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Car Air Conditioning Cost

How Much Does Car Air Conditioning Cost?

low cost Simple Repairs: $250-$650
low cost Extensive Repairs: $800-$1,200
low cost Installation: $2,000-$4,000+

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Think of a car air conditioner as a refrigerator installed in a strange layout, one that is designed to move heat from inside your car to the outdoors.
 
Typical costs:
  • Expect to pay $250 -$650 to test for leaks, replace a few minor parts and then top-off or completely recharge the refrigerant in a vehicle's system. The work takes an average of four hours labor, at roughly $50 -$100 an hour, plus parts; for luxury vehicles both parts and labor may cost more.
  • It can run $800 -$1,200 or more for extensive repairs replacing or upgrading most of the major parts in an existing A/C system (upgrades are most commonly needed in pre-1995 vehicles, because of changes in environmental requirements). Vehicles with easy access to the A/C system and plentiful low-cost parts could be less; high-end luxury vehicles will often cost more.
  • Installing air conditioning in a vehicle that doesn't have any could be around $2,000 -$4,000 or more, depending on the year, make and model. Again, luxury vehicles could cost even more, depending on location.
What should be included:
  • Air conditioning repairs involve locating and stopping leaks; it can be tricky to find a small, slow leak in a hard-to-reach area, so it can sometimes require several attempts to fix the system. Most auto air conditioners have five major components--the refrigerant, which carries the heat; the compressor (the heart of the system) which draws in refrigerant, compresses it and moves it along; the condenser (often similar to a car radiator), which expels heat; the expansion valve, a nozzle that regulates the refrigerant flow; and the drier/evaporator, used to cool the car by blowing the hot interior air across the refrigerant. FamilyCar.com provides a basic overview.
  • The refrigerant in older cars (made prior to 1995) was usually CFC-12, known by the brand name of Freon. This product is no longer manufactured in the US because it depletes the ozone layer, and there are limited quantities available of a replacement refrigerant. The US Environmental Protection Agency discusses the options for converting a car to a better refrigerant and when it's good to top-off a car's A/C system with a little more refrigerant and when it's best to empty it and completely recharge the system.
  • DIY Network describes repairing and upgrading the A/C system on an older car and how to install A/C in a car that has none.
Shopping for car air conditioning:
Article updated October 2007
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Recent Posts
Amount: $727.00 ac compressor
Posted by: Robin montgomery in elderton, PA.Purchased: June, 2008
Make: dodge 2000Model: caravan 4 cyl
Shop: crossroadsservice station
price to replace air conditioner compressor that had a bad seal and leaked out the freon.
11 months earlier had to replace the part under the dash that is the cold little radiator that the fan blows on and that cost... $584.00 the part was only $100. I now have over $1300 in 11 months in repair costs for air conditioner wow... thats $100. dollars a month I need to set aside just to pay the ac shop ????????....lol...crying !!!
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Amount: $1,100.00 Air conditioning repair
Posted by: hukolb in Louisville, KY.Purchased: May, 2001
Make: OldsmobileModel: Sillouhette
Shop: Pep Boys
We have not had the best luck this time around. We aren't sure if it's the car or the shop but first time in we paid about $200 to have the air conditioner looked at, freon replaced and dye put in to find the leak. Then they supposedly found it and fixed the whole thing for $900. Then another part went bad a few weeks later and luckily they only charged us $15 for the part. Now the Condenser the put in was defective and they cover the part but want $350 for labor just to fix it. We live in New Orleans and it's hot here so we are now wondering if we can afford another repair for survival! Does anyone else have this experience with chain shops?
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Amount: $150.00 AC Blockage + Freon
Posted by: a user in kearny, NJ.Purchased: 2009
Make: 1992 HondaModel: Accord
Shop: Local Mechanic
This woman mechanic used a can of block remover and a leak sealer to shore up the problem in the AC line. She also filled me up on Freon all for $150.
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Amount: $1,875.00 Installing air conditioning in 2009 honda civic dx
Posted by: fierceroller in Baltimore, MD.Purchased: May, 2009
Make: HondaModel: civic dx
Shop: Norris
Install and parts cost 1875.00 plus tax.. I am going to do since I plan to have this car until it dies or I die.
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Amount: $260.00 Finding a leak
Posted by: a user in Bronx, NY.Purchased: September, 2007
Make: HondaModel: Civic 2003
Shop: Bronx
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Amount: $120.00 charge freon first to find A/C problem
Posted by: yabidoo in somerset county, NJ.Purchased: May, 2009
Make: HandaModel: Odyssey
Shop: 10 yrs plus local garage
With a free check up by the local garagy, the techician found that A/C freon is all gone and then compressor is automatically shut off because of that. In order to do a further diganostics, techincian needs to charge freon first to start up the compressor. Then he can start his diganostics further. For this freon charge alone they asked for $120.

However I was told that I can go to Autozone and get similar freon can to charge my car myself. I went there, did it and cost me $30 with can and connector. The staff at Autozone was very helpful. They usually will help you to charge freon even. Very very nice people! BTW, pls be very very careful about this charging thing. As I heard, freon may cause cancer and you never want it to spread into your eyes. Also you don't want to over charge it; otherwise the pressure will build up and damange the A/C further. The easiest way is to gradually add freon little by little and test the A/C by just seating in the car with windows closed. Obviously put your car in park position and step on you gas petal will help.
Unfortunately my A/C was working for just one day after those hustle and then back to the same situation again. Now I suspect the cause is the famous condenser rock issue after I check my condenser. You will find more victims on the web for this. Hope these notes help...
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