AM I getting ripped off

[reformed99]

Air con stopped working so I took it in to get looked at.

Bloke reckons the compressor is leaking, so I need to replace it and the dryer for $900 bucks!!!

Does this sound right?

[IGNITIONSV6]

unfortunetly yes compressors are very expencive depends wear u go i guess plus he wants to do the dryer as well pus labour mmmm probley right if u cud find a wreaker with a vt u cud get it cheaper but no garantees with a wreaker

[don0xer]

seriously dont go to some backyard mechanic who sais he'll do it cheap cheap, if your replacing ANY part of a a/c system you must evacuate the whole aircon system/change drier. its not a simple remove/reinstall...

[IGNITIONSV6]

yes i agree with that i had it done with my old car u really need to start over i wud imagine the new gas wud be worth a bit 2 its hard to know really u may even be able to re seal the old compressor but get a few quotes from a few ppl 1st mate

[don0xer]

134a costs $10/kg trade, most places cost $70 for a refil, most systems do not need a topup - if theres a leak its all gone and theres <1kg of gas in the system anyway ahah

[oztech007]

Sometimes its not always the A/C Compressor. Ive got a VT in which an A/C Specialist said that their A/C compressor seal was gone and needed the compressor replacing and all the rest, costing $1000. Going on my own knowledge, I Decided to replace all the seals of all the pipe connections and Replaced the Reciever/Dryer. Got it regassed and it never gave me a single problem again. 5 Years on and its still perfectly Freezing.
Seals cost me $5, Reciever Dryer $35, and Regas with Leak Detectent $125.
Total $165.

As well as this, my Wifes old Mazda 121 Buble had lost its gas a few years ago and I decided to do the same thing. (Seals, Reciever/Dryer, Regas). Again it worked, and now her sister has the car, and its still working perfect after 2 Years.

[commsirac]

$900 sounds okay, is that for a new compressor or a remanufactured one?
Typically the compressor manufacturers will not warranty the compressor unless the receiver dryer and tx valve is replaced(im not sure your system even has a tx valve)

Was a quote given just to replace the leaking seals in the compressor? and refit.

Part of the service is obviously evacuating the system which typically most places only have it half an hour on the vac pump or less. There actually isnt much work in this, connect up the pump and walk away for half an hour!
If I had my own supply of r134 id just be topping it up. Unless you have lost total pressure in the system, then the amount of air that could leak in is not really a consideration.

[jazza15]

Simple solution: get a quote from somewhere else, then make your decision from that.

[jav360]

Is it 900 for the total bill?
Take into account for labour, recovery of the gas, seals, new gas, they may have quoted for time to remove the front bumper to replace the reciever dryer.

[vpformula]

you have to remember that the gas is different these days, dont know the names. i just know when i had my new heater put in i had to empty whole unit and regas with new stuff. dont do backyard stuff with major things like this mate the gas is hella dangerous to be messing with

[commsirac]

you have to remember that the gas is different these days, dont know the names. i just know when i had my new heater put in i had to empty whole unit and regas with new stuff. dont do backyard stuff with major things like this mate the gas is hella dangerous to be messing with

You didnt have to regas with the new stuff, it would have been best to continue with the gas it was designed for, but they wouldnt have told you that......unless they had some of the old gas lying around.

The new stuff is called r134a. It has been a legal requirement that the previous gas, r12, was not to be used on new vehicles since 1994. Your vp was perhaps the last of them fitted with r12.

[Sabbath']

"Horror Story" of Aircon gas.

Guy goes to release gas himself, sprays himself in the face, instant freeze occurs, he rubs his eyeball and shatters it...

[Full Spectrum]

""^^""


2nd hand parts will lower the price.. $80 compressor, $50 Dryer receiver, $100 refill and they might charge a little extra for sometype of oil they stick through it?.

[commsirac]

"Horror Story" of Aircon gas.

Guy goes to release gas himself, sprays himself in the face, instant freeze occurs, he rubs his eyeball and shatters it...

Hmm....even if you know what you are doing, gloves and safety glasses are a must when working on ac under pressure.