A/C repair - bait and switch or bad advice?

Need a bit of advice on repair of my A/C.

It stopped working last fall and the mechanic suggested I consider selling it in the spring in lieu of fixing. Well summer came quick and needed AC again. I took it into a different place for a second opinion (and oil change). They quoted me $400 less than the other place so I opted to get it fix vs selling it broken.

Dropped it off yesterday for the fix, and got a call back. "We installed the new condenser with the clutch and relay. However, due to the AC not being functional for a certain amount of time, the Compressor also went bad." Long story short, it's going to cost another $1k.

So, is it accurate that the Compressor could've gone bad as a result of delaying the fix? If so, should the second mechanic have checked this before doing the first fix (ie given me a complete answer) And/or should the first mechanic have warned me about letting the fix go for too long....?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

Hi,

Was there a leak in the system that left it open all that time or was it still holding Freon?

 

I believe there was a leak.

 

If the system was left empty of freon and open to the elements for a year it is possible there was additional damage done.

Anytime a knowledgeable body shop or mechanical tech works on A/C condenser replacement the first thing the should do is cap the open lines. Keeps the crap out. A leak in your system could have allowed moisture into the system if empty and not running.

 

Not knowing the Whole Story of either Shop.

Unless either one really did not do much AC troubling Shooting

Waiting this long if the system was open could have caused more damage to the rest of the system.

The second shop not doing a complete system check before install a condenser does not say much for their work.

#2 sounds pretty clueless just what is wrong with the compressor??

 

Thank you for the feedback. Sometimes when you kick the can down the road, you just trip over it a couple steps later....

 

They didn't say specifically what is wrong with the compressor yet. I need to call back to let them know what to do. I hate to take it to yet another repair shop (to fix someone else's work) but I also don't want to throw good money after bad, especially if they did mislead me in the first place...

I do appreciate your input. Thank you.

 

For what it is worth take it to a Shop that sells there AC service it might cost more but it is done right.

Now a New Toyota AC compressor for the 2007 I checked the 4.0 engine not knowing what you had.

The List is $312.00 the shop wants $700.00 labor to change the compressor unless the evap core is also being changed as that is labor intensive.Maybe your getting A Hefty Hazmat Fee to extract your empty system

Like I said not knowing the complete story I can`t be a call if your being bent over.

I would hope you get a written estimate just what is being done .

Did they have a little mishap installing the Ac clutch Oh sorry your Compressor is no longer working .

Best of Luck

 

year/model......how many miles

out of ALL the components that Must work correctly

U named individually each yet any 1 of them could have been leading the parade

depending on the age/miles on the complete system

until the tech gets elbow deep into it

after parts start getting replaced

simply throws more weight on the others

 

It's a 2007 with 170k miles. So it's seen lots of
road time. I definitely appreciate the possibility they might not have known what they're looking at until they get into it. Guess I've been spoiled in the past that mechanics tell you that up front (if there's a potential it could be more involved).

 

I haven't worked on AC and Autos since the late 1980s, however what we were told at the time is that leaving the system opened to the atmosphere could allow moisture into it and cause corrosion. It seems that that's what happened to you and ruin the compressor.

That's just a guess based on what you wrote but that's what seems to have happened to your truck.

 

Unfortunately think I need a 3rd mechanic....
Not getting good answers from either at this point.

 

No you need a Vehicle AC service tech.

You don`t need a mechanic who seldom does AC work.

I wish I was close I would gladly help

 

At that price you might as well take it to the dealership! That’s what I did - it was $1,500 & cheaper than the AC shop that wanted $2,000

 

Remember most dealers are Independently owned what you paid might be a $1000.00 cheaper then where the OP lives