A New Car.....Almost
I took the Jeep to a trusted mechanic and learned the air conditioning evaporator would have to be replaced. In a younger life I would have removed the dashboard and done the job myself. As an older fellow with a career, I had to set my priorities.......How much? The part had to be ordered from the dealership. $1500 give or take a bit. Damn........Could it be done in one day while I was at work? Yes.
I had the transmission fluid and filter replaced while I thought about it. I had ignored those for far to long as well. The shifting was sluggish. The tranny work added up to $189. I checked the prices of used cars at several car lots over the weekend. I had paid off the Jeep in a fit of rage after the lender tried to charge me an undeserved late fee. I liked having no car note. I decided to bite the bullet and have the AC fixed.
I searched the internet for evaporators, and saw that the mechanic was correct, a dealership part. I did, however, find replacement headlights on amazon.com of all places. That was good. My headlights were so obscured by funk growing inside them that they almost did not pass my annual Louisiana vehicle
On Monday, I dropped off my newly clean Jeep with my mechanic, and had the air conditioner fixed. Total cost for Louisiana comfort was $1382.96 It was ready at 4:17PM the same day. I drove it with the air on full blast. Frigid........Nice.
Today, when I got home from work, two new headlights awaited me. They easily popped in and out, although I retained the original wiring harness. They work great, making the night bright in a way I have not experienced in several years. I almost feel as though I have a new car.......Without the car note.
Labels: Mechanickin
8 Comments:
Long live the paid off car!
Rey
Now all you need is the $800 worth of gas needed for that big ol' V-8 for the coming month and you could have bought that new car you mentioned in paragraph one!
They are designed to keep you broke, brother, no matter how you cut the deck.
It has a straight six Clint.
Never had a car note, never will. Between a '72 Cheyenne and an '81 Caprice, I'm set. When I want to save gas (or just have a hell of a good time), I'll ride one of the Hondas.
Best car on the road: one that is paid off. Even better, one that is old enough to have minimum licsene, tax and insurance. I buy my cars form estates that are more than ten years old and have less than thirty thousand miles on the clock. I can typically drive them for less than half the cost per mile of a new car.
Having worked in New Orleans for a couple of weeks in August, I gotta say that $1,400 is a STEAL for Air conditioned comfort!
Enjoy your (sorta) new ride!
Steve
My daughter's ac quit in her Cherokee and the dealer made the same recommendation. Yes the evaporator had a leak. Common problem on Jeeps. I went to Advance Auto Parts and purchased the following: http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=QST&MfrPartNumber=MRL3325&CategoryCode=3572B
AC SUPER SEAL PK. Immediatley after you put the sealer in, fill the system with freon and run for at least 30 minutes. Problem solved. Took 2 cans 14oz. cans to refill.
Anon, you make me flinch......I can only hope my leak was so bad the sealer would not have stopped it.
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