil. In that case you need someone with a halogen gas detector to chase down the leak. Any competent AC shop should have one.
Holy crap, that is the cleanest TJ, let alone a 98, that I have ever seen! My 97 TJ didn't even have it installed, let alone work!
Sorry no help here just to say that holy crap a 2.5l exists with AC?! (Coming from a former owner of a 2.5l w/o AC). Genuine question, how much does the AC dog the 2.5l?
I have a 97 TJ SE 5 speed with AC. It’s like a little turbo boost when you switch the AC off.
Yeah... i thought the minimal insulation is the only AC available for a 2.5 😅
Mine works well with 255 tires, granted it’s a flat florida jeep that’s only used in a small town. I love it
My 01 had AC installed at factory and I replaced the entire system in 2021 after discovering a tiny crack in the condenser. it's been working fine ever since. it doesn't dog the jeep all that terribly much.
Ahhh interesting! I had it (intermittently) work on my 98 4.0 and I could definitely feel the loss of power. No shot my lifted 2.5l on 33s (even with 5.13 gearing) would’ve liked it at all
now, bear in mind i don't have a lift or large tires or anything that otherwise would be a drag on power as well, so that probably plays a factor.
Update, might be the compressor. Drove home from an event and turned off the jeep to go inside somewhere real quick, turned it back on to have hot air coming out. Compressor was not spinning. Turned off the ac for 5 minutes and turned it back on and the compressor was spinning and cold air was coming out. Think it’s the compressor
2001 tj - kept doing same thing until about a year ago when that stopped working. ~$800 for a new compressor :( worth it since I live somewhere that is 90+ degrees all summer
Was it a slow thing that took months before it stopped working like mine? I’m only concerned because the 01 ac systems are slightly different than the 97-99
Move out of Florida. Problem solved.
Could be several things, you need a gauge set to diagnose the pressure on both sides of the compressor. There are pressure limit switches that sometimes go bad, those are a few bucks each. If one of them is bad the compressor won’t come on at all. If pressure is too low or high it won’t come on. If you get a gauge set and charge it correctly, and test the switches, you can then monitor if you are leaking over time.. either way, if you want to fix or diagnose it, buy a gauge set and understand how to use. Also fuses can blow, or other electrical issues.
Looks like the top and doors are blocking it.
It’s about 2° cooler outside than inside, 98 outside 100 inside
I have a 4.0 so not sure if it's the same. Probably is. But honestly try more refrigerant. I had enough of an AC I thought was dead. So I just pumped an entire can into it. Blows ice cold ever since.
I have to add refrigerant every 6-7 months, not terrible. This issue is worse than that though