Air Conditioning. Please help.

I had a hard time navigating the site to find this issue already asked and I know it has to have been but im hoping for some clearity.

My AC quit blowing cold air. The light blinks at me when I turn it on. My mechanic who Im now growing weird vibes tword quoted me over 1k to redo the compressor. Along with other components but that was what was said to be the issue. Can anyone give me any help on if this sounds square or not? Im sure it could be a couple different things and this is minimal info to work with. But it's what I've got.

 

A clutch rebuild and recharge can add up quickly at shops.

Most people opt to put a re manufactured compressor in. It's WAAAAAAAAAAAY cheaper than the clutch, less labour as well.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3914901&cc=3015100&jsn=904

Install is about 1 hour, plus charge, so another hour. 300$ + 250$ compressor. Boom.

 

Funny. My mechanic never tried selling me on remanufactured. What a concept. Thanks a ton!

 

You might try the ac clutch relay first.

 

While im not a stupid person, I am new to caring and really wanting to learn about my vehicle as it's my first vehicle worth caring about like this. Which leaves me pretty suseptable to mechanic tactics. Can you elaborate please?

 

It's not super easy but you can check the relay panel and swap the AC Mag clutch relay with the horn relay.

The compressors are common failures.

 

Could be the clutch

Had the same symptoms, was a failed coil

 

It’s in the underhood junction box next to the battery.

 

Would these things be close to the 1k I was quoted for an entire reconstruction of the whole system?

 

For a full Ac compressor....evac, vacuum, charge, and condenser then yes 1k is about right

 

A relay from an auto parts store is usually under $20. From Toyota it is probably a lot more. As said before, you can test the relay by using the horn relay in its place. If that doesn’t work, you probably need a new coil on your compressor.

 

Horn relay?

Unfortunately for me, Im a big fan of warranties on what's done to the ol girl. All these cheap and easy fixes guys on here mention scare me. If I mess it up, I get to eat it and not have anyone to rip apart for screwing my stuff up.

 

It sounds like all of this is over your head, so find a shop you trust and let them handle it.

 

Swapping the relay is just a test. It checks to see if is a bad relay causing the problem. If the relay is the cause, swapping them will get rid of the fault and allow your AC to work but the horn wont work. Then you know to just replace the bad relay.
For a new comp, and proper work to clear/clean/refill, pay a shop to do it. Dont buy your own parts, as most shops wont warranty repairs if the customer brings in the parts.

 

I would certainly get a second opinion on that. Don't tell the second shop about the first shop, either. See what they come up with.

 

Welcome aboard

 

Second opinions usually mess with my textbook ovetthinking. If one says one thing and another says different, I feel inclined to get a third and go with the common denominator. Then if the 3rd says something different from both others, Im all turned around.

 

1k to rebuild the comp when you can just get a new one for like 300.

 

If you just replaced the compressor though, and the issue was actually elsewhere wouldn't the new one just get compromised?

 

Welcome to TW!