Getting car A/C fixed

[simpsontruckdriver]

Here in the Orlando area, we have been baking in 97F 75% or higher humidity this summer, pretty rough on air conditioning! I took my car (2013 Cadillac XTS AWD Premium) in to get it fixed. Knowing the dealership would charge thousands, I took it to a "chain" mechanic, they are a franchise but not a big name. The total to replace the compressor (leaking) and expansion valve, as well as replacing the R1234YF refrigerant came to $2500. I was unaware my car is the first to use the new refrigerant, and most cars made after 2021 use the new stuff. And, it's not cheap, either, the refrigerant alone was $350.

Essentially, if your a/c in your car is going out, plan on paying a couple thousand to repair it. The easiest 2 tests you can do at home is (1) check pressure with a gauge, and (2) check temperature coming out of the vents, it should be under 60F on the hottest day on the recirculation (aka "Max") setting. According to "mechanic" websites, if your car is designed for R134a, it can accept R1234YF. If your system is R1234YF, it can not accept R134a. But, R134a is being phased out. For anyone who thinks I was "overcharged", most car a/c repairs can't be done at home unless you have a refrigerant recovery system, chemicals, etc. Not to mention, with the high temps, many shops are backlogged with other cars with a/c problems. Since this car is a tribute to the love-of-my-life (I've posted about the car in other posts), no cost is too high to keep it on the road, although I would prefer to stay away from dealerships.

TS

 

[Tia]

Here in the Orlando area, we have been baking in 97F 75% or higher humidity this summer, pretty rough on air conditioning! I took my car (2013 Cadillac XTS AWD Premium) in to get it fixed. Knowing the dealership would charge thousands, I took it to a "chain" mechanic, they are a franchise but not a big name. The total to replace the compressor (leaking) and expansion valve, as well as replacing the R1234YF refrigerant came to $2500. I was unaware my car is the first to use the new refrigerant, and most cars made after 2021 use the new stuff. And, it's not cheap, either, the refrigerant alone was $350.

Essentially, if your a/c in your car is going out, plan on paying a couple thousand to repair it. The easiest 2 tests you can do at home is (1) check pressure with a gauge, and (2) check temperature coming out of the vents, it should be under 60F on the hottest day on the recirculation (aka "Max") setting. According to "mechanic" websites, if your car is designed for R134a, it can accept R1234YF. If your system is R1234YF, it can not accept R134a. But, R134a is being phased out. For anyone who thinks I was "overcharged", most car a/c repairs can't be done at home unless you have a refrigerant recovery system, chemicals, etc. Not to mention, with the high temps, many shops are backlogged with other cars with a/c problems. Since this car is a tribute to the love-of-my-life (I've posted about the car in other posts), no cost is too high to keep it on the road, although I would prefer to stay away from dealerships.

TS

Is "chain" mechanic the name of the franchise?

 

[TolmiePeak]

I don't think you were overcharged at all. Cars are very expensive to own and operate.

 

[DaveNV]

Glad you got it fixed. No A/C in weather like that can be pretty brutal.

Dave

 

[rickandcindy23]

We need to get a front-end alignment on our car and keep hearing family members' and friends' bad experiences with companies and overcharging/ finding things wrong. The car is a 2003.

We used to go to a place in old Brighton, a farm town a few miles north of us, but the guy died and his sons sold the building. He was good and he was honest.

 

[moonstone]

When we were driving our 2003 Astro Van through Mexico on the way to Belize in December of 2017 we noticed the air wasnt very cold and by the time we got to Belize it was just blowing outside air in. A local mechanic in Corozal Belize was recommended to us and he told DH we needed a freon (or whatever the chemical that is used) top up. He did that and also checked some other things on the van after our 3,200 mile trip and the total bill was less than $50.US. The AC ran really cold until the fall of 2022 when we drove the van to Florida. Once again the AC started feeling warmer and warmer during our time down there. DH found a local mechanic in St. Augustine who specialized in ACs and took it to him. He found a few leaks in the system (rotted hoses) which he fixed then topped up the cooling gas with whatever is being used now. It was just over $2,000. but we needed the AC working. It was nice and cold until this July at home when we turned it on again and it is now blowing outside air once again. DH doesnt think its worth fixing again as we are never driving the van back to Florida and dont use it often at home (we also have 2 cars). We assume there are more leaks in other places in the system as it is so old. One thing the FL mechanic told DH was that if you have a car with AC it is best to run it at least once a month, even during the winter, for a little while to keep the seals from drying out and rotting. We do that now with our other 2 cars as it is so expensive to repair the system.

