Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

[crashing_sux]

I bought my truck with the AC needing recharged in October. Since it was winter I never bothered and when I finally went to a shop to get a quote on recharging the other day they said since I've had it emtpy so long the inside of the compressor would be corroded and that I'd need to replace it as well as a few other parts to actually get the AC blowing cold, for a total of $1300.

Are they screwing with me or is this true? What are my options, anything I could get from a junk yard? I really want my AC back but if it's truly over $1000 to fix I'll just remove it.

 

[blk00z28]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

You could just have them fill it and see if it works fine. If not then you'd need to start replacing parts. But I wouldnt replace all if just a simple fill might work out fine.

 

[Jimmy]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accura

I just bought a 90 Blazer that the air didn't work,found a shop that recharged it for $108.

To see if the compressor is good,unplug the connector on the drier bottle (big silver thing) and jumper the 2 connections in the plug together (a paper clip works great)
with the engine running and a/c on

 

[strada]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

First Of All,the Ac System Works With Oil For The Moving Parts,so If Any System Has To Recharge,you Have A Leak That's Not Normal.but If Is Corroded.maybe Was Because An Accident.try To Get A Compressor From Somebody That Took It Off,but It Was Working,no Big Deal Just Make Sure It Has The O Rings.did They Tell You What Else You Have To Replace?the Only Part It Has To Be Brand New Is Dryer.

 

[Jimmy]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accura

First Of All,the Ac System Works With Oil For The Moving Parts,so If Any System Has To Recharge,you Have A Leak That's Not Normal.but If Is Corroded.maybe Was Because An Accident.try To Get A Compressor From Somebody That Took It Off,but It Was Working,no Big Deal Just Make Sure It Has The O Rings.did They Tell You What Else You Have To Replace?the Only Part It Has To Be Brand New Is Dryer.

The Blazer's leaked out of the schrader valve (easy fix)

 

[SeattleSy#1255]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

First Of All,the Ac System Works With Oil For The Moving Parts,so If Any System Has To Recharge,you Have A Leak That's Not Normal.but If Is Corroded.maybe Was Because An Accident.try To Get A Compressor From Somebody That Took It Off,but It Was Working,no Big Deal Just Make Sure It Has The O Rings.did They Tell You What Else You Have To Replace?the Only Part It Has To Be Brand New Is Dryer.

That was most difficult to decode, but I think I got it.

 

[sy#2921]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

that seems to be accurate because everyone is forgetting that our systems took r12 which now isnt used and going rate is like 120 per pound so thats why the quote was so high. Go back and have them quote you a price for r134. Granted you will need some new parts no matter what but it should be around 4-500 even with all the new stuff required

 

[strada]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

For The R12 Do What I Did.i Bought 4 Cans Off Ebay For 65 Bucks,for Resale? And Do It Your Self.i Did Mine When I Crashed My Sy.don't Pay Those Prices.they're Nuts.be Carefull Because Your Using R12 And Contains Cfc's.if You Know What Your Doing.go For It.

 

[SeattleSy#1255]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Shane, solve the problem and remove the A/C, spare some room, heck mine as well throw on a bigger turbo then.

 

[NecroWolf]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

i just rebuild an ac system on a 94 blazer this weekend. i got all the parts for under 250. new compressor, new dryer, pag oil, expansion tube. now this was an r134a compressor but i'm almost positive it's the same dimensions as the r12. it was a reman compressor. don't bother with tryin to put r12 in the system. just get you three cans of 134a for 9.99 each and buy the five dollar kit with the new fittings so you can use the r134. and if you need the hose to fill it i think it's 12 dollars. only takes about an afternoon to replace it all. and to vacum it down jump the pressure switch on the dryer for a couple of minutes and then depress the schrader valve on the high side for a sec till you hear all the air escape and start filling. should take aprox 2 1/2 cans of freon.

 

[crashing_sux]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

That sounds worth a shot. I'll have to look around for more detailed instructions but for that price I might as well give it a shot myself first.

 

[crashing_sux]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

First Of All,the Ac System Works With Oil For The Moving Parts,so If Any System Has To Recharge,you Have A Leak That's Not Normal.but If Is Corroded.maybe Was Because An Accident.try To Get A Compressor From Somebody That Took It Off,but It Was Working,no Big Deal Just Make Sure It Has The O Rings.did They Tell You What Else You Have To Replace?the Only Part It Has To Be Brand New Is Dryer.

I'll need to test for leaks I suppose. The previous owner said that it worked fine, was just empty because it was easier for him to unhook the hose to the A/C when he pulled the engine last.

 

[crashing_sux]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Shane, solve the problem and remove the A/C, spare some room, heck mine as well throw on a bigger turbo then.

That's so tempting, then I could get one of those big ass intercooler's like Servando has but I grew up in Alaska and am a complete weenie when it comes to heat. First thing I look at when buying a vehicle is whether it has A/C.

 

['JustDreamin']

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

I'd definitely suggest converting to R134a....

You'll want to:
1.) Read up on it. It doesn't take serious skill, but isn't something you'll do blindfolded your first time.
2.) Get a decent set of guages, that way you can charge it up yourself easily.
3.) Locate some form of vacuum pump. Even if you replace the compressor and some of the other parts, you'll want to pull a vacuum on it (20"+) for at least 30 minutes to purge out the air and most importantly water vapor. Or have it done.
4.) Plan on replacing the reciever / dryer....Thats the big silver can thingy by the firewall. Its full of stuff that absorbs oils and contaminants. Check on it, if its big money, don't worry too much about it, but if its cheap, replace it.

Its not really hard. I've done 3 of my personal vehicles and a couple of buddies' vehicles. Parts are usually cheap (conversion kits are usually under $30). R134a is cheap. Converted systems perform pretty well (you do loose some AC performance running an R12 system on R134a, but most run pretty decently).

'Dreamin'

 

[Ty0279]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Shane, solve the problem and remove the A/C, spare some room, heck mine as well throw on a bigger turbo then.

x2, especially since you live in the PNW...you really only need it a couple days out of the year.

 

[ThaJokr]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

It was only 60 bux for me to get my AC recharged at a shop.

 

[NecroWolf]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

I'll need to test for leaks I suppose. The previous owner said that it worked fine, was just empty because it was easier for him to unhook the hose to the A/C when he pulled the engine last.

once you get it back together get some of that ultraviolet leak detector. or you can get a sniffer. sniffer is probably easier but more expensive i believe.

 

[Michael]

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

Re: Went to recharge my AC and was told it would cost me $1300 to fix, is this accurate?

crashing_sux,
I dropped you a PM on this topic. I may be able to help you out.

Regards,
Michael Pliska