Quoted $468 to replace condenser... Too much? Can I repair myself?

[toddious]

I have had issues with the AC in my 2002 v6 over the past few weeks. We recharged the system, and it lasted only 2 weeks before going warm again. I dropped the truck off yesterday (at the Toyota dealership where my friend is the Service Manager) and they called and said they can see the dye coming from the condenser.

They quoted me $468 for parts, labor, and tax for replacement of the condenser. This seems like a lot to me, considering I can find the condenser online for around $100, and I don't believe you even need to remove the radiator to remove the condenser.

Should I:
1. Break down and just spend the $468 (it will be repaired today)
2. Order the part and repair myself (have basic mechanic skills and tools)
3. Order the part and have another shop complete the swap? (have another mechanic who allows me to supply my own parts)

Any help is appreciated. $468 just seems like a lot to me?

 

[Exproblems]

I dropped the truck off yesterday (at the Toyota dealership where my friend is the Service Manager) and they called and said they can see the dye coming from the condenser.

They quoted me $468 for parts, labor, and tax for replacement of the condenser. This seems like a lot to me, considering I can find the condenser online for around $100, and I don't believe you even need to remove the radiator to remove the condenser.

Should I:
1. Break down and just spend the $468 (it will be repaired today)
2. Order the part and repair myself (have basic mechanic skills and tools)
3. Order the part and have another shop complete the swap? (have another mechanic who allows me to supply my own parts)

Any help is appreciated. $468 just seems like a lot to me?

I would think your "service manager friend" is hooking you up with a discount right? Hopefully he is if he is your true friend. If you can buy a new condenser yourself for a $100 online, figure the dealership is whacking you for around $125 or more for that part, because shops always tack on surcharges to the price of parts they order for customers. You also have to figure in the cost of evacuating the system with a vacuum pump, which you probably can't do yourself with "basic tools" and do not have a vacuum pump, and the new freon/refrigerant cost, along with any old o -ring seals or shrader valves replaced. $300 or less for the labor, which would be around 3-4 hours(book rate or job rate) of work depending on that shops hourly labor rate and it doesn't sound outrageous in price to me. Dealerships tend to be on the high side of labor rates these days, $120 per hour or so, where smaller repair shops privately owned charge around $70 per hour and up.
You can try calling another repair shop and get an estimate and compare the two. Radiator repair shops usually work on AC systems as well, try one of those in your area. BTW, I don't think you should attempt this repair yourself, not without all the right equipment and AC knowledge.

 

[toddious]

Thanks for your reply and I understand all your points. Yes, he is a good friend and has helped me immensely in the past (including evac/recharging the system a few weeks ago a no charge, with the dye).

I believe he is also buying the part from Ford directly, who quoted me $250 for the part over the phone. From Ford the same replacement was about $600 ($250 part, $300 labor, $50 freon), so $468 is definitely a discount there.

I figured if I got the part for $150, I'd be looking at about $150 from a smaller mechanic to do the labor/recharge- thus saving me about $150. However, there is the hassle of ordering parts, and being without the vehicle a few more days.

I think for the price, even though it's not a great deal, I'm just going to break down and get it fixed at my buddies shop. This way it will be done by 6pm today and I can move on with life....

I appreciate your input though, and you at least make me feel like I'm not totally getting ripped off (which I knew, but anytime I've gotta drop $500 it makes me queezy)...

 

[Exproblems]

I think for the price, even though it's not a great deal, I'm just going to break down and get it fixed at my buddies shop. This way it will be done by 6pm today and I can move on with life....

I appreciate your input though, and you at least make me feel like I'm not totally getting ripped off (which I knew, but anytime I've gotta drop $500 it makes me queezy)...

At least your buddy is saving you $150 over what a Ford dealership wanted. Had your friend worked for a Ford dealership instead of a Toyota dealership, I think he could have saved you more money then. My friend has worked for a Ford dealership (Towne Ford parts dept) for over 30 years and his discounts are greater when I bring a Ford product into his Ford dealership. I basically just pay 10% over dealership cost on the parts and at least half off of the labor and thats it. I only call on him for favors when it's something big I need done and I don't have an active warranty on my vehicle. As for shelling out the $468 to fix the AC, well you need AC living in Florida, so it makes sense getting it repaired, but if it were me in the Buffalo, NY area, I probably wouldn't spend the money fixing it since it is hardly ever used here, except for a few really hot weeks in late July or August. I haven't used mine yet and it works fine and has been 85 degrees and humid the last few days. You also have to consider the overall book value of the vehicle when throwing that kind of money on a luxury convenience like AC. Good luck with the AC repair.

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

First verify that it is the condenser itself leaking, and not a connection or o-ring. If it is indeed the condenser, $468 does not sound bad as long as the system is getting vacuumed down and recharged in that price. It might be a little more expensive than doing it yourself and shopping around, but this way you are one-stop shopping, get to give a friend some business, and you can lean on them if it is not resolved to your satisfaction.

 

[toddious]

You both make excellent points- and I broke down and am currently having the repair done at my friend's Toyota service center.

Living in Florida, I rely on my AC to operate, or I dread driving... The repair was about 10% of the total value of the vehicle, and I'm ultimately looking to sell the vehicle in the next 12 months or so, so it wasn't an easy $468 to spend. However, it wouldn't be easy to sell it without the AC working either.

The repair at the Toyota dealership will definitely be a more professional solution, including proper Evac/R&R of the AC system, which alone can cost up to $150 with freon. And obviously there is a value to having the job completed today instead of ordering parts and waiting, and then not having the vehicle again later. It feels good to give my friend the business as well, and ultimately it's probably only costing me $100 more- And I'll be enjoying cold AC again by 6pm today...

Also, my buddy said he's "take a look at the bill again" when they are finished, so I may get a little bit knocked off the price. Stay tuned...

 

[toddious]

He took an additional $40 so I'm $425 out the door. Going to pick it up now.

Thanks all for the help! Hopefully it's the last thing I need to fix for a while.... HA!!