My mechanic just changed something called a compresser or condenser, something to do with my radaitor and AC. Anyways, now he says it has to be filled with some fluid callednfreon and some other type of oil.

He quoted me $100 to fill it, do you guys think it's a fair price?

 

to do it right, he has to spend some time using a special vacuum machine on the system - then let it sit and test for leaks, then fill the ac with freon gas and a special compressor oil

without training and tools- you are way better off paying 100 bucks and its done

 

im fine with the price, just gotta make sure im not getting ripped off, do you know approx how much time the whole job takes?

 

You definitely need to have it done right with that heat yall are having. Follow 01's advice and have it checked for leaks and then get the proper fill.

$100 isn't that bad for the service.

 

Probably takes 90 minutes total, including waiting 30 minutes for the leak check (see if it will hold a vacuum). $100 is a fair price.

 

15-30 minutes under vacuum to get air and any moisture out of the system
rushing it is not good for the life of the ac
This is the first chance to ck for leaks,
then it sits 30 minutes- then 2 minutes to verify no vac pressure loss
15-30 minutes adding freon and testing outlet air temp and system pressures
make sure everything holds pressure after filling

shops pay a lot, and have to charge a lot for freon in 20 lb or larger tanks, unlike the single 1 pound cans we can buy
that adds to their price so yes its a good deal at 100 for everything

 

you want to be at the shop when its cooler ambient temps outside- not 100f

engine has to run at idle or above for a while during filling- most places have a fan blow on the radiator,, the ac radiator/heat exchanger is in front of the car radiator
So its better to do ac jobs in the cool part of the day- thats for summer

 

Sorry to jack this forum but I have an A/C problem and was wondering if this would fix it. My A/C problems only happens on hot days and in mild traffic. Once it hits about 90 degrees (like the past few days in NYC) my A/C starts acting up. I start to hear a popping noise and my compressor switches on and off (prob low on freon) and my car jolts a lot. Especially in traffic it happens. But if I'm on the highway, the A/C runs fine and cold. But once I get into traffic, my A/C isn't as cold anymore and I start feeling problems. But if I'm in traffic and its like 80 degrees out, no problems. I also hear a whine at low revs sometimes.

I'm just angry that my A/C only acts up on really hot days when I actually need it.

 

freon may be low if the comperssor is cycling on and off-
what is the car temp runniing at? normal is just below half-
or is it creeping up when stopped- indicating a problem

look for debris in the mini radiator in front of car radiator- thats for the ac!
Ck passenger side radiator fan comes on when ac is turned on
Driver fan should run as needed with car temp when sitting at lights

 

My car temp is perfect. Sits below middle and never moves at all. Should I go to one of those $100 A/C service places that I see everywhere and see if that fixes my problems. I tried to get it checked out last time but it wasn't hot enough and when I turned on my A/C, no weird sounds or anything so mechanic couldn't do anything. Then when its hot as hell and a trip to the beach is planned, shit happens.

 

assuming you dont have any ziner friends yet that live nearby (ck the Meets section)
and can help you
You dont need the same service as an empty unit does

First- that noise may be compressors complaint on lack of its 2 oz of oil and low feon charge.
Have a shop install some leak find with freon to bring the system to proper pressure and freon amount
Stuff will have a leak sealer in it too
yellow UV glasses or a light the shop will have- shows up the special dye in the freon if its leaked anywhere
they have you drive it a week or 2 then they look for leak

go ask for a `top off` with sealer and leak detector

simple test of ac- with a stick thermometer, looks like a candy thermometer- a thin probe with guage on top--2 bucks harbor freight tools or similar parts stores
an infrared temp reader works too
put the probe into center vent
ac on for a few minutes at full cold setting should result in temp reading 40 degrees F lower than the ambient/outside air temp, (this is why to do it in the cooler hours of the day- above 80 is a pita to get freon in)
down to about 40 degrees coming out the vents is normal- 38 is exceptional

 

ck the ac fan operation I described before
turn ac on= fan on- ac off pass fan off

 

All good info except that part about the sealer. I strongly caution against sealer unless you plan on NEVER servicing the ac system again. I've seen it ruin expansion valves, orifice tubes, and compressors. Some of them rely on seal softeners which turn seals to jelly in six months. That said, I have used the stuff to try to squeeze out one short michigan ac season on the kid's older cars. Never on a nice car though.