AC compressor took a dump

At Firestone getting the AC recharged on my 05 come to find out the compressor doesn't kick on so it is defective. Any idea what it'll cost me to replace it? Firestone quotes me $1500 for the compressor and another $700 for a damn filter. Not including labor.

 

If it is low on R134 it will not come on as there is a safety pressure switch. I would get it checked somewhere else for a second opinion.

I personally do not trust any Firestone Shop from my experience.

Yes the receiver-dryer must be replaced if the Compressor is damaged as that is where all the particles of metal and crap would collect. If you only replace the compressor these particles can get back into the new compressor and kill it also.

 

ef that! if its not kicking on then its electrical. dont replace the compressor for a fuse, relay, switch, wiring, etc. i know the 4runners had a similar problem in their early days with the 1gr. it was the relay. dont let these guys take your money. take it to a shop that specializes in automotive a/c if you dont want to get your multimeter out.

if i misunderstood you, as in the compressor kicks on, but doesn't cool, check your charge, and replace if charge is good but with equal hi/lo pressure/temprature.
if the compressor comes on and has abnormal noise, replace it.
if compressor comes on and kills the truck, check for overcharge or line blockage and replace. these are the only reasons i can think to replace a compressor

 

Incorrect. A low pressure condition will prevent the compressor clutch from coming on.

 

unless the charge is low, then its an electrical problem right?

if the compressor itself was the bad thing, then it would kick on, system would then notice low high-side pressure, and then shut down.

i made my assumption based on the fact that he said it doesn't come on and im guessing they put the correct charge in

 

If the charge is low it will not even engage the AC Clutch Relay.

If the compressor is seized it will trigger a fault and the AC Dash Light will flash.

If the system has pressure and the AC relay will not energize or the clutch doesn't engage when the relay is energized more than likely it is an electrical problem.

It is hard to troubleshoot on the internet. Too many unknowns. I do suggest he get a second opinion as Firestone has a shitty record with me. I wouldn't believe them if they told me the sky was blue unless I checked it myself.

Anything that costs this much deserves a second opinion. Even if you have to pay someone for it.

 

So I should recharge it and see?

 

No.

DIY kits do more harm that good. Overcharging is just as bad as undercharging.

Take it to a reputable shop... NOT Firestone or Goodyear.
They are tire shops that happen to work on cars, just as Midas is a muffler shop that happens to work on cars.

The dealership has a service department that happens to sell tires.

 

Ok

 

How can I tell if the compressor is not working?

 

They told me that it doesn't have power and they can't even get a freon reading to see how much is in the system.

 

Jimmyh and Rich91710 gave you GREAT advice and you should follow what they say. And if the Firestone turns out to be incompetent or scamming, I would contact their corporate headquarters and file a formal complaint. What they quoted you is highway robbery. IMPO

 

They sure did but I would like to know who or where I should get a second opinion at? Dealership? A mechanic? Where or who works on car AC systems?

 

Tell them they should buy a set of gauges and take several classes on high temperature refrigeration.

 

A dealership should have very qualified a/c techs but they can be pricey. I do not know the shops in your area so I can not comment on where to take it, maybe another member near you can chime in with a good recommendation.

 

Yeah, if they told me something like that, I guess I would want them to be a little more technical on the explanation. If it's not getting power, then why are they replacing the entire compressor? If they aren't getting a reading because it's not running, they can evacuate the system to see how much it had with an AC machine. If they evacuated it but had a low amount of R134, then a leak is present, etc, etc. Take it somewhere reputable.

 

Ditto.

$1000 for the entire system on my '95 Suburban. That included new hoses, compressor, condensor, evaporator, and dryer.

I had a leak in my condensor and too many years of the previous owner "maintaining" it with DIY recharge kits killed the compressor.

 

Do not let them TOUCH that system. All they are doing is measuring the high side and going by the "green/yellow/red" on the gauge on a $40 can.
That is not the proper way to check the level. They need to look at the balance between the low side and high side and compare that to ambient temperature.

 

I once had an AC issue, took it to a meineke...worst decision ever! They ended up draining the fluid, was about to charge me for whole new compressor, recharge plus labor. I held off, went home and found the AC compressor clutch lying on my undertry. Found a spare bolt... put it back on (lots of loctite!). Did a DIY re-charge and worked just fine.

Bottom line, like everyone else is saying... take it to a shop you can TRUST, or take a good look for yourself.

 

This is one of the many good suggestions. If they even had a basic set of manual gauges they could read high and low pressure to determine if there is enough R134a present to run the system. Then they need to do an electrical check if the compressor still does not engage. A bad relay, bad coil, bad switch...All of these can cause a compressor to not engage. If you do not know of any reputable service shops around, you can ask around, or even take it to the dealership. While the dealership is higher priced, they will be able to properly determine what is wrong, and then you can go from there. You don't have to let them fix it. You can just go in and ask them to find the cause. From there you can make your own decision. I hate seeing these big chain places do such a crappy job with inexperienced wrench turners. They give good shops a bad name.