Air Conditioning

[walcheff]

How does $1400 sound for a r-134a coversion. Its the lowest quote I got.
They are replacing the compressor, condenser, reciever dryer, and evaporator core. All of which were in horrible shape. The conversion kit itself is $50 bucks.

 

[Iowa Hick]

I haven't ever worked on the AC on an explorer, but I did work on an F-350 and I think you could replace every part in the AC system alot cheaper than that, you might call Autozone or someplace and price the parts, there's not that much to it really, I think compressors generally run around $300, condensors maybe $50, and they are not that hard to change, the only thing you would probably need to have someone do for you is vacuum out the lines after you get everything hooked up

By my very rough estimate you should be able to do it all for less than $500

On the other hand, if it was me I would just try the kit to change it over to R-134A first even if it is pretty bad, you can get them at Wal-Mart for about $40 as long as you still have vaccuum it should be alright

 

[410Fortune]

HAHAHAHAHAHA oh man they are trying to rip you off big time.

First off if the compressor is bad you can buy a rebuilt one for about $100.
To exchange the compressor is 1 belt, 4 bolts, 1 wiring harness and a couple of hoses.

Nothing else in the system should go bad, if it does its not going to cost you $1400.

You can adapt the system to 134 yourself, using the kit available at any parts store, it is a very easy process. An empty system can take up to 3 large cans.......

 

[walcheff]

Thanks guys, I thought it sounded a little high.

 

[Glacier991]

Check out my old thread in the useful threads forum "Converting to 134A". Lots of good info in that longish thread. - from lotsa folks besides just me

 

[Maniak]

If its just a conversion, thats changing more than needs to be changed.
All you really need to change for r-134 is expansion valve (not everyone says you need to change it) and the stuff in the lines, and possibly the lines (if they are iffy).

now if the system is broken (like mine is) that could be the right price. My compressor has been going bad for a couple years and ifnally went. I pulled the lines off to check how bad it was and my system died the "black death". There is black stuff (lots) throughout the system.

In my case I need a new compressor, new hoses (they are old anyway), new dryer, expansion valve (actually, I think its an oriface tube on the x).
The Dryer is <$100, compressor was about $200, hose was about $100ish, oriface tube <$50. If I had a shop do it all, at the normal rate of $70/hour it would be a good $500 in labor and those prices I listed are Autozone prices. Shops don't charge autozone prices. They charge MSRP. I checked at my neighbors shop and the prices I listed above are about 1/2 to 2/3rds of what the shops in town would charge for the parts. Soo, if there is a reason to change all those parts (other than to just be safe) then the price is right for a shop to do it, but in general, you don't change all that to convert to r-134.

~Mark

 

[walcheff]

Thanks Mark for the info. Mine is the same, "Black Death" the shop said the whole system was contaminated and needed to be replaced. It was the third shop that looked at it. They all said the same thing.

Scott