MH>Yesterday evening I started doing some research on A/C compressor replacemen   
   MH>on the Durango.  It has been getting very hot here in MD the past few days.   
      
   MH>All is still working right now, but apparently my wife told me that at one   
   MH>point yesterday, the A/C stopped working and there was smoke coming from the   
   MH>engine area.  I checked it later and didn't see any problems and all is work   
   MH>again.  What I think happened, was the compressor seized and the belt starte   
   MH>smoking.   
      
   MH>She turned the A/C off at that point, which probably saved the belt.  I didn   
   MH>see a think wrong with it when I looked at it - and it isn't making any stra   
   MH>noises or anything.   
      
   MH>At any rate, I did find that I can buy the same compressor on Amazon for aro   
   MH>$200-$230.  In addition, I would need to buy a vacuum pump with the A/C hose   
   MH>to be able to evacuate the system.  Will try and buy an old canister of R134   
   MH>to put the stuff in and then use it to refill it again.   
      
   MH>The removal of the compressor doesn't appear to be too much trouble, but the   
   MH>evacuation is something I have never done before.  There are YouTube videos   
   MH>it, so I should be able to follow the directions.   
      
   MH>If I do the job, it should cost more than $400 (including the vacuum pump,   
   MH>hoses, etc I would have to buy).  If I take it somewhere, I would estimate   
   MH>$600-$800 for the job.   
      
   Sounds like a plan. That is a good price on the Compressor. I pair   
   almost $500 for one for a Chev S-10.   
   Make sure you let the vacuunm pump run about 30 minutes after it reaches   
   it's hihest vacuum,   
   The biggest problem is to NOT put in too much R134a the system.   
      
   Here is a good run through of what to do from the interent.   
      
   http://www.firstfives.org/faq/AC/ac_charge.html   
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    þ SLMR 2.1a þ Typo Tom strikes agaoin   
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