Admitting defeat....

[300UGUY]

I am planning to sell my 1999 GMC 2500 truck. I rarely use it, putting on less than 1K per year over the last several years. It's lived in the barn, has 96K miles. I cleaned it up nice, then found that the a/c didn't work, the compressor is locked up. I think no problem, I've done a couple of a/c repairs in the past, on cars. And trucks are easier to work on, right? So off I go to Autozone, get a new compressor, and enough refridgent to recharge the system. I looked on Youtube for vids, didn't find one on a 4x4 with a 6.0L gas engine. But I did find one on a "v8", kind of a generic vid I suppose. So I took the fan shroud off, then the air filter system, then the skid plates from underneath. At this point I could see what else I had to get off - the fan and clutch, and the heater hoses, or the water pump. The water pump sits right on top of the compressor. I started looking at all the hoses, clamps, all original, and all rusty. I started to think of all the things that could go wrong, and the thought of cracking a hose or otherwise spilling all the coolant all over the floor bothers me. And pulling the fan and clutch off is problematic. All the stuff is 14 years old, OEM. It works, but I don't want to deal with the mess. I think I will just put it all back together and sell it as is. The compressor alone was 216, the fluid was 37, and tax brings it close to $300. I think labor on this would run $300 or more. I can't see spending probably 700 to sell it. Any thoughts?

 

[TCJatko]

Have you seen the price of new or used vehicles? Fix it.

 

[300UGUY]

Have you seen the price of new or used vehicles? Fix it.

I am selling it. I know without a working a/c, I'll have to knock the price down, but that isn't the end of the world.

 

[Clint S]

Just price it accordingly. My take would be if it turned a 5k car into a 7k car for $600 do it. If it turned a 5k car into a $5700 car forget it..

 

[DT86]

If you were to leave the new compressor in the floor board you might not take as bad of a hit. You should at least be able to get your money back. After all how hard can changing it out be...

 

[murphy1244]

I would not buy a truck without air in that price range.

 

[RoMad]

If the truck is in good condition other than the AC I think you would add more value to the selling price than a $700 repair. If I was looking at a used vehicle without working AC I would want a worst case discount. Of course it may not be as big a deal in Michigan as it is in Florida.

 

[murphy1244]

It is the difference between a 3000$ truck to a 5 or 6000$ truck here.

 

[Ken45101]

In Michigan? Who needs a/c? 4x40 a/c should be adequate.

 

[CliffordK]

I'm not sure what your goals are...
I would keep it as a "farm truck". 1K miles a year isn't bad. It should last a long time. Are you planning on upgrading?

Options?
Cab style?
4x4 (I think you said yes)
6.0L V8.

Anyway, it looks like it is probably worth somewhere in the $2000 to $4000 range.

As far as AC. I guess I have it in my Blazer, but never have turned it on. No other cars I've owned have had working AC. It all depends on the environment. How necessary is it in Michigan?

If you were selling the rig in Texas, you would take a big hit on the AC. But, in Michigan, perhaps not so much, especially if you sell it, maybe in September.

Is your AC pump connected to the cooling system? It would seem like you wouldn't have to mess with the cooling system. I certainly would rather bust up a hose in the shop than out on the highway. Clamps are easy to replace, with nice stainless ones if you wish. I find that hoses that are rusted on are a pain to get off, so I wouldn't worry about accidentally knocking one off.

Anyway, it is up to you, but I would think it would be easy enough to just replace the AC pump, as long as you have reasonable access to it.

 

[JRobyn]

That is a repair that (IMHO) is worth farming out for two reason, other than the access difficulties you have already noticed:

1) removing the existing refrigerant really should only be done using recovery equipment ($$$$) and unless done carefully and just right, it is very hard to determine how much of the original OIL charge will remain in the system while venting, and

2) prior to recharging the refrigerant, the system needs to have a deep vacuum pulled on it to remove all air and moisture, even if the system is only opened briefly. This requires a vacuum pump ($$$$).

- Jay

 

[paulharvey]

I think if I where you I would get a labor quote for install and recharge. My guess would be probably closer to $600+ in labor with your parts, and probably more. Water pump and hoses aren't bad at all (2005 chevy 2500 6.0) and my understanding is you don't Need vacuum if you fill half, then blow off, fill, blow off couple times as you go; purging the air, moisture from the system.

