A Good Shop to get A/C Repaired/Refilled
 

I'm looking for a good shop to get my A/C repaired/refilled. I'm not sure which one it is since I own an older car. I have 1990 Volvo 740 GLE and the A/C no longer works and the windows being opened just doesn't do the trick anymore. I'm looking for suggestions for a good shop to have the system repaired or even replaced. Any recommendations is greatly appreciate it. If you recently have had this done too, could you post the cost?

Thanks!

get the recharge kit from Canadian tire.

Worked get in my integra. blows really cold.

I went to anglo canadian for a quote and they were charging quite a lot for my W203 C class, Ended up selling the car and letting the new owner take care of it. It was something like $3000 to get it fixed so I was like Fuck it,

If your driving a 1990 740 the A/C replaced might be more expensive than the car :(
Not to sound mean or nething. depends what it is of course, And it's not a benz so it'll prolly be a bit cheaper XD

So glad the AC on my Z31 is freezing, except you can't really adjust it its freezing or nothing... lol

I was thinking that I would do a conversion to the newer R134 from the old R12...

God, I hope it doesn't cost $3000, hell, I hope it doesn't cost like $300

Before you go to a shop, get some uv dye and inject it into the system, run it for a few days (even if it doesnt cool).. then look underneath the car. Mark the leaks with a grease pen or something. Also check to see if your compressor even turns..

Find out where it is leaking first.. then take to a shop. Do your own diagnostics so that you know if a shop is BSing you. Dyes are cheap.

If you can repair the hoses etc.. then go for just a recharge.

^ UV dye is perfect tools for AC fix. Diagnosis it yourself before you go to a shop. may save you hundreds.

i went to the states and got a retro fit kit from R12 to R134a from walamrt

only $30 usd.

instead of blowing hot air, it blows semi cool air. still not adequate enough. but whatever, didn't lose too much money

Hmmmmmm... Now I'm tempted....

I wondering if CT has it here or like walmart has it here...

*edit:
I found it on CT.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows...arge%2BKit.jsp

i tried the CT kit. its ok, BUT the kit, the end where ur suppose to screw onto the recharge cans, it has a little needle in it thats suppose to puncture the top of the cans. well, that needle isnt sharp enough, and the top of the cans have super thick metal covers which are hard to puncture.

but tried it on the highlander, sure works!

yup the recharge kit is R12A (IIRC) sure is awesome
$40 for the kit.. and you can do it your self

Anglo Canadian should be a good place to get your A/C recharge.

Like others say, put dye in the system first, and find out if it is leaking.

I had three customers came in for A/C recharge the other day, 2 of them had to change the condenser. They used to just recharge and it will be good for a year, but now, condenser had a hole in it, so they have to get it fix in order to get it recharged.

I got my A/C repaired at ICY COOL on clarke dr. near Hastings St. The manager there was nice.

how much?

R12 is illegal anyways, a R134a conversion would pertain a new dryer and possibly more. Typically, it would around around $150~$200 for a conversion. Leak tests should be performed as well.

there's a Chinese AC retrofitter/business out by 6RD near Westminster, they aren't too bad and pretty fair with pricing. I think they are called Wing Wah or something rather.

other than that, I'm not much help in this matter. Good hunting.

+1

Thanks! I'm calling in for some quotes and they seem to be all over the place.

Diagnostic test to figure out why my A/C wasn't working was $68. But If you decide to have them fix the pblm for you, the diagnostic test fee will be waived off.

In my case, I had a leak in my A/C line after doing the compression test. So by replacing the line with a new one along with recharging the gas and all that stuff plus labour and taxes came to around $300.

The manager there was quite helpful and very polite.

Kon Auto on Venebles...near China Town.

The guy here specializes in Volvos but is competent with other cars as well. Refilled my dads piece of shit Intrepid AC for a couple of years because it was cheaper than fixing/replacing the thing.

Definitely check it out if your Chinese...i dont know about his english lol.

I used the R12a refill kit on my C-class and it worked good. The air was cold, yet not freezing like before (R12a is not as good as R134a, so that's expected).

Unfortunately after 2 months my AC isn't working again so I suspect the system is empty again.

If you want the Dye, CT sells that too:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/storeloca...a127a5f60f5793

Yet I don't want to buy the glasses/light to see the UV dye. Might as well pay the $68 to have the leak found by a shop.

i heard the illegal R12 stuff blows colder than the newer environmentally safer R13a?

BTW, anyone know where I can get R12? not that im going to use it to recharge my car. im just going to put it in my room on my desk. thx

Kon is awesome.

His english over the phone is pretty much unintelligible

you have to talk to him face to face to pretty much understand what he is saying

great mechanic though

Any LED light is a good UV source.. you just need a filter.. all can be had under $2 at any $ store.

R12 (there is no R12a) is more efficient than R134a.. R134a requires more pressure.. However comes 2011 both will be illegal. By the way the R number is to describe the chemical molecule of the refrigerant. the a suffix to denote the unbalanced isomer.

R12 is more efficient.

You shouldn't mix both.

You shouldn't vent them to the atmosphere either because you can get quite a bit of money back.

Also note there will be a huge variation in price due to the simple fact that shops can fill in HC series of refrigerant instead of doing a proper R12->R134a conversion. Which needs new compressor, oils etc.

So get it in writing what you are getting.

HC series is made out of hydrocarbon.. so it will be cheaper.. but if you have a leak.. well have 911 on speed dial. Products like Duracool etc are HC refrigerant.. they are "drop in" compatible with R12 and R134 systems..

Honestly best way to prevent this from happening is to store your car in a temperature controlled and indoor garage during the extreme temperature months.. ie now during days like today and in winter.. cars are filled with volatile chemicals and these high pressure lines don't like temperature variations very much!

im on a r12 system. i want to recharge a friends r12 system (not my car) but i dont know any shops that carry it

No automotive shop carries it legally. You can try marine shops (which are exempt).

Always check for leaks first because no use filling it up with it leaking.. also check for the psi so you know how much to fill.