Hi all LS 430 lovers,

No signs at all. When I picked up my car from the Lexus collision centre and was about to drive home, the air-conditioning was blowing baking hot air.

The representative at the collision centre doesn't think the problem is due to the collision which I agree (since I got hit from the back). The car also drove fine the day I brought her to the collision centre too.

Having bringing my car to the other side (the service centre) and waited for 2 days. They said it required replacement of the air compressor along with an array of other parts.

This is the issue... $3400.....

If I sell the car probably I will get a few hundreds if I am lucky since the car, as you known is completely depreciated.

On the other side, if I invest the $, not sure when it will become defective again. Or probably there are other problems awaiting.

I never blame the car given her age (a 2002) and she never gives me any surprise other than this.

What do you guys think? Do you think I should go ahead to fix it? By the way the dealer offered me a loaner car so at least I have a few days of time to consider.

I will update you guys about the parts after the service advisor shoot me a repair estimate.

Any inputs are appreciated!!

It is now likely pulling hairs since it is a kind of struggle between angel and demon.

 

If it is just the compressor you got overcharged. I replaced mine from Rock Auto (original Denso) for 256.-- plus labor

 

Will they give you a brand new car for that $3400? Wow!
Try to get a breakdown of exactly what they want to change.
And you can try to argue the A/C with insurance to try to get it covered.
The car's AC worked before the collision -> the collision happened -> the AC no longer functions. You can argue its a safety issue because of the defrost function of the AC.

 

if you were rear ended, they probably will not cover the compressor. my Volvo was rear ended and the horn was intermittently working. but the insurance wouldn't even consider since it was a rear end collision.

as for the price, that is way high. even if that is just the compressor and recharging the system. i'm sure you could find an independent shop that would do it cheaper.

 

Below is a page taken from the 2002 LS430 Owner's Manual. It says that if the compressor does not operate, the indicator light on the "A/C" button will blink. Can you confirm if your A/C button blink?

 

I would not fix it and am going by several friends with other makes who spent time and money, and were not able to fix their AC. Two were GM and one is Ford.

The fact is a system should never need replacement nor refrigerant. I can only use my own example, 1998 Maxima ice cold air 21 years on the road.

Then, look at a home where the compressor/condenser is outside, and the evap is inside the furnace in the form of an A coil. It's not common to have leaks fixed. Because the compressor or evap usually is 1/2 the price of an entire new system and the leak can be anywhere in between. It's like trying to get lucky, but having odds that are 50/50. Those odds are not even good with a prom date. I don't think it means to toss the car, there was a time when AC was a luxury. But there isn't any 3rd gen on the road worth $3400 in repairs, imho. The car's value is just too low to sink that much into it.

 

Dealer is way over charging. Should be about a $900-1200 repair. Call around and find an independent shop to fix your AC. If possible find a shop that specializes in auto AC work because they have the tools and experience to do a better job.

For $3400 repair which is close to market value, especially after an accident, I'd likely sell or trade a 2002 LS on something else unless the car was in cream puff condition.

 

I just replaced the compressor (not OEM) for $1,300 - including new refrigerant, at a Midas shop. Working beautifully now. 2004 LS430, 105,000 miles.

 

You are being overcharged... take it to a place that specializes in AC, as someone else mentioned. A compressor alone is not very expensive. An "array of other parts" sounds like the dealer is spitballing and plans to just replace as much as possible and gouge you in the process. Get a second opinion....

 

If you have the trim package that includes Rear Air Conditioning (e.g the Ultra Luxury package), a rear-end collision can definitely damage the air conditioning system. There are refrigerant lines running from the front of the car to the rear evaporator. A rear collision can damage the rear AC components, and if any rear AC components leak refrigerant, it affects the entire system front and rear. This should definitely be covered by insurance.

If you don't have the rear AC package, and you have service receipts within the past year showing that your car was checked out and no AC system problems were reported, and your AC was working fine immediately before the collision, then you have a case to make with the insurance company.

 

Thank you all for the input. I had a lengthy quarrel with my girlfriend last night which was not going anywhere. She thinks it makes no sense to spend a fortune on a completely "worthless" car. Excuse me, I corrected her choice of word and should be replaced with "depreciated". She said " a car is just a car." I have had enough. I love my LS 430 which reminds of my mum. I decide to keep the car as long as it can.

The AC and auto buttons give solid green lights. No blinking. My car is loaded with heated rear seats which I presume it has nothing to do with the air-conditioning system.

I received a call from the dealer saying they may try to recharge the system if that solves the problem. I told them them to give it a shot since I had paid a diagnostic fee anyway haha.

The service advisor also doesn't think Geico (the company that insures the driver at fault who rear-ended me) is going to budge. I have made up the difference of $100 for getting a genuine silver liner out of my pocket.

This is a picture of the damage taken after the accident.



Now I need to find an independent shop but I do worry if they only do half of the job, if not making it worse. Well I still keep the 2019 ES as a hostage so I guess I will have until Monday to decide whether to proceed with the $3k repair.

Turns out the estimate is lower than what I was quoted and here is the division of the parts.




Thank you all again for the reply! Going to deal with my girlfriend this evening for negotiation round 2! Wish me luck, mate!

 

gorgeous color, yet 964 for a reman!! get all those
parts from rock auto for under 500 bux and install for 500 including freon and call it a day

 

My dad was always like the g/f, hard to say which is better, my mom tended to portray tough love but at the same time let me have my way. My dad told me I f'd up with college, yet that college today accepts 7%. Because I didn't get into th more exclusive colleges. When I got sued for 2 mil. (got into a fist fight well many but that one resulted in a lawsuit) as a 19 y.o. he told me if I didn't do anything I have nothing to worry about. If I did I am f'd. lol he really did. I know on a car like a 15 y.o. Lexus he would tell me s*** it up why do you feel it's necessary to drive a car that was expensive when it was new, 15 yrs. later? Why can't you buy a 3 y.o. car used, like a Corolla or Camry? So in reality the g/f is the objective one here haha

I don't see myself being tough on my son even though I want to be to build his character. I want him to do way better than I did, but the odds are very slim due to the competitive nature of kids graduating 2032. he's starting K on 9/3 and he's going to have classmates who live in the 1-3 mil homes. When they come over they're gonna think we live like their servants haha the geographical boundaries in a school district will do that, we should stick with having ordinary classmates like in the preschool. I never gave it any thought I mean at the elementary school level, just HS

I dunno sometimes we can justify say it's $1,000 just F it and do it and if it doesn't work don't tell anyone haha

 

yeah, that much for a reman'd compressor? i work at a NAPA here in MD. we have new Denso compressor that would sell to a walk in customer for $431. find a good indy shop and let them take care of it.

 

As far as I know this is too much for a simple compressor change. This seems to be a simple overcharge, and I think you did not notice this. So to say, next time you better find somebody else to repair your AC system, you probably won't pay double. I've faced the same issue last year, my AC started to blow cold air and I could not fix this. So I took it to my brother who is working in the aircon service which is able to fix any issue you've got with your conditioning system. To be honest, he fixed my issue in a couple of minutes and I did not pay him nothing as it was a small problem. So to say, I think you better try to fix your AC issue by calling a AC specialist, that will be able to fix your issue in a couple of minutes. By the way, If you will be looking for a good aircon repair you better visit this site www.socool.sg/ You will get a consultation in a short time, so the specialist will better know what kind of issue you have, and how he will fix it before he will come to you