Found a pretty local (40mins) 2010 Sport Auto. Original owner, Black on Black, 150k miles with service records from the same dealership it was brought from back in 2010. Only thing is, AC apparently doesn't work and owner isn't sure why. I can't say what's wrong as they aren't even sure, but I'm hoping it might just be a relay or a fuse. However, if worse does come to worse, about how much am I looking at for a complete replacement of parts and labor? Never delt with AC but I need it where I live. I still plan on getting it because the price is just good and location etc. Just trying to prepare myself. Wouldn't mind taking things apart and replacing. If it's not working at this point won't hurt to just get completely new stuff if it's shot haha. Thanks in advance.

 

I think the best route is to get the car to an AC specialist, which shall evacuate the refridgerant, make a pressure test and recharge the system with leak-indication agent. If the system starts operating and no leakage visible, that's all. If there is a leakage or some component failure, they will find it out at once. What I'd like to know, is for how long the AC has been broken. If that's not many years I wouldn't be worried about buying that car.

 

I'd just take it to a specialist. AC issues can be a hassle. Adjust the used car price accordingly.

 

The price is already at the point where if I took it to a specialist id probably still come out on top. Just wondering if there are any common problems with these? Been lurking the forums and searching but all the search results say search the forums hahaha. Found a relay and fuse diagram so I'll start there once I get it. Just looking for people's personal experience

 

Yeah that would be the plan at this point

 

Piling on here, I agree. It could be anything from a leak in a hose/fitting to an outright compressor failure.

lol... For MEJ joke:
I just read the "sport auto" part. You may want to consider asking them why they got it with the wrong transmission, and see of they'll pay you to take it off their hands so you can swap it with the right transmission...

 

Yeah I'll def take it somewhere once I install some parts I know I can replace.

Also with the trans, I don't mind the auto. Living in LA sucks

 

To answer the OP's question. The AC system can cost upward to $4000 to repair, if done right, the first time with quality or OEM parts.

The OEM compressor is over 600$, the clutch system is 278$ and the issue is that depending on what happened, you may have to have the entire system replaced, not just the compressor - because if it is contaminated, you will need to replace the condenser and the evaporator... those parts cost hundreds and required over 10 hours of labor as the dash has to come off.

Like I said, the AC can cost as much as to defeat the purchase of this car.
Besides, it's black and that makes it even hotter to use in So Cal without an AC...

How much is the car? If it's under a 1000$, maybe it would make sense, but if more - then no. You can still find plenty of low mileage FITs for reasonable prices.

https://www.hondapartsnow.com/parts-...ompressor.html

 

Never seen a fit for under 2500, regardless of problems.

 

Going through a Honda Acura specialist, replacing everything with new oem components is 1300 + tax out the door. So no where near 4000 lol. Not sure if you were just throwing numbers out or something but glad it isn't and all new oem

 

1300 is impossible. The components alone (condenser, evaporator, compressor, various hoses, seals, gaskets, plus refrigrant will be over 1300). Labor for all these repairs will be in the 10-20 hours range. Usually dealerships charge 120+ $/hr, so add 1200+ in labor alone.


And again, I am not talking about getting the lowest price - for that OP can hire a joe shmo under a tree, who will offer to do the work for fraction of the cost, but to do it right, AC system may have to be replaced in its entirety (if it got contaminated by metal debris) or, taken apart and cleaned, which is super time consuming and doesn't gurantee removal of all particles like replacement does, so some shops may rightfully decline to replace parts of the system...

 

Not sure why I'd lie about it. Just telling you what the Honda tech told me. 1300 + tax out the door. Compressor, condenser, and maintenance with labor.

 

From Honda's own site:
https://estore.honda.com/honda/parts...n=&b=B++57&dl=
Compressor: $763.22
Clutch: $546.57
Coil: $155.25
Condensor: $487.12
Refrigerant evac and recharge: ~$70

^That's over $2000 and it doesn't even include all the parts of the ac system (hoses, expansion valve, evaporator core, etc), just the ones you listed and what I assume was quoted on. And the labor is gonna be about ~100/hr. Now I agree completely with john21031 where we're not talking about finding the lowest price. I could find all those parts above on Rockauto for about $350. But you're saying your Honda tech is offering this $2000 bundle of oem parts for 2/3 the price and $1000-$2000 worth of labor is included? I'm not suggesting you're lying, just that something doesn't quite add up.

 

No clue man. Just telling you what the Honda tech told me. 1300 out the door for new compressor, condenser, and install with freon. Could be that it was just one problem, rather than the whole system.

 

Well that brings up an important question: did they actually look at the system and diagnose the issue and this is exactly what will fix it? Or did you just tell them the ac isn't working and they just guessed and threw a list of parts together? Regardless their math still doesn't check out as evidenced by Honda's own website and basic common sense.

Your original question was "how much am I looking at for a complete replacement of parts and labor" and I agree with the original assessment that you're looking at around $4k if using oem parts for a complete replacement of the system.

 

Yeah no idea, they did a 120$ diagnosis, and from that and wiring it came down to the compressor, fee is included if I chose to finish the job there, so they're doing condenser along with others apparently. Looking at the prices, the whole system would add up pretty high looking at the parts posted. So just compressor and condenser, 1300 seems right. Glad it wasn't more

 

I'll post a picture of the statement when I get it tonight (hopefully)

 

Not needed. Again, no one is suggesting you're lying. Just that the original statement didn't make much sense. $4k is reasonable expectation for complete system replacement and labor. You shot back with "are you just throwing numbers out there" because your quote came in at $1300. But you did eventually clarify it a bit: they're only replacing the compressor itself and condensor. So that means they are reusing your clutch/coil and all the hoses and expansion valve and everything else. In a nutshell, they're replacing 1/4th of your system, not the complete system. And of course that reduces labor time by quite a bit.

$1300 still seems a bit generous for those two *new* oem parts, but I digress. john21031 makes an important point that when a compressor craps the bed and the system is contaminated by metal debris, you literally have to replace the entire thing. As long as they don't think the compressor has grenaded and sent shrapnel through the system, and they're offering you at least 1 year warranty, then you should be fine.

 

Yeah true. I'm just excited it's not that much. Just got the call it's done

 

Chiming in I got a similar quote from Honda last year, 1385 out the door with labor and tax