 

[aczlan]

my understanding is you don't Need vacuum if you fill half, then blow off, fill, blow off couple times as you go; purging the air, moisture from the system.

Problem with that is:
1. You are deliberately venting freon (don't get caught doing that, nasty fines in addition to wasting $$$)
2. If there is a leak, you wont find it till later
3. That wont necessarily get all of the air/water out of the system
Local guy near me will pull a vacuum and (if it holds for a couple of hours) charge the system for $60.

Aaron Z

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

I am planning to sell my 1999 GMC 2500 truck. I rarely use it, putting on less than 1K per year over the last several years. It's lived in the barn, has 96K miles. I cleaned it up nice, then found that the a/c didn't work, the compressor is locked up. I think no problem, I've done a couple of a/c repairs in the past, on cars. And trucks are easier to work on, right? So off I go to Autozone, get a new compressor, and enough refridgent to recharge the system. I looked on Youtube for vids, didn't find one on a 4x4 with a 6.0L gas engine. But I did find one on a "v8", kind of a generic vid I suppose. So I took the fan shroud off, then the air filter system, then the skid plates from underneath. At this point I could see what else I had to get off - the fan and clutch, and the heater hoses, or the water pump. The water pump sits right on top of the compressor. I started looking at all the hoses, clamps, all original, and all rusty. I started to think of all the things that could go wrong, and the thought of cracking a hose or otherwise spilling all the coolant all over the floor bothers me. And pulling the fan and clutch off is problematic. All the stuff is 14 years old, OEM. It works, but I don't want to deal with the mess. I think I will just put it all back together and sell it as is. The compressor alone was 216, the fluid was 37, and tax brings it close to $300. I think labor on this would run $300 or more. I can't see spending probably 700 to sell it. Any thoughts?

1st why bother your in Mi ????? 2nd seems like you might notwant to "deal with the mess" Why you would have to pull skid plates ,fan , shroud ,heater hoses and a water pump shows that you would be better off leaving it broke than trying to fix it ! Its a truck sell it to a kid who has the knowledge to repair it and move on .

 

[paulharvey]

Problem with that is:
1. You are deliberately venting freon (don't get caught doing that, nasty fines in addition to wasting $$$)
2. If there is a leak, you wont find it till later
3. That wont necessarily get all of the air/water out of the system
Local guy near me will pull a vacuum and (if it holds for a couple of hours) charge the system for $60.

Aaron Z

That is a great deal, ill admit that. I wasn't talking about legalities, just repairs. And truely if you can get vacuum and charge for $60, you can't charge it yourself for that.

 

[aczlan]

That is a great deal, ill admit that. I wasn't talking about legalities, just repairs. And truely if you can get vacuum and charge for $60, you can't charge it yourself for that.

Haven't taken him up on it yet as the only car that needed it turned out to have a bad AC line and that was a few years back.
One other thing to think of (in this case) is when the compressor died, did it throw shrapnel into the system? Many places will install a filter on the suction side of the compressor when they do such a replacement to keep from getting shrapnel from the old compressor into the new one and killing it (Honda CRVs were notorious for this).


Aaron Z

 

[paulharvey]

Even discounting the AC, you should have every bit of $4000 for a fairly new 2500 4x4 with low miles. Its worth that much to just build a mud truck from. I agree with including all the parts you have bought in the deal, But... I personally would, as the buyer, be sceptical of the "all the parts to fix it, just not the time" part of the deal.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Haven't taken him up on it yet as the only car that needed it turned out to have a bad AC line and that was a few years back.
One other thing to think of (in this case) is when the compressor died, did it throw shrapnel into the system? Many places will install a filter on the suction side of the compressor when they do such a replacement to keep from getting shrapnel from the old compressor into the new one and killing it (Honda CRVs were notorious for this).


Aaron Z

Total waste of time and money ,venting freon fines ? lol, you have got to be flipping kidding me !!!!!!!!! ! On that year /model truck it's a total waste of time sell it as is unless you plan on selling with a full warranty which I doubt ! I think he may be looking at the retail price in Kelly blue book and not reality !

 

[MacLawn]

I'd fix it and keep it - but, hey, I like trucks.

 

[creekbend]

Best wishes.