Here's the story:
I took my SC out of the garage a few months ago for spring and the AC wasn't blowing too cold, so I take it to Tires plus for a recharge. After robbing me of $260 ($200 for 2lbs of freon and $60 for leak check, test and labor) my AC seemed to work great and was blowing ice cold. Then over the course of 2 weeks the air gradually gets warm again so I take it back. There's obviously a leak right? But they tell me there can't find a leak and whole AC system is shot and will cost at least $2500. They said my compressor clogged my acculmulator and expansion valve with metal and all it all needs replacement with various other components which only they can order and must be new.
My question is are these guys scamming me or do AC really do go out suddenly. Everything else in the system works fine, no odd sounds or smells, just warm air
And second, if I do get it fixed; how do those do it yourself AC recharge kits work? 200 bucks just for the freon seems a little excessive.
I appreciate any thought on this. Thanks

 

Scam, I got mines repaired at the dealer and it didn't cost that much! I think around $1300 for a new compressor, dryer and recharge the system. Lucky for me I had a extended warranty, paid for itself, AC repair, power steering pump, new rack.

 

jacques - those DIY kits do work! I was a little apprehensive, not having done it before, but it is extremely easy to do and my ac now blows ice cold

 

Tires plus is the biggest rip off in the world.

My dad went in there because his brakes weren't working too well and they said he needed a $700 master cyliner (labor included in that price). Took it to the dealer and paid $150 to have the brake lines flushed and something else done. Master Cylinder was fine.

My friend also went in there for a tune up and they said it would be $800 for new spark plugs cap rotor wires distributor etc. Honda dealership did ti for free becasue it was covered under an emissions warranty.

 

You may need to go somewhere else and get it check out. The 1995 SC300 with the AC problem that I can remember are coming from the leaky Compressor or (rarely) the evaporator leak. Plus the $200.00 recharge the R134 freon is a little bit over price. One pound of R134 is about $15.00.

 

Replace everything AC at $3000 was what my stealership said when I went in for AC problem. Of course, I laughed at them for their stupidity and went home and fixed AC problem myself for $3 + freon and rebuilt the hoses for $100 while I was at it. Still ice cold four years later. R12 fetches a hefty premium if your system uses that.

 

I've run into my share of corner shops thinking they know A/C systems and making wild claims of what needs to be done.

Find a local A/C specialist shop. The shop I use is a ways away but know A/C and are known for knowing it. A big difference from the jack of all trades local chain shops.

I've lost track over the years of the various claims of so called "failures" only to visit the A/C professionals and have it fixed for a fraction of the other's estimates......BUT now the corner shops are saying because of the laws...if they find a system is leaking they are required to empty the system if you choose not to have it fixed. Now I just go to the A/C specialist from the start.

Good Luck,
JU