Hi everybody,

The AC on my 2000 Windstar died a couple of days ago, Took it to the local tire and auto place and was told that the seal on the compressor blew so I need to replace the compressor, accumalator and since freon is no longer available that needs to be updated. They quoted me $999. Is that a good price?
Oh yeah, I live in the Phoenix area

 

OK.... lets see here..... How do they exect to cool the air without freon....Hummmmmmm... Anyway the price does not seam to far off.... The Compressor is most of the cost... as far as the accumulator it is not 100% nessissary to replace. Most shops replace the acumulator every time they open the system because if they get water in the system from condensation inside the acumulator after air enter the tubing further damage of the system can accure.... Where I work when we open a system we hold vaccume on the system for 30min rather than the industry standard 15 min to remove as much moisture from the system as possible.Also since the seal blew there is no more freon in the system and you will need about 2 lbs of freon... My suggestion is call around to talk to some shops and see what they are charging for the same job... I know alot will say bring it down and we will need to do a performance test. just tell them you need a price.... again i dont thik it is to far out of line... unfortunatly A/C is a privalage and the companies that make the parts know this. Labor is just labor... most a..c repairs are 90% part cost 10% labor....

 

sounds like a rip off to me go to your local parts store take your old compresser with u buy a compressor then go to wal-mart they sell 134a freon kits withhose gauge and three cans of freon for about $35.00 do yor on labor and it shouldn't cost over $300.00 if that much and its not that hard to do if u don't have the tools buy what u need at the auto parts store and u will still save mega bucks

 

One cannot save mega bucks by just buying a compressor and some R134a. One must also buy a decent vacuum pump and set of gauges. Unless one can borrow some. Youthen pull a vacuum (vacuum pump)to boil off all moisture in the system. Then after pulling the vacuum, you need to ensure the system holds the vacuum (gauges), I normallyensure that it holds the vacuum for 30 minutes. Then you add the R134a to equalize the system based on MFG specs for the system+-10% variance based onyour gauge readings.