Seeking help: Air Conditioner issue

[ThoreauHD]

The parts are reasonable.. And if you have any links on A/C work, I'd be happy to see them. I can't seem to check Bruno's site, as it looks down.

[Bill R.]

92, you can have the lines redone for about 50 at a a/c shop. The factory labor for changing the evaporator is 3.1 hrs and add another hour for changing the lines and filter/drier... evacuate and charge system figure another hour max.. figure 6 hours as a fair estimate plus app. 360 for all parts and refrigerant... somebodies making a whopper of a profit on that job..

I went to the shop today having the same symptoms you do. They quoted me $1800 for a leak on low side A line and at the evaporator. Need to replace evaporator, rec/drier, and a/c lines.

Talk about make you feel sick.. ehh.. I wish there was a cheaper way to fix the thing.

[Bill R.]

134a in it for the summer. 10.99 a can is a whole lot cheaper each summer than 1800

I went to the shop today having the same symptoms you do. They quoted me $1800 for a leak on low side A line and at the evaporator. Need to replace evaporator, rec/drier, and a/c lines.

Talk about make you feel sick.. ehh.. I wish there was a cheaper way to fix the thing.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Ebay for parts.

I found an exact replacements for my compressor, condenser and drier off of Ebay. spent less than $500.00. 1990 M20 525 (didn't want to "adapt" a new set up)

Just make sure you know what your parts look like and part # s, so you don't have a bad experience half way into it. Email the seller, or call them...most of the good ones are A/C shops and with a little communication can send the right stuff.

As far as refrigeration goes…I have found lots of info from searches.
Just replace a the O rings on anything you touch, be clean, just in case have extra O rings many sizes and the proper material so you don’t get stuck.

[ThoreauHD]

I don't reckon it's a small leak. It holds for about a month from what I can tell. I just had it recharged last month. 2 lbs worth. Hmm.. these guys charge 60 per hour. So at your estimate, with the 10% discount, it should hover around.. $360 labor + $330 parts= $690 != $1800. Ugh.

I have a mechanic friend that could do this and I can get the parts at discount. I think that might be worth a proper shot.

I'm a computer guy, so while I was quite comfortable replacing a ROM chip on the ECU, I'm not so sure about doing compressed gas lines for the first time on my bmw. Thanks for the kick in the right direction Bill and Bob.

[ThoreauHD]

Oh, and if worse comes to worst, I can always just pop another can of juice in.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

To keep my system pressurized until I could locate all the parts and time to fix it.

But if your evaporator is leaky...then I would not keep filling it up, cause it's leaking out into the cabin for you to breath.

[Bill R.]

evaporator job... besides a mercedes sl or a volvo 850 that is...like this..

I don't reckon it's a small leak. It holds for about a month from what I can tell. I just had it recharged last month. 2 lbs worth. Hmm.. these guys charge 60 per hour. So at your estimate, with the 10% discount, it should hover around.. $360 labor + $330 parts= $690 != $1800. Ugh.

I have a mechanic friend that could do this and I can get the parts at discount. I think that might be worth a proper shot.

I'm a computer guy, so while I was quite comfortable replacing a ROM chip on the ECU, I'm not so sure about doing compressed gas lines for the first time on my bmw. Thanks for the kick in the right direction Bill.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

took 9 hours and a saw.

Didn't want to remove the driver's side stuff and steering column, so cut the plenum in half to replace just the evaporator, and leave the heater side alone…God, I hate that van.

[Paul in NZ]

and once you hve had the a/c fixed run it regularly......stops the seals drying out and losing refrigerant