car repair bills suck

[timaishu]

So I decided to drop my Altima off at the local car repair place I've been going to for years. I know the owner on a first name basis and he is a great guy.

My car's AC has been slowly going out. When I bought it it blew cold and ever since it has gradually been less effective and now 2 1/2 years later it blows warm air.

Took it in thinking it needed a simple recharge. He told me he would take a look. Got a call later that one of the hoses was leaking and an OEM one from Nissan was in the 150 range. So 300 bucks. Not bad I thought. Called him later that day to see how it was going and he said that they found another hose to be leaking and now its about 500. Ugh I thought. Not cool. But I told him to go ahead as he is extremely trust worthy.

Called him this morning and he said that they charged the car it wasn't leaking anymore. Great I thought! BUT, he said that he still isn't sure about it as it would stop blowing cold while they were testing. 5 hours later he has diagnosed it as being a bad AC compressor. OMG!!

He was very sorry and he said they are usually 700 bucks. But he found one about 30-40 miles away for 400 or so which is great!

But just to have AC again I am looking at $1010.00 dollars. That is the cheapest he can make it for me. Thank goodness my refund check will pay for most of this. But it really sucks non the less.

Just thought Id share.

 

[rider9195]

I feel your pain. I had to spend ~$3,500 on my car recently. Needed a new angle gear and slave cylinder. Labor is super expensive as well!!

 

[Tundra_10]

... how much does it cost to get a sunroof installed? lol Sorry, I know that sucks. Hey have you checked pull-a-part? They have a flat fee for each item they sell and they are really reasonable. I know its a used part but dang it will save you a few 100 even from the 400 he is telling you.

... Just checked, my local pull-a-part would sell the compressor for 15 with a 5 dollar core charge. So like $20

 

[RhetoricMixes]

I suggest rockauto.com, thats where i get all my repair parts from. Cheapest ive seen for 90% of the stuff i need. and by cheap i mean saves me big bucks lol.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

But just to have AC again I am looking at $1010.00 dollars. That is the cheapest he can make it for me. Thank goodness my refund check will pay for most of this. But it really sucks non the less.

I hear ya...my compressor seized going over the Verazano or Goethals bridge...smoke started coming out from under the hood and I didn't know if the engine was on fire or what and there was no place to pull over! Cost me $1100 because I changed it to the new refrigerant...but at least it worked after...darn cars...

I feel your pain. I had to spend ~$3,500 on my car recently. Needed a new angle gear and slave cylinder. Labor is super expensive as well!!

What the heck is an angle gear and slave cylinder??

... how much does it cost to get a sunroof installed? lol Sorry, I know that sucks. Hey have you checked pull-a-part? They have a flat fee for each item they sell and they are really reasonable. I know its a used part but dang it will save you a few 100 even from the 400 he is telling you.

... Just checked, my local pull-a-part would sell the compressor for 15 with a 5 dollar core charge. So like $20

I'm sorry, that is insane to put a used compressor in with all the work of refrig recovery, pump down, charging...only to find the used one is no good or worse barfed all kinds of crap into your system.

I suggest rockauto.com, thats where i get all my repair parts from. Cheapest ive seen for 90% of the stuff i need. and by cheap i mean saves me big bucks lol.

Depending on the part, massively cheaper...I bought an O2 sensor from there and I couldn't come anywhere even remotely close to the price calling around locally...even after adding 2 day shipping onto it.

 

[timaishu]

Thing is he wont warranty customer parts. So if I bring him a used compressor and it messes it all up again or something else happens its on me.

So Id rather him decide what to put in. He is a great guy and he is working to make it as cheap as possible for me.

 

[Sinbad]

2 1/2 years is a very slow leak. A/C is a sealed system and most of the leaks are the o-rings that dry out. It is recommended that the a/c be ran once a month, on hot or cold temp, to circulate the oil in the system. The oil helps lubricate the o-rings as well as the compressor.

A/C work is not cheap, but it is great when it works. Partsgeek seems to have some inexpensive prices on items I have been needing lately. For the record.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

2 1/2 years is a very slow leak. A/C is a sealed system and most of the leaks are the o-rings that dry out. It is recommended that the a/c be ran once a month, on hot or cold temp, to circulate the oil in the system. The oil helps lubricate the o-rings as well as the compressor.

