I have a 1999 Cougar and got estimates from $650-1500 for replacing the compressor. What's up with that? Here I thought all I needed was a $10 can of refrigerant. It's a 4 hour job.
2006-07-02 19:51:23 · 12 answers · asked by matchcom 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Mercury
On your cougar it's expensive as most places where mechanics go to for parts charge them $300 for that compressor easy.. Usually it's places that also don't give grief if the part fails whille on the car... That's why you normally won't see mechanincs at autozone and the such for except for name brand parts.
I don't know the quality of the reman that is on ebay but with a 100% feedback rating, I'd say it must be initally real good (no feedback ratings if the part craps out in 6 months though.. but that's about the price you pay at the zone and such for that part)
The a/c compressor on yours needs to have the fan and sometimes the radiator to be pulled out to change the compressor. that's why the 4 hour quote (and unlike the others I've done one of these little nightmares and that's what I wound up having to take out because of the long a/c bolts that hold it in place.)
Depending upon what is wrong, the mechanics may also want to change other parts that were destoyed by the compressor blowing up internally and putting dirt and shavings in the system that has to be flushed/changed to be removed.
the labor prices that everyone is complainng about are just normal prices for an expert these days.. don't see too many complain when the $300 bill for the plummer or home a/c tech comes... (sorry been a mechaninc for years and have that question all the time)
2006-07-04 07:25:09 · answer #1 · answered by gearbox 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The compressor is a very expensive part(between $100 and $400). then there is labor costs though i still think that $1000 something is still way too much i don't know how much it costs for your vehicle. I don't see it taking 4hrs to change a compressor but maybe with the way you engine is positioned it makes it harder for the mechanic. Like they might need to lift the engine or something of the sort. Also if your going to the dealership it WILL be more expensive to get the work done. as for the refrigerant that is something you can do yourself just buy the can(about $5) buy the hose the goes from the can to the connector on the line(about $15 and turn the a/c on full blast open the valve on the hose hold the can upside down til it feels empty and bam you got a/c again...as long as there aren't any leaks in the system.
2006-07-03 04:19:08 · answer #2 · answered by commander_fernandez 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmm. that doesn't sound right. Your car is not old so the hoses don't need replacement. If the compressor is bad, you should go on Ebay and look for a compressor for your car.
I just provided a link for a compressor that cost only $125 with $13 shipping. Check it out!
I tend to work on my own cars so I never pay for labor which is where you spend all your money. If you goto a dealer you will pay the highest price possible because the dealers simply have way to much overhead cost. Independent auto repair shops with AAA membership tend to be cheaper and more honest. Ofcourse not every one is. My dad was a mechanic for nearly 50 years and always charged a fair price. Auto mechanics usually go by the recommended amount in a price book that is generally known to all mechanics. What one mechanic can do in 15 minutes could take another 2 days but the cost is the same either way. Another option is to look for neighbors who work on cars. You can ask them to install the compressor and i'm sure they would for alot less. I've done it. Others will too. Good luck! :-)
2006-07-02 19:57:02 · answer #3 · answered by sentrasersr20de 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The compressor can cause the system to get debris in the whole system and has to be flushed and the dryer has to be replaced, plus its in a bad place on the car thats the labor cost are high.
2006-07-03 05:04:02 · answer #4 · answered by Josh S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The parts don't get you...the labor does. Mechanics charge an arm and a leg for labor. Trust me, I have had my car repaired enough times to know. You should ask them for a breakdown of the charges and maybe get a second opinion.
2006-07-02 19:58:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Compressors are expensive.
2006-07-02 19:55:58 · answer #6 · answered by Motorpsycho 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Repairs are so expensive because the people who do it know that your going to pay for it no matter what.
2006-07-02 19:54:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a/c parts are expensive, small cars involve more labor.
There are shops that may over charge.
Get a second opinion
2006-07-03 12:57:18 · answer #8 · answered by kayef57 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Auto mechanics are ripoffs, but we need the service so we pay.
2006-07-02 19:54:46 · answer #9 · answered by John Smith 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because mechanics have to eat too!
2006-07-02 20:04:07 · answer #10 · answered by alyssabeth2304 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