A/C compressor issue

A/c lights flashing, with a loud horn like noise coming from the compressor, took it to a shop and they said they had to replace everything in my system and it'll run me $2000, I was wondering why they would have to do that or if I could just replace the compressor?

 

Go to a different shop, and have them tell you exactly what is wrong.

 

I can only guess, but if the compressor had blown up it has sent shredded metal throughout the system.

I would go with what CurtB said as he has excellent advice. The shop you took it to seems to be quite vague on details...

 

I just had mine done a few days ago and they replaced the compressor, expansion valve and condenser(condensor?) . Also recharged the system , everything was 1558 . I got a year warranty or 12k miles on the compressor and 6 month warranty on the refill . It was a local Midas shop that did the job .



It's ice cold now and works great . They told me to warranty the parts for the compressor they had to do the condenser also ( I don't know how true that is but that's what it took to get. Warranty ) and I wanted the job done right and not half assed .

 

I wonder if they have an orifice tube like the old Chevrolets.

 

That would be like the inline filter to the evaporator. The answer is yes. It is located in the line going through the firewall into the expansion valve.

 

Can he just check that for metal shavings? If there isn't any then would you still have to change out the entire system?

 

If someone is doing this job they should pull that filter and replace it. It is only there to protect the expansion valve and evaporator from debris. Everything outside still has the potential to be contaminated.

A shop isn't going to honor any warranty unless they replace the filter dryer which is made as part of the condenser coils.

 

So that's why they told me they had to replace my condenser

 

Yes. If you don't replace it all then there is a chance that pieces of the blown compressor will eventually get back to the new compressor and blow it also.

 

Is there a way to flush/purge the system ? So you know there is no pieces of compressor in the system ? Or does the condenser "catch" it all?

 

The condenser/filter/dryer assembly usually catches a lot of it. Anything that doesn't get replaced will/should be cleaned of any debris.