Author Topic: AC Leak in Car  (Read 1207 times)

Beach_Stache

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 223
    • This Frugal Father
AC Leak in Car
« on: July 02, 2022, 06:11:43 AM »
So my 2004 Corolla with 174k miles needed an AC recharge so while I sweated out much of the spring I figured I would do it when I needed state inspection.  I should have looked this stuff up before but thought that adding freon/refrigerant was not something you could do yourself.  It was around $250 for "AC Service" and they said that I had a leak somewhere in the AC and it would cost around $2100 to fix it.  Of course I said no to that and he said that the AC recharge could last a few days or weeks or all summer.  I'm hoping the added refrigerant lasts all summer, but then I looked up how to recharge, and it looks fairly simple from youtube, where you buy the canister and pressure gauge for $50 and just add refrigerant.  I'm hoping that's the case and I can just add refrigerant once/year (or more often) DIY style and save a lot.  I really only need AC for a few months out of the year.  Any harm in this approach, and I'm assuming it's as simple as that?  Anyone add freon/refrigerant regularly to their car to re-charge AC that's got a leak somewhere?

HipGnosis

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1824
Re: AC Leak in Car
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2022, 11:26:02 AM »
I haven't added freon (refrigerant) in many yrs, but it's not hard.
I wouldn't keep adding if it only lasts a few weeks or months - and I'm pretty sure it's bad for the system to let it all leak out.
There are auto freon/recharger kits that include leak stopper.  I wouldn't use that until I found out how long a 'regular' recharge lasts.

RWD

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6527
  • Location: Arizona
Re: AC Leak in Car
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2022, 06:23:00 PM »
$2100 seems way too high for fixing your A/C. I'm pretty sure I paid less than that for a OEM condenser replacement at a Porsche dealer. Repair Pal estimates ~$600-1300 depending on what needs to be replaced. If two or more major components are leaking then I guess $2100 might be about right.

You can recharge your AC as a temporary fix. Probably worth trying just to see how far it gets you. Just be aware that it's possible to overfill which will damage components.

Don't use a stop leak product except as an absolute last resort for a system you will never fix properly.
https://mechanicbase.com/ac/ac-leak-sealer/

HPstache

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2858
  • Age: 37
Re: AC Leak in Car
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2022, 06:59:23 AM »
$2100 seems way too high for fixing your A/C. I'm pretty sure I paid less than that for a OEM condenser replacement at a Porsche dealer. Repair Pal estimates ~$600-1300 depending on what needs to be replaced. If two or more major components are leaking then I guess $2100 might be about right.

You can recharge your AC as a temporary fix. Probably worth trying just to see how far it gets you. Just be aware that it's possible to overfill which will damage components.

Don't use a stop leak product except as an absolute last resort for a system you will never fix properly.
https://mechanicbase.com/ac/ac-leak-sealer/

I think the problem is that if there is a leak in the system,  it could be more intensive than just replacing a compressor (or less for that matter)  it's probably quoted as replacing almost everything.

RWD

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6527
  • Location: Arizona
Re: AC Leak in Car
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2022, 07:21:17 AM »
$2100 seems way too high for fixing your A/C. I'm pretty sure I paid less than that for a OEM condenser replacement at a Porsche dealer. Repair Pal estimates ~$600-1300 depending on what needs to be replaced. If two or more major components are leaking then I guess $2100 might be about right.

You can recharge your AC as a temporary fix. Probably worth trying just to see how far it gets you. Just be aware that it's possible to overfill which will damage components.

Don't use a stop leak product except as an absolute last resort for a system you will never fix properly.
https://mechanicbase.com/ac/ac-leak-sealer/

I think the problem is that if there is a leak in the system,  it could be more intensive than just replacing a compressor (or less for that matter)  it's probably quoted as replacing almost everything.

Usually the mechanic would charge the system with freon that has some dye in it to find the leak. Then you'll know which components need replacement. But since it sounds like they didn't charge the system at all I don't know how they can give an accurate quote for fixing it.

Artem_F

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 46
Re: AC Leak in Car
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2022, 08:57:20 AM »
I would advise buying Haynes manual for "DIY your A/C" and a double-entry pressure gauge (I purchased one for less than $50 ~10 years ago) - with a combination of these two you'll be able to pinpoint the problem and decide what to do next. I also recall that there are slightly more expensive charging kits with UV light, which help you to identify the source of the leak.

aasdfadsf

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 204
Re: AC Leak in Car
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2022, 12:52:48 AM »
I once did the DIY canister on an older car of mine (a 2002 Corolla, as it turns out) and it worked great. I wasn't planning on keeping the car much longer anyway and have since sold it, so whether it worked long-term or not wasn't an issue.

If you have a real leak in the system, not just the very slow years-long molecules bleeding out, then the canister thing won't work and you'll have to pay to have the whole system fixed. For your car, I cannot see justifying paying $2100. That might be half its value. Just sell it to someone who intends to live in a place up north and be up-front with the buyer about the AC not working.

ChickenStash

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 570
  • Location: Midwest US
Re: AC Leak in Car
« Reply #7 on: July 05, 2022, 10:53:04 AM »
Most cars do leak a little bit of refrigerant over time so one that's 18 y/o might not have a bad leak and it's just finally caught up. I'd suggest asking around for a shop that actually does diagnostic work so they only replace what is needed (if needed) and keep the costs reasonable. You'll probably need to ask around locally to find out where those shops are - usually not going to be a dealer, either. Most shop just "load the parts cannon" to fix things so the prices can be a lot higher than needed.

If you want to DIY, auto parts store sell just about any of the parts that might need to be replaced and many will even rent the gauges and vacuum pump for free (with refundable deposit). I've replaced various AC parts over the years and it's not difficult as far as car repairs go.

Beach_Stache

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 223
    • This Frugal Father
Re: AC Leak in Car
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2022, 10:43:13 AM »
Thanks everyone.  10 days in and AC seems to still be working, so hopefully it'll get me through the summer and if having an AC leak can't cause any permanent damage to the car, I can just deal w/no AC for the rest of the year.  Really July and Aug are the worst months, everything else I can do windows.  I understand that the amazon bought refrigerant and leak kits are cheap and can potentially gunk stuff up, but my car isn't worth $2100 at this point as it's a 2004 Corolla w/174k miles, so my plan has been to just do normal maintenance and if anything bad happens above the value, I'll just donate it and buy another used car or maybe an older Nissan Leaf or something.  Thanks for the all the advice!