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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: | |
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Article updated October 2007 |
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Recent Posts |
| Amount: $727.00 |
ac compressor
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| Posted by: Robin montgomery in elderton, PA. | Purchased: June, 2008 |
| Make: dodge 2000 | Model: 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
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| Posted by: hukolb in Louisville, KY. | Purchased: May, 2001 |
| Make: Oldsmobile | Model: 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
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| Posted by: a user in kearny, NJ. | Purchased: 2009 |
| Make: 1992 Honda | Model: 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
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| Posted by: fierceroller in Baltimore, MD. | Purchased: May, 2009 |
| Make: Honda | Model: 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
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| Posted by: a user in Bronx, NY. | Purchased: September, 2007 |
| Make: Honda | Model: Civic 2003 |
| Shop: Bronx |
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| Amount: $120.00 |
charge freon first to find A/C problem
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| Posted by: yabidoo in somerset county, NJ. | Purchased: May, 2009 |
| Make: Handa | Model: 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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| Amount: $1,343.00 |
Replace major system components
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| Posted by: sad panda in Laguna Niguel, CA. | Purchased: July, 2009 |
| Make: 2001 Nissan | Model: Xterra |
| Shop: local garage |
Compressor seized, burnt belts, and contaminated system with metal. Replaced compressor w/clutch, expansion valve, receiver drier, pressure switch, refrigerant, flushed system, replaced all outer drive belts, recharged with freon and oil and dye and tested.
$517 labor/$836 parts |
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| Posted by: DJW in Mineral Wells, TX. | Purchased: June, 2009 |
| Make: 1999 Chevrolet | Model: Suburban |
| Shop: Personal |
| A/C wasn\'t discharging cool air. Bought can of refridgerant with stop-leak added in can along with hose with dial indicator. Added as per instruction on dial hose indicator. Works great! |
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| Posted by: Andrewoca in Ottawa, On, Other. | Purchased: May, 2007 |
| Make: Pontiac | Model: 98 Sunfire GT |
| Shop: Canadian Tire |
| A/C compressor not starting, told new compressor and lines needed. No way was i paying what they wanted. A little research showed if the pressure is low, the compressor will never try and start. Bought a recharge kit from Canadian Tire for 30 bucks. Bought a can of "environment friendly" refridgerant for an another 12 bucks. filled the pressure back up and works like new. Done two years ago, each summer needs a new can for 12 bucks. I suspect there is a leak around or in the compressor, not worth replacing on a 98. Anyway for 12 bucks a can a year plus 30 for the line and guage, i have A/C again. This coolant is availble over the counter here becasue it has no environment damages when leaked. |
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| Amount: $0.00 |
A/c repair and the truth
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| Posted by: Steve E Laverty in Modesto, CA. | Purchased: 2010 |
| Make: All cars | Model: Your grandma\'s car |
| Shop: Modesto auto air |
| It is a shame to see so many people ripped off by so called auto techs. About me I installed my first ac system at age 9 or 10 after a couple years of ac classes. My father taught collage classes and I got to go with. I can not tell you how many cars I have installed and repaired in the last 35 years. First if it is not cooling well do not use it. All cars leak freon service it every two years. Many leaks can be seen but how big they are is a bit harder. Compressor seals can be replaced 1/4 the cost of a comp. If you get the feeling your mech does not know what he is doing or ripping u off find another one. Condensers very seldom go bad most cases they leak some can be repaired. Most leaks are at hoses and comp. Seal. Pressure switches go bad but most of the time it is the conector \"small wires and pins. Every model cars have the same problems in gen. Honda civic\'s comp\'s, cond\'s and disc hose\'s. Chevy trucks comp\'s fan clutches and a/c relays , press sw. Understand the a/c is a heat exchanger to get cold you must remove the heat this is done at the condensor bugs dirt and lack of moving air are a problem. No condensing or lack of is the bigest reason of failure. It makes the high pressure go up and now stressing hoses and comp. Wash radiator and cond. With water or air do not bend the fins. Oil is importiant it is moved threw the system by the freon if it is low on freon the oil does not come back to the comp. I can go on for hours but the most importiant thing I was taught is to be honest. Do a job your proud of charge a fair price. And no one is perfect we all make mistakes. If you have questions e mail me I will do my best to get back to you .Modestoautoair at yahoo dot com |
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| Amount: $0.00 |
Lower speeds not working on AC/heat
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| Posted by: CuriousinKS in Lenexa, KS. | Purchased: September, 2004 |
| Make: 1997 Accura | Model: Integra |
| The blower does not work on speeds 1 and 2...and now I've noticed that when speeds 3 and 4 are engaged I have a noise like the bearing is going out on the blower fan. |
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| Amount: $70.00 |
A/C hose Cracks spraying freon everywhere.
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| Posted by: a user in springfield, VA. | Purchased: 2010 |
| Make: dodge | Model: durango |
| Shop: my house |
I pulled over cause my engine bay started smelling bad, i opened the hood looked underneath it and found a hose had broken spraying green liquid all over. I look around finding it was my a/c hose. cost to buy new one was 65 plus tax. the shop wanted to do 120 just do order the part to there store. then who knows how much to install and charge it.
so i go to a friend who is a mechanic junkie, he fixes it up just fine. bought him a 6 pack + 12 bucks. total spent 82. |
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| Amount: $450.00 |
A/C Test & Repair
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| Posted by: kush quality in Cashville, TN. | Purchased: 2010 |
| Make: 98 Lincoln | Model: Towncar |
| Shop: Alva's |
| I was charged $100 just for testing at one place and they asked for $600 for repairs. Went to Alva's where they said they needed to pull my dash and replace the sensor, not sure what it's called, but it works great. Ended up paying $450. |
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| Amount: $343.00 |
Air conditioner pressure hose
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| Posted by: jj87507 in Santa Fe, NM. | Purchased: January, 2006 |
| Make: 03 Chevy | Model: suburban |
| Shop: PEP Boys |
| PEP Boys did aa a/c check for $162. They told me it was the high pressure side hose and switch. They qouted $665 to replace. I asked for part# and come to find out the hose cost $72.99(99.99 at PEP Boys) and Auto Zone and Chevy Dealership had hose and the switch came with it for $113.85. So I took the part to PEP Boys to install total cost 343. If I had taken it to the Dealership at first it would have cost $300.13. Bewar PEP Boys upcharges parts and will take you if they can. |
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