Compressor seized

94' Five.0 · Jul 17, 2006

My AC compressor seized last weekend and after having the car towed to a shop I've used before, I was a bit awe-struck at the quote.

For a replacement compressor, new lines, pressure switch, and recharge was coming out to about $2k. Now I'm no AC expert but this sounds really high.

Am I missing something or should I not feel bad for second guessing this quote?

WhiteDevil · Jul 17, 2006

That does sound pretty high. Now A/C work is definitly not cheap. I would look for the lines at 50resto.com and you can get a new compressor from Autozone(or the likes) for around $220.

fordtech28 · Jul 17, 2006

if the compressor seized that should be all you need to replace its about 220 at autozone like devil said that shop must be smoking something if they want to charge you 2k you should not spend 800 dollars for a complete a/c system but since you need the compressor buy the compressor and flush the system if you do it yourself you shouldnt spend more than 300 bucks

1TallMF · Jul 17, 2006

^^^^

What they said.

Compressors are no cheap, but 2k is a bit on the ridiculous side. Its really not that hard to change it yourself, just as long as you drain the system properly beforehand (if the system was leaking, you probably won't have to worry about this too much). And the AC lines on our cars are mostly coated black, so I can't see them oxydizing too badly. Do some research and shop around and do the work yourself and save your money.

If you really don't want to get involved in the repair, AT THE VERY LEAST get a second or even third oppinion. I'm sure a shop could get it done properly for $600-800.

BlownFiveLiter · Jul 17, 2006

Why do the lines need replacing? I picked up a compressor last year for like $90 from stangparts.com and had it replaced in about half an hour. The low pressure switch was like $21 or something like that from NAPA. Then it's just a matter of vacuuming, charging, and calling it a day.

mo_dingo · Jul 17, 2006

StangGT1995 said:
Why do the lines need replacing? I picked up a compressor last year for like $90 from stangparts.com and had it replaced in about half an hour. The low pressure switch was like $21 or something like that from NAPA. Then it's just a matter of vacuuming, charging, and calling it a day.

When you have a catastrophic compressor failure, like this case, you need to replace the receiver/dryer and orifice tube at a minimum. Since the high/low pressure lines have those stupid ports, which leak all the time, you should replace them when you can. They are only $33 per line from autozone, and it's extra assurance that you won't have a significant leak.

Ford says that if a valve leaks under .25 ounces/year it's satisfactory. So who knows how much a 12 year old valve will leak. They are such pieces of ****.
Scott

95vert354 · Jul 17, 2006

I bought a kit off e-bay with new commpresser, dryer,orifice tube and all new O-rings for less than 300. I'm with mo-dingo, change the dryer. should be able to get a shop to do it for 6-700, or DIY and get it vacumed and charged at a shop for 50-75.

94' Five.0 · Jul 18, 2006

Thanks for the replies. I was kinda thinking along those lines but wanted to get some other opinions. I've had work done at this shop before and they have always been fair, which is why I was so suprised to hear what they wanted to charge. I'm going to head down there tommorow to make sure there isn't more involved to push the price up that much.

If anything maybe its time to learn a bit about AC systems and take care of it myself.

sage2k · Jul 18, 2006

It cost me 700$ for a shop to do it a year ago

95strokerPSU · Jul 18, 2006

If you decide to fix it yourself, I have pretty much all of the A/C components sitting in my basement if you're interested. Good Luck.

Methodical · Jul 18, 2006

94' Five.0 said:
My AC compressor seized last weekend and after having the car towed to a shop I've used before, I was a bit awe-struck at the quote.

For a replacement compressor, new lines, pressure switch, and recharge was coming out to about $2k. Now I'm no AC expert but this sounds really high.

Am I missing something or should I not feel bad for second guessing this quote?

Sounds like they are going to purchased all the parts from the dealership. Are you sure they are not a Ford dealership in disguise - just kidding .

As mentioned before do the install of the components and then let them just evacuate, oil and charge the system.

Redsnake2 · Jul 18, 2006

94 they are selling reman'd ones on ebay all day for like $175 for our cars.. Since I'm on here is the Low pressure switch the one by the radiator or the firewall...

94' Five.0 · Jul 18, 2006

Well I just got back from the shop and the parts list I got in writing isn't as bad as the original quote, but from the sounds of things here, its still rather high.

Comp - 344.00
Dryer - 96.00
Orfice Line - 51.30
Manifold Hose - 168.00
Pressure Switch x2 - 43.20
R134A Freon - 78.50

Labor 1 - 483.66
Replace compressor, manifold hose, accum dryer, orfice line, flush system

Labor 2 - 120.92
Purge, Dye installation, Leak test

Total Parts - 781.00
Total Labor - 604.58
Total - 1544.03

Anyone have some favorite parts sites where I should start shopping? At the very least I'm probably going to try to replace everything myself and let someone else vacuum and charge the system. I didn't see any how to articles in the sticky on this, is it a fairly straightforward job?

fordtech28 · Jul 18, 2006

thats pretty high looks like they are buying the parts at the stealership and the labor rate is crazy its like a 4 hour job and they want to charge you 600 hundred dollars just for that damm its 150 dollars an hour go buy the parts at any autoparts store and you should be under 800 dollars if you do it yourself

mo_dingo · Jul 18, 2006

yeah I bought both pressure switches from merle's for $24.

They are marking the prices up like mad. You need to get the hell away from them and just buy the parts yourself. Start looking around at other places and get quotes.
Scott

Blackened302 · Jul 19, 2006

wow, they are def jacking up those prices.

my buddy owns a shop and he gave me the compressor and accumulator at his cost--190 for the compressor and 60 for the accumulator.

94' Five.0 · Jul 20, 2006

Sorry, have a couple final questions.

Towed the car back to the house and have a compressor kit being shipped as I type this. The kit includes the compressor, dryer, orifice tube, and all orings. I guess I still need to pick up the pressure switches and lines.

Are the pressure switches the same for the low and high? I think I've found the part number on the low switch but I'm unsure about the high.

Pressure Switches

Low pressure line:
Low pressure Line

Is this the same thing?
Low pressure line from autozone

Liquid Line
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker/?UseCase=C001&UserAction=answerRequiredQuestion&Parameters=%7C%7ELIQUID+LINE&PageSync=3

I know I need to find a spring-lock coupling tool for the connections, are there any other specialty tools I need to be aware of? My plan is just to swap everything and have the system charged elsewhere.

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