Not sure where to post this since it applies to most cars.

I have 3 vehicles all with bad AC. Two have replacement junkyard compressors installed (92 SSE SC, 94 grand voyager). The third compressor (93 grand caravan) was replaced before I bought the vehicle. They put a compressor with no clutch in because they did not want the AC to run and fail again...must have failed twice within a short time.

The cheapest quote I got to just evac the system and fill with 134a is $100. If the sytem leaks after...I would probably just be out the money....doubt they would stand behind it.

I am thinking about buying a vacuum pump, guages, and a leak detection kit. I would have the same money in these tools as 3 cheap repairs or one professional job.

If anyone has experience or advice to pass on I would greatly appreciate it. It just seems like the system is not that complicated. Change some o-rings, vac system....if it leaks use the ultraviolet leak detector...

Am I missing something? Is this much harder than I am thinking it is?

Also, does anyone have advice where to get the tools for the best price? Any brands etc to avoid? Any brands etc that are good for the money, etc?

Thanks for reading.

Well as for detect the leak I used can red dye trace so I don'tt need use any special lighting to see if it leaks. As for the equipment not sure where to get the vacum, but as for the othe ture napa autoparts

Well doing your own A/C work is rewarding, and i know autozone stocks the leak detector and the gauges, but i don't know where you get a vacuum pump locally. They aren't cheap though.

Here'* a link to vacuum pumps:

http://www.acsource.com/prod/vacpumps.html Vacuum Pumps

They one we use at our shop i think is a 3 or 4 cfm pump, which you can see are NOT cheap. Also if you plan on doing this just go and buy yourself a 30lb tank of R134-a freon. It'* got leak-detector built in that does not need a UV light to be seen. Hope this helps!