~Diane

 

[rapmarks]

I just had the compressor replaced On my 2001 dodge caravan in June. I paid a total of about $460, parts, labor, and Freon
last Friday, I brought my car in because the passenger window would not stay in place. 1/4 inch gap and window would not go up and down. He went and got the new part, $110 for the part and $40 forthe labor.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Here in the Orlando area, we have been baking in 97F 75% or higher humidity this summer, pretty rough on air conditioning! I took my car (2013 Cadillac XTS AWD Premium) in to get it fixed. Knowing the dealership would charge thousands, I took it to a "chain" mechanic, they are a franchise but not a big name. The total to replace the compressor (leaking) and expansion valve, as well as replacing the R1234YF refrigerant came to $2500. I was unaware my car is the first to use the new refrigerant, and most cars made after 2021 use the new stuff. And, it's not cheap, either, the refrigerant alone was $350.

Essentially, if your a/c in your car is going out, plan on paying a couple thousand to repair it. The easiest 2 tests you can do at home is (1) check pressure with a gauge, and (2) check temperature coming out of the vents, it should be under 60F on the hottest day on the recirculation (aka "Max") setting. According to "mechanic" websites, if your car is designed for R134a, it can accept R1234YF. If your system is R1234YF, it can not accept R134a. But, R134a is being phased out. For anyone who thinks I was "overcharged", most car a/c repairs can't be done at home unless you have a refrigerant recovery system, chemicals, etc. Not to mention, with the high temps, many shops are backlogged with other cars with a/c problems. Since this car is a tribute to the love-of-my-life (I've posted about the car in other posts), no cost is too high to keep it on the road, although I would prefer to stay away from dealerships.

TS

My 2017 Chevy Colorado had R1234yf and a "wobble-plate" compressor. The temp of the air coming out was about 45 degrees F. It really cooled the truck - - but occasionally it cooled it too much. That is, the AC would freeze up to the point that airflow was cut way back by the ice on the evaporator. When that happened the truck cabin would get warmer and warmer and I'd have to turn off the AC and let the ice melt. I remember having to roll the windows down and no AC for about 10 minutes with an outside temp of 118 F. My wife was not amused. IMHO, there was a system design flaw. If the evaporator started to ice up the internal temperature probe was "blind" and wasn't getting any cold air running by it. So, it called for more cooling. I worked with GM Detroit engineering for a couple of months having them replace parts (including the compressor) but ultimately we threw in the towel and GM bought my truck back under the "Lemon Law".

 

[Brett]

Back when we used to keep cars a long time I remember getting an auto air conditioner fixed and it was expensive, .
Now we just trade in our cars every 3 - 4 years so maintenance is minimal

 

[TUGBrian]

crazy that the new stuff is 4x the cost of 134a....

 

[PigsDad]

One thing the FL mechanic told DH was that if you have a car with AC it is best to run it at least once a month, even during the winter, for a little while to keep the seals from drying out and rotting. We do that now with our other 2 cars as it is so expensive to repair the system.

Most cars on the road today will automatically run the A/C when you put it in the defrost mode (as it dries out the air to prevent fogging).

Kurt

 

[SmithOp]

Since we are telling AC stories, I have one where I got lucky, sort of.

We were on a summer trip to Phoenix in a 2007 Honda CR-V with 95k miles on it. The AC compressor went out, blowing hot air. I took it to a dealership because I had purchased the car new with a 100k warranty. New compressor was installed at no charge, but I think I paid $1795 for the extended warranty back in 2007. I eventually traded it in with 170k miles for a newer CR-V, never had another problem with it, Honda are good reliable cars.

 

[WinniWoman]

All I know is even here in the Northeast I cannot live without AC in the car. Our cars are a 2013 and 2016 and I’m not sure what we would do if we needed to do that repair.

 

[Talent312]

I've been using the same independent mechanic for ~30 years.
I worried that he might retire, but he says likes to work.
His work is reliable, but he doesn't give me a discount...
So, I use Pep Boys for routine stuff, if they have a coupon.

.

 

[gravityrules]

I just had the compressor replaced On my 2001 dodge caravan in June. I paid a total of about $460, parts, labor, and Freon
last Friday, I brought my car in because the passenger window would not stay in place. 1/4 inch gap and I outdoor not go up and down. He went and got the new part, $110 for the part and $40 fo4 the labor.

Great prices for that work!