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how much does it cost to repair car air conditioning

by Madeline Sanford Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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But on average, you can expect to pay these prices for auto AC system repairs:

  • Anywhere from $170 to $730 for minor AC compressor repairs and anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 for major AC compressor repairs
  • Somewhere between $100 and $140 for a car AC recharge
  • About $500 for auto AC hose repair and replacement
  • Between $200 and $750 for car AC compressor clutch repair and replacement

Typically, depending on the severity of the issue, it can cost anywhere from $100 to $900 to fix a car's air conditioner. Costs tend to run higher when you need to purchase additional parts, like a new compressor, condenser, sensor, or hose.

Full Answer

How much does it cost to repair auto air conditioning?

This generally includes replacing a few parts like hoses, sensors, or either the compressor or condenser. CostHelper readers report paying $171-$727 for minor air conditioning repairs, at an average cost of $488. Extensive auto air conditioning repairs can cost $1,000-$4,000 or more, depending on make and model.

How much is the average cost of car air conditioning?

The total cost to install a new car ac compressor (including labor) is about $500-$1,100. The average air conditioning system installations cost is $2750 but can range from $1,500-$4,000. According to Auto Service Costs, the average recharge car ac cost is $235 but can range from $183-$281 depending on the type of vehicles you have.

How much does it cost to recharge a car air conditioner?

These costs are generally not that expensive when considering that this maintenance also extends the life of your compressor, keeping your air conditioning performing optimally season after season. A professional AC recharge cost ranges from $150 - $300 on average depending on the make and model of your vehicle.

How do you charge a car air conditioner?

How to Recharge Your Car's Air Conditioner

  1. What You Will Need and What You Should Know. First, was your car made before 1994? ...
  2. Assemble the Dispenser. I would recommend putting on your goggles now. ...
  3. Verify That the Compressor Is Running. Locate the pulley on the compressor. ...
  4. Locate the Low Pressure Side Refrigerant Fill Port. Pop the hood. ...
  5. Attatch the Dispenser. ...
  6. Recharge the System. ...
  7. Voila! ...

How much does it cost to change a cabin filter?

How Does An AC Work?

How to check if refrigerant leaks?

How does an AC compressor work?

Why is there no cool air coming into my cabin?

Why won't my AC work?

Why does my AC leak?

See 2 more topics

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How much does it cost to fix an air conditioner leak?

Most problems, which will involve repairing a leak, can be $50 to $225. According to MSN, 80 percent of air conditioning problems come from a simple leak. Leaks are able to occur anywhere the refrigerant passes from part to another. If it isn’t a leak, the common repair can be anywhere from as little as $300 to more than $2,000.

How much does an A/C Pro cost?

This product will cost less than $35 and is a great first step to see if it gets rid of the problem. Advertising Disclosure: This content may include referral links.

What are the components of an air conditioner?

A car’s air conditioner will have five main components: the refrigerant, which is designed to carry the heat; the compressor, which draws in and compresses the refrigerant, moving it along; the condenser, which expels the heat; the expansion valve, which regulates the refrigerant flow; and the evaporator, ...

What happens when you use more than one refrigerant?

Contamination is another problem that can occur and this happens when a system is exposed to more than one type of refrigerant. On the market, there are two common types: R-12, which is used in older cars, and R-134a, a refrigerant used in all cars since 1994. If these two refrigerants were combined, it could contaminate the system. This type of repair would require flushing and recharging the entire system, along with replacing any components that were contaminated.

What are the extra costs?

Depending on the make, model and the age of the vehicle, this can cost anywhere from $200 to more than $700. While CFC-12 isn’t banned, it’s no longer made because of the effects it has on the ozone layer.

What Are the Auto AC Repair Costs?

Prior to taking your car to a mechanic so that they can perform auto AC repairs for you, it would be smart to find out about what the different auto AC repair costs might be. It’ll help you avoid finding yourself in a spot where you’re shocked by how much it’s going to cost to fix your car’s AC system.

Why Is Auto AC Repair So Expensive?

Far too often, people don’t know what the auto AC repair costs are and struggle to make sense of things when a mechanic tells them how much it’s going to cost to fix their car’s AC system. They can’t believe that they’re going to have to pay hundreds and possibly even thousands of dollars just to get the air in their car to blow cold again.

What Are the Main Parts of an Auto AC System?

Before we dive headfirst into talking about how to repair the AC system in a car and the auto AC repair costs, it’s important for you to know about all the different parts contained in your car’s AC system. This will help you understand what’s going on when you take your car to a shop to have your AC system worked on. It’ll also help you make sense of the auto AC repair costs you might face.

How Long Do the Parts in an Auto AC System Last?

This goes for all parts, but it’s especially true for the parts found in an auto AC system. You should learn about how long they’ll last so that you’re not shocked when you have to pay the auto AC repair costs one day.

What Are the Signs That Show an Auto AC System Needs to Be Repaired?

