My A/C Keeps Exploding

[Kerney]

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/opteon/chemours-opteon-r1234yf-refrigerant-10-lbs/fre1/1234yf

the price has indeed came down but its still very expensive. each shop sets their own rate per oz; parts wants to make money off the freon too

I think we are agreeing. Your link is for 10 lbs and the jl capacity is roughly 1 pound so you are saying about $60-70 cost which we align on.

That's why I use the small cans since you are doing one vehicle.

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[Kerney]

Given the symptoms, I would surely inspect the expansion valve/orifice for debris. If any is found, there are some actions to repair the system.

If there's debris in the system, all the hoses need to be flushed (usually off the vehicle), the compressor should be replaced since that's the likely source of the debris, the condenser/desiccant needs replacing, the expansion valve should be replaced, the evaporator needs to be thoroughly flushed at least or replaced. If the evaporator is not replaced, a filter should be installed to prevent any remaining debris from getting back to the other components.

This is the main advantage of using an ac shop they have filtering systems to clean out the debris before they recharge.

 

[roaniecowpony]

This is the main advantage of using an ac shop they have filtering systems to clean out the debris before they recharge.

100%
It's one thing for a DIY guy like me to recharge after a leak, but quite another thing to restore a system that has "Black Death".

 

[alphawolff]

I think we are agreeing. Your link is for 10 lbs and the jl capacity is roughly 1 pound so you are saying about $60-70 cost which we align on.

That's why I use the small cans since you are doing one vehicle.

my parts department charges it around around $200 or so

 

[puppykhan]

Latest update is that the car has been in the shop over a month and now my lease is up so declined to buy it out (buyout price was twice bluebook value, even if it was running) and returned it while still in the shop. Yes, I had to pay for the last month of it just sitting in a garage needing repairs.

Actually, since January, I think it has been in the garage more than it has been in my driveway. This is not the 1st time this year it was in the garage for over a month or two, and last time I was able to drive it a full month straight was in 2025. Ran fine the 1st 2 years, but once one thing went, it was one issue right after another.

I had talked to them about possible causes for the AC, including advice in this thread (thanks everyone!) and they have been in touch with specialists and still had no idea what was the actual cause as of the end of lease when I turned it in.

Wish I could say that was the end of it, but I think I'm still on the hook for paying for repairs for a car I no longer have after paying for a lease for a car I could not use. So I may have to deal with this yet.

And they still asked me if I wanted another Jeep. lol

 

[roaniecowpony]

Latest update is that the car has been in the shop over a month and now my lease is up so declined to buy it out (buyout price was twice bluebook value, even if it was running) and returned it while still in the shop. Yes, I had to pay for the last month of it just sitting in a garage needing repairs.

Actually, since January, I think it has been in the garage more than it has been in my driveway. This is not the 1st time this year it was in the garage for over a month or two, and last time I was able to drive it a full month straight was in 2025. Ran fine the 1st 2 years, but once one thing went, it was one issue right after another.

I had talked to them about possible causes for the AC, including advice in this thread (thanks everyone!) and they have been in touch with specialists and still had no idea what was the actual cause as of the end of lease when I turned it in.

Wish I could say that was the end of it, but I think I'm still on the hook for paying for repairs for a car I no longer have after paying for a lease for a car I could not use. So I may have to deal with this yet.

And they still asked me if I wanted another Jeep. lol

Unless you are going places where other vehicles can't go, owning a jeep doesn't make economic sense.

 

[AlgUSF]

Unless you are going places where other vehicles can't go, owning a jeep doesn't make economic sense.

The 4xE was a bit of a disaster. A colleague at work purchased her 4xE out of lease about a year before they discontinued it.

 

[alphawolff]

Latest update is that the car has been in the shop over a month and now my lease is up so declined to buy it out (buyout price was twice bluebook value, even if it was running) and returned it while still in the shop. Yes, I had to pay for the last month of it just sitting in a garage needing repairs.

Actually, since January, I think it has been in the garage more than it has been in my driveway. This is not the 1st time this year it was in the garage for over a month or two, and last time I was able to drive it a full month straight was in 2025. Ran fine the 1st 2 years, but once one thing went, it was one issue right after another.

I had talked to them about possible causes for the AC, including advice in this thread (thanks everyone!) and they have been in touch with specialists and still had no idea what was the actual cause as of the end of lease when I turned it in.

Wish I could say that was the end of it, but I think I'm still on the hook for paying for repairs for a car I no longer have after paying for a lease for a car I could not use. So I may have to deal with this yet.

And they still asked me if I wanted another Jeep. lol

You're in the situation a lot of people were in. The 4XE is their first Jeep due to the insane lease incentives and the ownership experience was so terrible it probably pushed you away from the brand forever.

When people look back at the 4XE they'll see the development costs, the sales figures, and the ungodly amount of warranty repairs. What they won't see if the lost future sales due to the shear ownership experience that most 4XE owners dealt with.

Also you're under no obligation to pay for repairs on the vehicle. You've turned the lease in, it's no longer your problem. Issue should be covered under warranty anyway.

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