need new air conditionor ckmpressor 280sel
 

I looking to find out if my air conditionor guy is being strait with me. I had work done last spring by this guy he put some new lines and a dryer plus the r12. Cost $450. This spring air does not blow cold. My guy put dye in the system seal on the compresser is leaking and clutch spewing dye. So he wants me to order the compressor and gave me an estimate of $700 4 hours labor and $300 for r12 and evacuation. Is his estimate of 4 hours labor reasonable to replace a a6 compressor. I know the r12 is not cheap but the $50 a lb seams high. I just dont know if the guy is try to high ball me becausr he knows I love the car.

If the compressor seal is leaking refrigerant you have no choice but to rebuild the compressor with new seals or replace it.

R12 has long since been a restricted refrigerant under the Montreal Protocol and its price has skyrocketed since it is no longer being manufactured. The service agent isn't going to sell it to you at cost. He's going to mark it up a bit to make some profit (all businesses that want to stay in business work this way) and you're going to pay a bit on top of that for his recovery and recycling fees (this isn't free for him either). His rates do seem a bit high considering he has YOU ordering the compressor.

You should be considering yourself lucky that you have an A/C guy that will use R12. Most shops will turn you away and in some countries it's flat-out illegal.

If you're willing to do the work yourself you can save a HUGE amount of money.

As far as replacing just the compressor (no evacuation, no charging, just the act of removal and replacement), it should not take any longer than 1-1.5 hours. It is easy to get to from under the car, assuming you have a V8 car.