An automobile air conditioner is a comfort taken for granted during the hot summerl months of the year, until it stops working. You dont need air conditioner to drive your car, but it can be an extreme inconvenience, without one. The AC definitely makes things better when you’re on a long road trip or stuck in traffic for a long time. When your air conditioning goes bad the cost of repairs can get pretty expensive if the situation is bad enough. Repair costs can be between $140 and $285 just to get it inspected and topped up with freon. If you have any leaks in the system you could pay anywhere between $150 to $800 to get those repairs done. For example, a new compressor is going to cost you probably between $500 and $1,000 if you need to replace it. If your vehicle’s entire air conditioner needs to be replaced with a new unit you may have to pay anywhere between $1,500 and nearly $3,500.
Signs and Symptoms of Air Conditioning Unit Going Bad
There are a number of signs that you can be on the lookout for that will let you know that you’re having a serious problem with your air conditioning
- Lack of cold air- you may need to have the freon or coolant refilled.
- Compressor noises – grinding noises or squealing sounds that come from the AC unit when you turn it on could mean that something slipped loose or is misaligned somewhere in the system.
- Refrigerant Leaks – your AC may wear down over time or become damaged in a way that causes the refrigerant inside it to start leaking out. The coolant will likely pool underneath your vehicle when it’s parked, however it may actually leak into the cabin of your vehicle as well
Summary: The range of the potential repair costs depends on the make, model, and year of your vehicle as much as it does on where you go to get the repairs done. As you know the mechanic nearest to your house may charge you much less than a mechanic out of town does. Likewise, mechanic fees tend to vary greatly from city to city and state to state.
