Cost to fix AC

You're fine. That's cheap af

 

What about the expansion valve.....I've been told if you dont replace that your wasting your money???

Is this taking a big risk?

 

That’s what I thought, considering I’m in Los Angeles

 

I’ve never heard of that but now you’re worrying me!

 

The part seems pretty inexpensive but is it hard to get to warrant doubling the invoice?!

 

If you're worried about it, just call your mechanic and ask him/her about it. Maybe it was replaced or maybe it's on the evaporator behind the dash,
in which case you'd definitely know: because the the bill would have been
at least double. ...and your entire dash would probably now tick and rattle because everything has to come out to replace it. Everything.

The old joke/rumor is that the evaporator and heater core are suspended on a wire on the assembly line and then the entire truck is built around it.

 

$1000 is nothing these days. Price seems reasonable to me.

 

Yeah in several of the scotty videos of him replacing the ac components...

if the compressor failed....it generally contaminates the whole line with debris...
he says its impossible to flush out.....and that expansion valve is a sitting duck.....choke point....

but as Williston stated.....its pia to get to it....3 or 4 hrs labor for the layman...


A/C Diagnosis-Sticking Thermal Expansion Valve (TXV, H-Valve) - YouTube

AC not blowing cold, then it works fine !?!? What could cause this ? - YouTube

 

The mechanic told me that the compressor was working but it was leaking slowly. I’m hoping that didn’t contaminate everything and I will be good to go for quite some time

 

It's not impossible. It's not impossible to flush out. It's not impossible to bring the entire system back to day-1. Might be expensive: but not impossible.

 

He replaced the compressor. Evacuated. Re-charged. If it's blowing cold: he fixed it. Enjoy. You seem to have found an honest mechanic
that knows what he's doing. Hold on to him, and don't aggravate him.

 

Again....everyone is different.....

I remember scotty saying on several videos that if you replace all that other stuff...
to go ahead and get the $30 valve for a safety blanket.....

the $30 aint much compared to $1600 bill.....however those 3 extra hours of labor...plus wrenching on a 25yr old coil......

may make some mechanics try to keep the costs from going sky high...
watching a customer shit a brick....aint no fun...

In constuction.....you cant have everything....budget thing....

If I guess wrong.....It's cost me a day working for free......once or twice....
plus the materials...





Scotty has got a video on using a thermo gun to check that expansion valve...
....he contradicts himself alot.....but not on this one...

 

Forget scotty. The mechanic knows it wasn't a catastrophic failure with metal shavings going everywhere. It was working but leaking slowly, he replaced it. A metal shaving scenario would be with a locked up compressor that doesn't spin, squeals and snaps the belt

You're fine, drive on

 

2007, my wife's 96 needed a compressor and recharge. $600-700 (I forget).

Just working off that number, you're adding in the condensor, dryer, hoses, and the other non AC stuff plus doing the work 16 years later and in a high cost time of the world. That's more than fair.

As I see it with a 20 year old truck you now have basically a whole new AC system and if the first one lasted this long you're golden.

Noticed you're in Cali as well, so even more worth it as I reckon you use the AC more often than we do here in MA.

As others mentioned it seems like you have a good shop and I also recommend building a relationship with them. They're tough to find.

 

Here's a detailed break down on what it cost ten years ago.....and what it all in tales.....



1st Gen A/C System Replacement How-To (Seized Compressor) | Tacoma World

 

He’s been great to me, I’ve asked him to replace a bunch of parts I replaced 5-7 years ago without telling him I did so just that I would have a “perfect,” working truck. I was surprised when he told me he replaced some but not all, as some of the parts I replaced were still in excellent condition. That’s when I knew I found an honest mechanic!

 

Keep going to him