$1200 for A/C Repair

The A/C in the Mazda stopped blowing cold air this weekend. If it were just me in the car most times I wouldn't really care. But my son is almost always with me, and as temps are already in the 90s here, I figured I should get it checked.

Long story short, I need a new compressor (which alone costs $660). I was given an estimate for $1200 to include the parts (compressor and drier) and labor. I'm calling around to see if I can get other estimates, but does this seem like a normal price?

Wow, how much labor are they quoting you. But yeah, A/C ain't cheap to fix. Heck, the high pressure line on my old W124 Benz is $1200 just for the part!!!

its prices like those that caused me to run most of my life with no a/c (yes I know it's hot in FL... you learn to deal with it... even while delivering pizza)

anyway a large part of a/c is labor... it's in most cases not to hard to swap the componets yourself (unless you have to remove the dash to do it)...

you can buy a gauge manifold set to pull a vac for about $40 at harbor freight... $100 for a good vac pump but they do have a $20 one for a one time job... heck O'vanced-zone may even rent those parts out...

could always try a used compressor, swap it, rent the stuff from the store and fill her up

I priced a/c replacement on my Sonoma a few years ago; it was $1200 and I decided "no for now". The quoted price for the compressor was around $700 plus the cost of a condensor, receiver/dryer, new refrigerant and labor. I had the option of providing the parts and that would have saved a few hundred bucks but without any warranty.

Your price quote seems normal if the dealer is one to be trusted in making a good diagnosis instead of a quick buck.

Be happy it's not the evaporator. Besides the cost of the part, the book labor to R&R one of those is usually eye-popping, but it's not surprising when you look at the repair procedure and realize the evaporator assembly is buried deep in the dash and a crap-ton of parts have to be removed to get to it.

A coworker spent over $2000 to have the a/c in his '97 F150 fixed last year.

It's quotes like this that make me consider ~$900 for a mid-level refrigerant system. Or ~$200 or so for a more basic vacuum pump and gauge set.

What model/year? Compressors are $20-40 in the pick-n-pull lot. A reseal kit for a sanden or denso is about $15. The clutches pretty much either work or don't...

Those prices don't really surprise me for a shop - My cheapskate version is jy compressor or rebuild exisitng, new drier and new refrigerant - I probably would have a shop drain and refill - you know, to save the planet and all. The next step up would be just buying a remanufactured or even a new compressor on the interwebz, new drier... so figure cheapskate version $40 for compressor, $50 for drier - $150 for the drain/fill ($240) or $200 for the reman, $50 for drier, $150 drain/fill ($400).

Try www.techchoiceparts.com. I got a new compressor for the Esprit for like $150 or something.

I tell customers that AC repair is anywhere from $200 to $2000 depending on what's wrong. Compressor for an 07 Explorer is $557 here at Ford. Plus you have to replace the Accumulator, Orrifice Tube, and do an evac & recharge with the freon and oil. Just had this come in. Luckilly for the customer, it was covered under the extended warranty so he's only out $50 for the deductable. You'll always find cheaper and you'll always find more expensive if you look hard enough.

My truck has the 2/60 A/C.

Both windows down and 60 mph!

Bah, that garbage is more weight anyhow. Dump it, and learn to keep a cold beverage with you.

My experience with AC techs is that you pay a whole lot for their knowledge.

I remember when the whole AC system installed was a $1,000 option and they could intall it in a couple of hours.

I once had a chance to buy a new in box Nissan AC system for my truck on fleabay and missed it.

I need to put a new compressor in my Civic. Not really looking forward to it.

I found out that if ONLY the rear air goes out on my Durango, the cost alone is between $2000-$3000. Most of it is due to labor because the interior pieces in the cargo area of the truck need to be completely removed.

The rear A/C actually is really helpful. I'm not looking forward to that day.

It has to be easier to work on than the Esprit. With the Esprit, they hung the gas tanks and the AC hoses in the air, then built the car around them. Try replacing either or both some time.

I got a quote like that for my wife's car, which had a clogged evaporator core. It still hasn't been fixed. And never will be.

The rear air in my work van crapped out last summer. The dealer quoted $1100 to replace one line. I did a little digging and found the line for $120 and called them back. All the sudden the price went from $1100 to $350. I don't mind paying for a job, but don't screw me.

Learn to fix it yourself. My son and I did the compressor, dryer and orifice on his Escort for under $350. The parts came from a local wholesaler and I've got the vacuum and gauge set. That was two years and 100K miles ago.

I can't imagine an Escort compressor being much cheaper than a Mazda one. What year and model is your Mazda, I'll be happy to call the wholesaler tomorrow and get a price. You also might try Rock Auto. Their price on the Escort compressor is $165.

Sounds like a pretty "normal" price. FWIW, AC repair is something you can figure out how to DIY if you want to save a few bucks. I did the MR2 last year and it's still working. But if you just want to get someone to fix it, that sounds pretty much in line to me.

I have no problem fixing my own. My old boss has all the A/C equipment, so I can do it for as cheap as possible.

FWIW, there's an evaporator in a Focus that I get to start on tomorrow, the estimate is just under $1300.

A/C tends to be expensive.

Just wait until people with hybrids find out that, for a great many of them, the A/C is used to keep the battery pack cool, and if the A/C is nonfunctional, the car will refuse to move. Self-protection.

When I bought my Civic in 1989, adding the dealer-installed A/C (pretty much the only way to get A/C on a Civic back then) cost $1,000-$1,100. A few years later, the A/C went "out" on the same car, and I was told that when it "went" it had contaminated the lines and most of the components in the system...so another $1,000.

In 1986, when I moved to Fl. I tried to get the A/C in my 1982 J2000 fixed, one estimate was $600-$700.

So, you can see, that a minimum of $700 nowadays might not be too far out of line. Luckily, I haven't had any A/C problems in my cars lately. I make it a point to use the A/C at least 1 or 2 times a week, even in winter.

Well I called another shop and got an estimate at $1030. And for me not getting this fixed really isn't an option. 30-45 minute drives with my son are pretty common just cause we live so far away from things, and at least half of that is stop light areas. And I found a compressor unit with clutch on ebay for $450, so maybe they'll come down on the price a little bit.

But I'm willing to play with the devil on this one.

I fixed the A/C on my last two Saturns myself. The more expensive of the two was still <$100.

I'm surprised, of all forums, to see people getting A/C repair quotes here on GRM. They are pretty easy systems to work with.

In reply to ProDarwin:

While I understand what you are saying, I know that some people aren't comfortable working on certain systems of the car.

ProDarwin wrote: I fixed the A/C on my last two Saturns myself. The more expensive of the two was still <$100. I'm surprised, of all forums, to see people getting A/C repair quotes here on GRM. They are pretty easy systems to work with.

I have one basic tool kit, no work space, and little experience. Please forgive me if I'm not willing to tackle this one myself.

ProDarwin wrote: I fixed the A/C on my last two Saturns myself. The more expensive of the two was still <$100. I'm surprised, of all forums, to see people getting A/C repair quotes here on GRM. They are pretty easy systems to work with.

Not really. There's a ton of bad information floating around the interweb and even here. Too many guys "think" they know enough, but don't.