AC compressor blew up - 4k CDN estimate

2006 SR5, 279km new frame, 2018 TRD pro fox suspension, no rust on the body. I paid 13k 7 years ago and I thought I would have this thing forever.

I trust the shop, they are saying new everything is the only way to guarantee no future problems. Basically half parts and half labour.

749.99 compressor
234.99 a/c discharge line
345.99 filter dryer with condenser assembly
49.99 txv valve
2115.08 re & re all above items (14.4 hours)
200.00 evac / recharge
189.99 S/S
----------------------------------------------------
3900.43 + tax

Would you guys do the work? Bail on the truck? Just open the windows lol?

 

IF the compressor just died and didn't grenade, I'd buy a new compressor and condenser on RockAuto, a vacuum pump and gage set from Harbor Freight, and change it myself.
For the $ you'd save, it will more than pay for the pump and gage set.
We did this on my son's car years ago, with good results.
Watch a few YT videos to take the mystery out of it.

 

Apparently it threw metal everywhere in the system unfortunately.

 

Had same issue about two years ago. Decided to do it myself. Parts were $800, quality tools $500 and took me eight hours. It's not very difficult. I posted photos and a list of parts and tools here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ac-system-repair-estimate.773689/

 

Seems a little high for a 2006. That's about what I charge for a changeout of a 2 ton home A/C.

Condenser & air handler with labor in Florida. Maybe I need to raise my prices, lol.

I'd get a second opinion or do it yourself, Good Luck.

 

DUDE! This is what I needed. Thanks.

 

Compressor is about 300 evaporator is about 75 an condensor about 100 with dryer. All the other parts can be cleaned and blown out. No need to replace. Replace both schrader valves though. Can buy a manifold set for 100 and can rent vacuum pump from auto parts store or 125 at Amazon. Evap can be a bear, but a doable project. 4K seems almost criminal.

 

Price sounds about right for all the parts they're talking about.

You'll always hear a DIY guy talk about how it's not that hard to remove and replace stuff, and it isn't particularly hard. But keep track of all the time you spend doing the job and then picture that same time-frame with the vehicle in a technician's service bay. Shits expensive I know, but that's the way it goes. Broken cars put kids through college at the end of the day

 

You need to raise your prices, no doubt.

 

Can't clean a parallel flow micro-channel condenser, when there's metal contamination you have to replace it or risk destroying the compressor again. Evaporators sometimes can be flushed but best practice is to replace all components and thoroughly flush the lines when there's metal contamination from a grenaded compressor.

 

That's why they call me first. I've been doing A/C work for 40+ years & they usually never want a second opinion.

I guess I could call my competition & pretend to be a customer & see what they're charging.

You're probably right, I should raise my prices slightly. I'm fair & honest & I know what I'm doing, they know that.

If it's a little old lady or man on a fixed income, I just charge for the parts. I get tipped a lot with cookies, lol.

I lead a comfortable life. Just trying to make a living, not a killing is my slogan.

Have a great day, guys & again, Good Luck, OP

 

In general,

you check if there’s shrapnel. If there is you do a flush.
The hard part is getting your hands on a machine and flusher to do that.

and while it’s empty you replace reciever drier. If shrapnel. Or replaceable filter inside if it has one. This can also be taken out during the flush. Or replaced after.
The compressor.
Maybe a new condenser while you’re at it.

orifice tube valve, expansion block, whatever.

the only thing I have never seen get replaced or replaced during such a job is the evaporator probably behind the dash. Or lines. Unless they leak.

I have done this multiple times.

like I said. The only hard part is getting your hands on those machines and tools. Random people at home don’t just have a Robinair sitting there. Ability to buy gas. Or license.

old shop bought one for $1k that was misdiagnosed and just needed an oil change.

maybe you can go work at a dealer for a weekend to use it. I’ve seen them hire people without a pulse. Just be aware the pay might be shit.

the idea is if a compressor sent shrapnel through the system you’re not just tossing a new compressor on there. Because that crap will circulate and take out the new compressor.

I’d see if any DIY tools came out that can do any of this for a Lower cost. I know some exist. Don’t know about all of it.
For example there’s pumps out there that can pull vacuum on the system. But I don’t see how that would flush it.

then why is factory repair manual procedure to flush the evaporator with refrigerant and be covered by warranty

nobody is pulling interior evaporator because compressor in the engine bay went bad.

yes it’s worth to replace condenser while you’re in there because at this point it’s cheap, old, dirty, dented and not hard to do.

 

I listed prices for the compressor, evap and condensor/drier. Then said all of the other parts can be cleaned and reused. Definitely was NOT recommending the clean and reuse of evap or condensor after an event like that. I was alwoys taught to replace the evap and condensor after a traumatic compressor failure event, however, the post above makes me wonder if there aren't tools available today to clean them effectively.

 

Modern condensers absolutely can't be flushed, the passages are too small (typically less than 1mm). Once metal gets in there there's no way to get it all out.

There's some debate whether or not evaporators can be flushed effectively or not, most companies will tell you they can't.
The new ones are going to micro-channel like condensers have been for years so there isn't gona be much you can do with those either even with a power flush although usually the majority of the "chunks" get caught in the condenser and don't make it to the evaporator.

I doubt there's many shops that even own specialized flushing equipment due to the expense and inability to effectivley clean modern systems anyway.

A/C work is expensive no matter how you slice it but $4k seems a bit excessive even for a complete system replacement although our labor rates here are much cheaper than they are in many other places.

 

The reason just about every shop charges so much for this work is that the flat rate manual says to replace the expansion valve by removing the dashboard which costs over $1200 due to labor. When, in fact, the expansion valve is easily removed through the firewall into the engine compartment which only take about 10 minutes. I don't know if this is an error or done on purpose but this is a major money maker for shops. They will estimate the job using the flat rate manual and reap the benefits of this oversight. I know shops need to make a profit...I used to be a mechanic and I know what's involved...but this is an error that any rational person can see is robbery. When I had this same problem, I balked at the excessive cost and decided to do it myself. If they came back with a reasonable estimate like around $2500 I would have had them do it but $4k is not reasonable. This job took me 8 hours and they estimated 20 hours. And I took my time.

 

It comes down to how much risk the shop is willing to take on. Customers are going to want it done as cheaply as possible, the shop is trying to minimize comebacks

If they don't get all the metal out, they're in there doing another compressor (and other components) for free. It's that simple

If customers want to try and save some money that's fine but they have to absorb the risk. It's only fair

 

Thanks - I sent them the vid of the expansion valve short cut and they knocked off that labour.

 

My .02. I'd spring for an OEM compressor if you're doing it yourself. I've 'saved' alot of money with the 'cheap' parts I've found online. And, it's getting worse