Air Conditioner Repair Advice Please
My air conditoner hasn't worked for a few years. It doesn't blow very cool air. Does anyone have any advice that might save me some money on the repair? Should I take to a certain kind of repair shop? Is there anything I should know about air conditioner repairs that will prevent me from being over-charged?
Answer:
There is no substitute for word of mouth. Ask around. Somebody you know has had A/C work done; hopefully they were happy with the result. BTW, if it hasn't been cooling for several years, it might need lots of work. One way to save money is to get it looked at pronto as soon as you notice it not cooling well.What kind of car is it? If it an old one with r-12 in in, don't be surprised to walk out with a bill for $800 to 1200. My guess is the very minimum service would be to change out all the o rings then pump it down and recharge. With R-12 as expensive as it is, this would be kind of rolling the dice. Even that would probably cost you 100 to 200 dollars. You probably walk out the door with new compressor, drier, some lines and misc. That's when the big buck bill will hit. Does the compressor kick in at all? If it does, that means there is still some gas left in the system which could be a good sign. If the compressor does not kick in at all, it could be very low or empty of refrigeration gas. Ifs its completely empty, that's usually a guarantee of an expensive repair to trouble shoot and replace the hoses, lines or coils. You probably have two choices, find someone who will basically just put gas in it until it leaks out. Or, find someone who will completely leak test it and replace all suspicious parts. That choice is up to your concience and pocket book. Most larger towns will have a shop that specializes in A/C only. That's probably the best place to get it done right. If your lucky, your car is newer and has R-134 in it. If its early 90's or older, it probably has R-12 in it. If you were an adventurous person, Do the research and buy a R-134 recharge kit from your local discount store.