Holy crap...I just got the estimate to repair my A/C...
 

$1600 BUCKS. My gosh...isn't that expensive? Here's the deal...my car's A/C hasn't worked since I bought it, because the freon leaked out from either the evaporator or the condenser, one of those two. I forget which one exactly. I took it to one place, and he said that it had a pretty bad leak under the dash...so it's located in that area.

He quoted me 1200 bucks to fix the whole thing..so I said sure..no problem, let me get back to you on it. I took it to another place to get another opinion. I give the guy a few days to get back to me, and when I finally call him, he says that he couldn't find a generic part for two of the three main units, so he had to call the dealer. He said that one of them cost 2000 BUCKAROOS? Does that sound right? It's either the condenser, the evaporator, or the compressor. I planned to have the car switched over to R134, since I need A/C and R12 is so expensive to refill.

But he said that he found a generic part for one of them(the 2 grand one), but the other two would have to be purchased through the dealer.

Are dealer parts really that expensive...and if you were going to change out these three parts...would it really cost that much? I have a mind to just do it myself, but I don't know how to diagnose an A/C...he said I kept blowing a fuse or something.

Can anyone help me? Should I just try and install it myself? I'd like to think that I'm mechanically inclined, and I'm not afraid to do something new...what do you guys think?

Maybe local shops charge you a lot. See what the shops on the mainland would charge you to ship the parts you need to your mechanic.

hey whered you take it to get checked?

my red fd i took to polar auto ac and they said 750 to fix...they use freeze12 instead of r12, well mine was only the compressor and receiver/dryer they had to replace

Now that is an assraping.

Call Malloy and get prices for the compresser/drier.

Also check with Mazdaformance, I know they had the some FD AC parts on their specials page (under FD).

What is the list of the parts that need replacing? Start there. Also, a bunch of people go AC less, so you could get a bargain on working parts here on the forum.

Thanks for the help guys...that's what I thought it was. Taik, I took it to Steve's Auto & A/C down around Cook Street.

I also took it to Aloha Auto A/C down on Gulick and Nimitz...they're the ones that quoted $1200 bucks for the repair job.

Which ones the most expensive part guys? I'll find out from Steve...see what he thinks need replacing, and tally up the totals. Is it really hard to repair the A/C? I don't have any tools here, they're still packed up in my household goods. I just moved to Hawaii... :(

I do have a lift that's accessible and plenty of tools at the Auto Hobby Shop at Hickam...so that's not too bad. I like to work on it at home, though...cuz it's easier.

My Mazda service replaced my condenser (under insurance) last year - $1100 :eek:

You're better off getting all used stuff in the classifieds section.

I just got a compressor with clutch from Malloy for 340$ i think maybe a few bucks cheaper. Then got the whole thing done for under 900$ your getting OWNED. Shop for better deals, and tell them you will provide the parts.

Aloha ArchangelX,

I can call Ray for you and see what my price would be. I am actually coming overto Oahu not this weekend but the following. I could get the parts and bring one of my mobile tool boxes and we could tale the job over the weekend if you wanted.

Talk to HobbeZ about where and if he got his evaporator fixed. He had the same problem and was getting poked around by the local hacks!

PM me if you want to talk more, or AIM is Rotoryhead

I have a couple of A/C systems laying around as most of my customers want to get rid of it. I have been thinking of bypassing mine, so maybe I could pull mine( Evaporator) out and you could use it.

Later, Dave

DAVE!!!

Man...I've been wanting to talk to you, man!!! I heard you were the shiznit when it comes to 7s...I was going to ask you how much it would take to have you come over and look at my 7...maybe straighten a few things out, and make sure she's running well!!!

If you want, I can call you..or you can call me...my cell is 375-0885. If you want, we can work something out!!! I was thinking about maybe having some type of FD Tuning event or something, where we can all get together, and have a look see.

I hear you're wanting to bring over a few of your 7s and run'em at HRP. I've been helping out with Drift Session, and helping Tom a little bit. Hopefully, I'll get a little more involved, cuz i love the stuff.

I'll Aim ya right now...thanks!

i had to get the part replaced under the dash and it was stupid expensive. like $800 for the evap. there are two versions also. if you get the version that was installed in japan(my style) its stupid expensive. and if you get the port installed model then the price is like half. i spent like $1200 with labor and several switches/ relays only to have it work for like a month or 2. i am just going to rip it out and say screw it.

I did my vmount/CWR coolers install a few months ago. I basically had to remove condenser/drier/compressor and lines. The real bitch in all this is the compressor, because that is under the PS pump. This means removing belts and PS pulley/etc. That will be the big hassle if your compressor is gone. If you need to remove the lines connecting the compressor, than you are screwed too, since the PS pump covers one and the clearance is impossible for the other without removal.

Depending on your model, the Touring has the more expensive one, while the base and R1 have the cheaper one. I just did the conversion on both a base and touring and the touring was more dollars.

yep i have a touring... i saw that also and i was just like...i should a got a r1...but i love my sunroof!

Thanks for the help. I wish it wasn't under the dash, it sounds like it's going to be a biatch. :(

I'm thinking of buying one of those RV style AC, mounted in the rear cargo with the hot exhaust vented to the rear of the bumper for just the summer. I'm tired of fiddling with the damn AC.

[img]http://www.aafeders.com/products/ac/portable/images/large/KY20U_lg.jpg[/url]

You have a couple options.

The whole evaporator is $2000 FD04-61-520 which includes all the plastic shrouds,thermostat and some piping.
The core itself is about $430 FD04-61-J10
So you don't have to buy the whole thing just because one part is leaking.

I just spent $895.00 for the evaporator core to be replaced. Dealer quoted $2300.00 so I figured 895 was not bad. (dealer wanted to replace evap and compressor). A/C specialist just did the evap core. Blows cold now.