A/C failure after heater core repair

[Tami]

So I had my heater core replaced by a shop. My AC and heating worked amazing before the repair except the leak of cooklant smell.
Anyway after the work was done my ac didn’t blue cold air so I took it back. The charged it and said the mechanic didn’t turn something right or something.
The AC has been just ok blowing just cool air and today it sounded like a belt screaming when my ac fan was turned on then it stopped blowing cold air.
It was 110degrees.
No fun.
What is the link between the AC and heater core and why did my AC go completely out only after a few uses?
What should I do? Say to shop? I feel like something wasn’t done right.

 

[LONGJP2]

So I had my heater core replaced by a shop. My AC and heating worked amazing before the repair except the leak of cooklant smell.
Anyway after the work was done my ac didn’t blue cold air so I took it back. The charged it and said the mechanic didn’t turn something right or something.
The AC has been just ok blowing just cool air and today it sounded like a belt screaming when my ac fan was turned on then it stopped blowing cold air.
It was 110degrees.
No fun.
What is the link between the AC and heater core and why did my AC go completely out only after a few uses?
What should I do? Say to shop? I feel like something wasn’t done right.

Welcome

Can't help with the belt squeal. Unless you can determine where it's coming from.
Could be the compressor locked up.

I will add, one time I had a shop doing an AC checkup and afterwards it didn't work at all.
One of the schrader valves started leaking. Probably from hooking up their gauges.

 

[TJ4Jim]

So I had my heater core replaced by a shop. My AC and heating worked amazing before the repair except the leak of cooklant smell.
Anyway after the work was done my ac didn’t blue cold air so I took it back. The charged it and said the mechanic didn’t turn something right or something.
The AC has been just ok blowing just cool air and today it sounded like a belt screaming when my ac fan was turned on then it stopped blowing cold air.
It was 110degrees.
No fun.
What is the link between the AC and heater core and why did my AC go completely out only after a few uses?
What should I do? Say to shop? I feel like something wasn’t done right.

To replace the core they would have had to recover the refrigerant and open the system, then to restore the accumulator 100% should be replaced then replace the oil in the evap coil and accumulator, then evacuate and recharge. This process is your best shot at a working a/c system and should have been performed.

 

[macleanflood]

should have been performed.

And probably wasn't. Shop should be completely on the hook for those repairs.

If you want to be generous you could pay for a new receiver/dryer. I think they're less than $30.

-Mac

P.S. This is why I do all my own work. At least I know when I'm taking shortcuts and accept the risk

 

[Tami]

To replace the core they would have had to recover the refrigerant and open the system, then to restore the accumulator 100% should be replaced then replace the oil in the evap coil and accumulator, then evacuate and recharge. This process is your best shot at a working a/c system and should have been performed.

What is your guess of what wasn’t done? And what happened? And is there damage to my system now?

 

[TJ4Jim]

What is your guess of what wasn’t done? And what happened? And is there damage to my system now?

Look under the hood and just in front of the heater core hose connections at the firewall there would be a nice shiny new accumulator and looks like this.

https://www.amazon.com/Spectra-Premium-0283106-C-Accumulator/dp/B006ZVMT7A/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[DuckNut]

And to add to Jim, if they had a leak the gas could leak out (hence the cool, not cold) and once the system is empty it can cause the compressor to lock up due to lack of lubrication.

 

[hear]

And to add to Jim, if they had a leak the gas could leak out (hence the cool, not cold) and once the system is empty it can cause the compressor to lock up due to lack of lubrication.

Great first post. But didn’t you actually mean to bump some 5 year old thread asking if some person ever resolved some obscure problem?

 

[DuckNut]

Great first post. But didn’t you actually mean to bump some 5 year old thread asking if some person ever resolved some obscure problem?

I'll have to remember you're a joker. Made me go back and look couple times to try to figure out what you were talking about. You got me. I may be new here, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night. It was a good thing too, I didn't resurrect an ancient thread. (But that has happened before). Nice meeting you hear.

 

[CharlesHS]

When the shop replaced the heater core then needed to remove the dash board and climate air mix box to access the heater core.
During this process they disconnected the evaporator (cooling coil) from the engine compartment A/C system.
There are O rings in those connections that should have been replaced during reassembly.
The problem may be reuse of the old O rings, incorrect O rings, incorrectly install O rings OR possibly the evaporator was damaged during disassembly or reassembly.
As for the belt noise; as others have posted you will need to do some further investigation whether the noise appears during A/C operation or all the time.
I would most certainly bring the Jeep back to the shop for them to determine why the system does not remain cool, where the leak is and whether the noise is A/C compressor related.

 

[NskLJ]

And to add to Jim, if they had a leak the gas could leak out (hence the cool, not cold) and once the system is empty it can cause the compressor to lock up due to lack of lubrication.

If the refrigerant leaks out, the low pressure switch will open causing the compressor not to engage.

 

[NskLJ]

So I had my heater core replaced by a shop. My AC and heating worked amazing before the repair except the leak of cooklant smell.
Anyway after the work was done my ac didn’t blue cold air so I took it back. The charged it and said the mechanic didn’t turn something right or something.
The AC has been just ok blowing just cool air and today it sounded like a belt screaming when my ac fan was turned on then it stopped blowing cold air.
It was 110degrees.
No fun.
What is the link between the AC and heater core and why did my AC go completely out only after a few uses?
What should I do? Say to shop? I feel like something wasn’t done right.

Check to see if the refrigerant service ports have caps on them. If you Jeep uses R134 ( don’t know, you have no Jeep information in your profile) the service ports can leak after gauges are remove and the caps must be installed.

 

[Tami]

And to add to Jim, if they had a leak the gas could leak out (hence the cool, not cold) and once the system is empty it can cause the compressor to lock up due to lack of lubrication.

Look under the hood and just in front of the heater core hose connections at the firewall there would be a nice shiny new accumulator and looks like this.

https://www.amazon.com/Spectra-Premium-0283106-C-Accumulator/dp/B006ZVMT7A/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Thank you for this information. I did check under the hood and it doesn’t look new. Doesn’t look bad either.

 

[Tami]

And to add to Jim, if they had a leak the gas could leak out (hence the cool, not cold) and once the system is empty it can cause the compressor to lock up due to lack of lubrication.

And to add to Jim, if they had a leak the gas could leak out (hence the cool, not cold) and once the system is empty it can cause the compressor to lock up due to lack of lubrication.

What does a locking compressor sound like? The sound was squealing while the AC was turned on. When turned off it went away. Then quit completely when it just blew hot air.

 

[Tami]

Check to see if the refrigerant service ports have caps on them. If you Jeep uses R134 ( don’t know, you have no Jeep information in your profile) the service ports can leak after gauges are remove and

 

[Tami]

Not sure what to look at. It seems good. One thing I noticed is the workmanship may be a little sloppy? The fresh air vent is just hanging there. See photo.

 

[TJ4Jim]

Thank you for this information. I did check under the hood and it doesn’t look new. Doesn’t look bad either.

View attachment 541619

Opening the system without replacing the accumulator is not good.

 

[Tami]

Opening the system without replacing the accumulator is not good

 

[Tami]

And it’s standard practice to do so? It seems like a $30 part.

Opening the system without replacing the accumulator is not good.

so from your perspective not doing so is a bit negligent and could have caused my compressor to seize?

 

[JKP]

That is your cowl drain that is just hanging.

If the squeal is just when the AC is on, it's the compressor locking up and causing the belt to slip on the AC pulley. When you turn the AC off, the pulley just freewheels, therefore no noise.