I'm sorry, the O-Rings don't "dry out". As the OP said, the crimps go bad on the hoses, there is a lot of thermal cycling, vibration, pressure impulse, etc. Circulating the oil doesn't do anything for the O-rings, the dry side is always dry, the wet side is always wet.

EDIT: Possibly the crimps are no good from the beginning, which is why leakage is slow, and likely they get worse with the environment they live in. Regardless, the O-Rings in the fittings are in a stiff joint, they certainly aren't subject to the same beating the hose crimp is...and they just don't go bad over time like that....and they certainly don't "dry out".

 

[timaishu]

Im sure its not something for a novice to attempt though..

Ive been doing everything myself that I feel comfortable with like filters and belts. I would be afraid to mess with the AC.

 

[rider9195]

What the heck is an angle gear and slave cylinder??

An angle gear is what Volvo's use in their AWD cars. It transfers power to the rear wheels. It is a weak spot in S60R's because of the torque and how the gear engages.

The slave cylinder is part of a manual transmission. It is usually located either inside the bell housing or right outside of it. It is a hydraulic piston that engages and disengages the clutch when the clutch pedal is pressed.

 

[tw33k2514]

Im sure its not something for a novice to attempt though..

Ive been doing everything myself that I feel comfortable with like filters and belts. I would be afraid to mess with the AC.

As you should. A/C is not something a novice should touch. Truth is, you need a lot of specialized equipment to do the job properly. The most expensive being a Recover, Recycle, Evacuate and Recharge Machine. Which will run you about $2500.

 

[jjkacz]

I am looking at $1010.00 dollars. That is the cheapest he can make it for me. Thank goodness my refund check will pay for most of this. But it really sucks non the less.

Just thought Id share.

It's still cheaper than having a new car payment every month!
:dblthumb2:

 

[timaishu]

It's still cheaper than having a new car payment every month!
:dblthumb2:

True my car is already paid off so thats good.

This brings back bad memories of my old taurus. That thing had several 1k+ repairs before I got rid of it.

 

[Porsche Pilot]

For the record, a window regulator replace and repair on a Porsche 996 is $1003.86. Just in case you have ever wondered. That bill took a big bite out of my evening martini routine.


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[Vegas Transplant]

I hear ya...my compressor seized going over the Verazano or Goethals bridge...smoke started coming out from under the hood and I didn't know if the engine was on fire or what and there was no place to pull over! Cost me $1100 because I changed it to the new refrigerant...but at least it worked after...darn cars...

.

The last time I crossed the Verrazano it was $25/5 axles.

 

[oldmodman]

I recently replace the entire AC system on my old 1992 ford explorer. Got all the parts from Rock Auto.
My original system suffered what is called "The Black Death"
I replaced the compressor, all three lines, the dryer, front heat exchanger, all O rings, and the only part I kept was the in cabin heat exchanger. That I just flushed out, way too hard to replace.
Took all weekend to replace everything then pull a vacuum on it and left it to sit overnight to make sure that it would hold it. Then put in the required amount of mineral oil (it's the old R-12 type) and filled it with freon. I bought ten lifetimes supply of r-12 before it was banned.
Blows freezing cold air and hasn't leaked so far.
Total cost was right around $400.00

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Then put in the required amount of mineral oil (it's the old R-12 type) and filled it with freon. I bought ten lifetimes supply of r-12 before it was banned.

Yeah, well...after my compressor blew and I had that car changed over to R-134a, I had no R-12 cars anymore and neither did anyone I knew so I got rid of my charging station.

 

[timaishu]

Got my car back. He told me they had to replace the one of the AC hoses due to it leaking and another small bit they forgot to give him so two hoses.

My compressor was no good because there were metal in the system and that was the only place they could have come from. It also needed a new expansion valve. Total came out to $1090.48.

Im so glad to have my car back. Ive forgotten what good AC feels like. It sure does blow cold, he told me 45 degrees.

Bought a cabin filter to finish this all off and Im gonna go to install that right now.

 

[timaishu]

Went ahead and changed my cabin filter as suggested by Tundra_10!

Woooooow I am glad I did. I do not think this thing has ever been changed. Atleast it hasn't since I've owned it. Nasty.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Im so glad to have my car back. Ive forgotten what good AC feels like. It sure does blow cold, he told me 45 degrees.

Sure, rub it in that you live somewhere where you need A/C in February...J/K...glad it's all fixed!