A/C vs No A/C

[nice96gt]

Here's my question...

My A/C blows cool/luke warm air all of the time, and I don't know what to do with it. It will cost me around $210+tax CAN to get a recharge done for the A/C. If there happens to be a leak, then it will cost even more, probably around $400+. Should I fix it or should I just save the cash and just drive with the windows down? (I usually have them down anyways, and I think I've tried to use the A/C all of twice this summer so far.) What do ya think?

I thought $200+ for a recharge sounded like a lot. Is that what it goes for now? Has anyone else had it done recently?

[Jordon'sGrandAm]

i'd take it to amackic for maybe a check up on the air and see what they say. if all is well and you don't need to fix it just recharge it.

[nice96gt]

Originally posted by Jordon'sGrandAm
i'd take it to amackic for maybe a check up on the air and see what they say. if all is well and you don't need to fix it just recharge it.

I've already had it looked at and the freon (sp?) is low. Most places wont just top it up, they have to flush out the system and then top it up.

Cost me $45 CAN to get it checked...another $165+tax CAN if I want to get a recharge...brutal

[Duster]

I've been doing it myself for awhile the first thing i learned was to top off the ac on my granma's car cause she use's it all the time! have u thought about doing it yourself? i injected the dye myself checked it with the blacklight to:D found out it wasnt a leak but the compressor itself was going bad:mad:

[nice96gt]

Originally posted by Duster
I've been doing it myself for awhile the first thing i learned was to top off the ac on my granma's car cause she use's it all the time! have u thought about doing it yourself? i injected the dye myself checked it with the blacklight to:D found out it wasnt a leak but the compressor itself was going bad:mad:

Hmmmm...I suppose I could take some time out of my busy schedule and try to do it. Did you flush the system then fill it up or just top it off? I don't know how long the previous owner had it like this so who knows what is junked up in the system.

[Duster]

when i first bought my car i flushed it out ever since then i topped it off till recently i stopped.

[unfknreal]

Originally posted by nice96gt
I've already had it looked at and the freon (sp?) is low. Most places wont just top it up, they have to flush out the system and then top it up.

Cost me $45 CAN to get it checked...another $165+tax CAN if I want to get a recharge...brutal

Most mechanics won't simply fill it if its low because theres environmental laws in ontario (maybe nationwide) that say something about checking for leaks & other flaws in the system first. Then I think theres a fee for sending the old stuff to be recycled on top of that. That would help explain the cost.

FYI, all cars from 1995 and up use R-134A refrigerant which is more expensive than Freon. Freon (R-12), has been phased out from refrigeration systems due to o-zone depletion.

If you know anyone who works on appliances (ie: fridges), you can usually talk them into topping it up for you for a few bucks.

[92CamaroRS]

if it doesn't rain alot where you are at or if it doesnt get extreamly HOT out then i would just forget it and leave it. the only reason i keep the AC is the fact that in Iowa it gets fairly hot and then it rains and stays hot. can't really drive with the windows open when its pouring like a cow pissin' on a flat rock.

[mthegodfather]

You can buy a kit at Autozone or even walmart and do it yourself for alot less money. It comes with the lines already on the can so all you have to do is hook them to the Lo-pressure side of the AC and hit a button. They even sell the cans of 134a with seal reconditioner in them which will fix most leaks. So in my opinion you would be alot better off just buying a can of that and doing it yourself.

[BBT]

Your 96 should have R-134A. Even if it's freon, you can find guys who will re-fill it for ya. There is still lots of freon available, if you know the right people.

For me, A/C is indispensible. It may not be for you. If you don't have a lot of heat AND humidity, you can probably drive comfortably without it.

$200 total to fix it though is not outrageous. I am assuming that when they checked the system and told you it was low, they also made sure there were no leaks anywhere, so the estimate is all you will have to pay, under Ontario consumer laws for garages & mechanics. Any other problems are theirs, not yours, since they didn't find them when they did the check and gave you the estimate.

Personally, for $200 I'd get it fixed.

[nice96gt]

Originally posted by BBT
Your 96 should have R-134A. Even if it's freon, you can find guys who will re-fill it for ya. There is still lots of freon available, if you know the right people.

For me, A/C is indispensible. It may not be for you. If you don't have a lot of heat AND humidity, you can probably drive comfortably without it.

$200 total to fix it though is not outrageous. I am assuming that when they checked the system and told you it was low, they also made sure there were no leaks anywhere, so the estimate is all you will have to pay, under Ontario consumer laws for garages & mechanics. Any other problems are theirs, not yours, since they didn't find them when they did the check and gave you the estimate.

Personally, for $200 I'd get it fixed.

Yeah it does take R-134A. It was $45 for the test for them to tell me it was low, unfortunately they can't tell me if it's leaking until after they flush the system and top it back up, which will cost another $165. Well that's what they told me anyways. This will be the price IF there aren't any leaks. My weather is similar to yours since I'm from Niagara Falls. I usually don't use the A/C too much, but it's always nice to have on those really hot and humid days.

[Duster]

They dont need to flush the system to test it!:magus: All they have to do is inject the U/V dye into the system and alittle coolant and let u run it for like 15 mins to get a brief scope of the problem! Thats a good way for them to make a extra buck off of u! So if theres a leak depending on how they fix it, will need to flush the system out, do the work then top it back off! What a good way rape u out of your money!

[nice96gt]

Originally posted by Duster
They dont need to flush the system to test it!:magus: All they have to do is inject the U/V dye into the system and alittle coolant and let u run it for like 15 mins to get a brief scope of the problem! Thats a good way for them to make a extra buck off of u! So if theres a leak depending on how they fix it, will need to flush the system out, do the work then top it back off! What a good way rape u out of your money!

Don't worry many I hear ya. I'm not that stupid. I may have a hook-up with my buddy so we'll see what happens. I'm not just gonna let a garage take my money. Usually I can do most of the work myself, but somethings are just easier to get someone else to do it... :D

[HeyDace]

Duster is right. If the compressor is cycling all they need to do is inject dye. As far as the cost of r134, I pay $4.95 per 12 oz can, as opposed to $30.00 per 16oz of r12. (which is hard to find). So either the mechanics don't know what they are doing or they are taking you for a ride.

[insane4speed]

i was going to have my a/c taken out cuz i have not use for it but i cant find a 96 n-body with same motor and came factory w/o a/c