If, for example, your car only sends out warm air when you have your AC turned on, that’s a pretty clear-cut sign that you need to schedule auto AC repairs and prepare to pay the auto AC repair costs that come along with them.

Who Should You Have Repair Your Car’s AC System?

But you shouldn’t trust just anyone to work on your car’s AC system if you can help it.

Is It Worth Fixing the AC in My Car?

If you just discovered that your car is in need of some serious AC repairs and you’re staring down the barrel of the auto AC repair costs right now, you might not know what to do. Is it really worth paying all that money to fix your car’s AC system? The answer is…it all depends.

How much does it cost to recharge an AC?

Recharge Car AC Cost. According to Auto Service Costs, the average recharge car ac cost is $235 but can range from $183-$281 depending on the type of vehicles you have.

How much does an AC inspection cost?

The average ac inspection and diagnostic cost is $200 but can range from $100-$300

How much does it cost to install an AC compressor?

The average cost of a new ac compressor is about $400 but can range from $200-$600. The labor cost to install an ac compressor is about $300-$500. The total cost to install a new car ac compressor (including labor) is about $500-$1,100.

How much does it cost to replace an AC hose?

Replace AC Hose = $300 - $400This includes the high pressure hose, and recharging of freon

Does a compressor void warranty?

Without doing so would void any warranty on the compressor. Yes, that means the price of the repair goes up. If you are planning on keeping the car for a long time to come then by all means have the repair done. The repair is only as good as the warranty.

How much does it cost to replace an air conditioner compressor?

If your entire air conditioner needs to be swapped out and replaced with a new unit you may have to pay anywhere between $1,500 and nearly $4,000.

How Much Does It Cost to Put Freon in a Car's AC?

The most common repair that needs to be done to a car's air conditioner is to have the freon or coolant refilled. The refrigerant in an air conditioning unit is what allows the air conditioner to actually blow cold air. It changes its state from a gas to a liquid inside of the compressor of your air conditioner. The coolant then moves into the condenser where cool air circulates through to remove the heat that has been built up in the coolant when it changes state from gas to a liquid the condenser then moves the coolant over to an expansion valve where it returns from its liquid state back into a gas. This causes the cooling reaction that allows the air that is pulled into the air conditioner to blow out cool into the cabin of your vehicle. Little more complex and all that, but that's the general idea.

Why won't my AC compressor work?

In order for the compressor in your air conditioner to start working, something called the compressor clutch needs to engage. When the air conditioner is off , the clutch disengages so that the air conditioner doesn't function anymore. This is necessary to maintain how the AC works. If the clutch wasn't there it would either be on all the time or off all the time. However, if the clutch begins to seize up then your compressor won't come on at all in the air conditioning won't work. In rare cases the clutch may seize when your AC is on and that means you're not able to turn it off anymore. Either one of these would be a great inconvenience.

How much does it cost to replace coolant in a car?

If you need to get the coolant level replaced in your car it will likely cost somewhere between $150 and $300 to get the job done. This is definitely a job that you would be better off getting a mechanic to do than trying to handle it on your own. That's not to say you can't do it on your own, but it's very dangerous to handle refrigerants.

Why does my AC make a grinding noise?

This generally indicates something has slipped loose or is misaligned somewhere in the system .

What are the parts of an air conditioner?

Your air conditioner is made up of a lot of different parts. The main parts are the compressor, the evaporator, and the condenser. However, within the whole system you're also dealing with a number of valves, tubes, and hoses. As everything circulates through the system you have a lot of potential for something to go wrong.

How much does it cost to buy an AC compressor?

Buying a new AC compressor On a site like AutoZone May cost you between $200 and $350. You need to make sure you have the exact right compressor for the make and model of your vehicle however and it can take a bit of work to track down, especially if you have an older model car.

How much does it cost to change a cabin filter?

A new cabin filter costs around $10 to $20. Changing the filter only takes a few minutes and is very easy to do. There is a high risk that dealerships and shops will overcharge you for a change of the cabin filter.

How Does An AC Work?

Before we jump into the reasons why an AC might stop working, understanding the process of cooling your cabin will give you a better chance of finding the root cause of the problem.

How to check if refrigerant leaks?

When the refrigerant leaks, it can be inspected by UV dye that is injected into the system and later inspected outside of the system to see if any dye has escaped. This is necessary as when a leak occurs, it does so in gas form.

How does an AC compressor work?

At the start of the process, the AC compressor is connected to the engine’s crankshaft by a belt. Inside the compressor, several pistons compress the air, resulting in heat and high pressure.

Why is there no cool air coming into my cabin?

If you turn on the air condition and notice that there is no cool air coming into the cabin, chances are that the compressor may be the culprit.

Why won't my AC work?

As previously mentioned, there may be many reasons why an AC will not work properly. One of the reasons may be a problem in one of the components or a leak in one of the many hoses.

Why does my AC leak?

Leaks in the AC system will happen, not only due to the pressure and heat but also due to age as the material gets weaker with time.

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