Love my car, hate my current A/C (& other problems). Is our A/C this expensive 2 fix?
08-24-2012, 01:03 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Love my car, hate my current A/C (& other problems). Is our A/C this expensive 2 fix?
Understand first off, I don't DIY so that's a given. Yes, of course it would be a lot less expensive to fix all the stuff below if I bought my parts for XXX parts place and did it myself. I get that. I'm not that guy. Don't have the time, inclination or interest in doing so so I'm relegated to have to use my indie, who I do trust. And yes, he's expensive.
He's less expensive than the dealer, though. He was recommended to me by a few people and I've used him in the past. The Washington DC area is expensive for everything so these prices may make you sick. (see below) Don't have any other options unless I want to take it to an Exxon to be worked on. Ha ha...
So... brought my car in for a power steering fluid leaking issue and no A/C problem and am now $4614 poorer and still have no working A/C. Got the power steering rack for about $500 - mail order, thanks to you guys (instead of $1800-$2600 for a ZF rebuild). Got it from carsteeringwholesale. Great company to work with. My indie put it in for me.
Thought my A/C just needed new freon. Wrong. My indie evacuated and charged the system. Found high side climbs and low side stays too low (whatever that means). He replaced drier and expansion valve. System still has problem. Replaced compressor, recharged system. Still problem. Evacuated and recharged again today at no charge to me. Still no A/C unless it's at night and it's cooler out. Works decent at night blowing out cold air. During the day, blows warm air. Makes it intolerable to drive (it's in the high 80's and 90's this past month and I'm sweating to death).
He said there's a restriction in the system causing it not to work. High is 400, should be 200. He had a 99 BMW that a lady brought in to him that did the same thing. Evacuated it 3X and it finally started working. Said mine is more problematic than this, and that he's going to have to take all the lines apart, blow air through it and flush the system.
That will require me buying another drier and expansion valve. He added that this is going to be a nightmare and expensive. Suggested it could be the evaporater or the condensor, probably the evaporater.
Since I know nothing about this stuff I have to keep moving forward with this. I must have working A/C or my car is useless to me most of the year. I bought it to drive as a daily driver. I adore this car! I really don't want to sell it so I have to get it fixed. But how much time and money does one allocate to this?
So far I'm at 8.5 hours of labor at $39 an hour for the A/C problem = $333. All the other labor rates for other stuff is at $98 an hour.
Power steering - rack and pinion steering gear and boots, fill with power steering fluid and bleed - 6 hours at $98 hr = $588
Replaced cabin air filter, caps, rotors - alt, fan and A/C belts, check center fan for A/C squeak (but still squealing) = total of 4.5 hours = $441
Replace rear rotors and pads with sensors and shims 2.5 hours = $245
Parts: air filter $33
Caps - 2 @ $171 = $343
Rotors 2@ $66 = $132
Air duct $51
Alt belt $18
Alt belt $24
AC belt $14
Cabin air filters $65
Power steering fluid $18
Freon 6 @ $17.99 = $107
Brake disc 2 @ $213
Pads 1 @ $222
Sensors 2 = $39
Shims 8 = $102
Receiver dryer $75
Expansion Valve $203
AC Compressor $400
Total with tax $4614 so far...
So I'm still stuck with an A/C system that needs to be fixed. I'm stuck with a squealing noise in the fan system (driver's side inside the car) that is driving me totally crazy. He said that when it gets hot, it makes the noise. It only starts squealing after about 20 minutes of driving.
He lubed it, checked stuff around it to see it it's hitting it and it's not. The only thing left, and he said it's VERY EXPENSIVE (I hate that phrase) is that I get a new fan motor (his cost is $930, my cost is $1150 plus 2 hours of labor).
It has never made the noise when it's sitting there so I have to drive it around for a while and bring it by so he can hear it. He said he won't buy a new motor for it until he's sure which one it is. That's $1350 to get rid of a squealing noise (or round trip airfare to Scandinavia next year for my summer trip
)
He said he's looked around and only the dealer carries this part. True?
So, with the current $4614 I've paid, maybe another $1000 to fix the A/C, $1350 for this squealing noise and about $500 for an earlier service this year by another indie, I'm at $7464 so far this year and climbing.
Oh, and there's a mystery scratch on the car that came about recently that will cost $800 to get out. The indie said there is no way it happened there. Not the end of the world scratch, but it's a scratch above the rocker panel area.
Many people would dump this car at this point. Friends at work call it the money pit. But I'm doing really well there now, making lots of sales, I have no kids so there's no massive college expenses that the rest of my friends are currently allocating for, no alimony to the ex, a relatively low mortgage payment ($1500 mo) and a huge desire to keep this car.
Since I have no children, this is my baby. Many friends spend $5k+ per year for their kids. Logic tells me that I must keep fixing this 993. I'm sure most of you would agree, indie pricing be damned. There are many days I say "the hell with it" and think about buying 1 killer car to replace my 2, but there isn't 1 car in my price range that will do that. Though, I pine away for an 08 MB Silver S63 or E63 sometimes. The spell fades, I go out to the garage to see my beautiful 993 and I get right back on track.
Have any of you run into this A/C problem where you did all the above stuff but the there was still a restriction in the system and you had to take all the lines apart and blow air though and flush the system?
Thanks for the way too long thread. If you're still reading and may offer some words of consolation or help, you deserve a gold star.
Steve
He's less expensive than the dealer, though. He was recommended to me by a few people and I've used him in the past. The Washington DC area is expensive for everything so these prices may make you sick. (see below) Don't have any other options unless I want to take it to an Exxon to be worked on. Ha ha...
So... brought my car in for a power steering fluid leaking issue and no A/C problem and am now $4614 poorer and still have no working A/C. Got the power steering rack for about $500 - mail order, thanks to you guys (instead of $1800-$2600 for a ZF rebuild). Got it from carsteeringwholesale. Great company to work with. My indie put it in for me.
Thought my A/C just needed new freon. Wrong. My indie evacuated and charged the system. Found high side climbs and low side stays too low (whatever that means). He replaced drier and expansion valve. System still has problem. Replaced compressor, recharged system. Still problem. Evacuated and recharged again today at no charge to me. Still no A/C unless it's at night and it's cooler out. Works decent at night blowing out cold air. During the day, blows warm air. Makes it intolerable to drive (it's in the high 80's and 90's this past month and I'm sweating to death).
He said there's a restriction in the system causing it not to work. High is 400, should be 200. He had a 99 BMW that a lady brought in to him that did the same thing. Evacuated it 3X and it finally started working. Said mine is more problematic than this, and that he's going to have to take all the lines apart, blow air through it and flush the system.
That will require me buying another drier and expansion valve. He added that this is going to be a nightmare and expensive. Suggested it could be the evaporater or the condensor, probably the evaporater.
Since I know nothing about this stuff I have to keep moving forward with this. I must have working A/C or my car is useless to me most of the year. I bought it to drive as a daily driver. I adore this car! I really don't want to sell it so I have to get it fixed. But how much time and money does one allocate to this?
So far I'm at 8.5 hours of labor at $39 an hour for the A/C problem = $333. All the other labor rates for other stuff is at $98 an hour.
Power steering - rack and pinion steering gear and boots, fill with power steering fluid and bleed - 6 hours at $98 hr = $588
Replaced cabin air filter, caps, rotors - alt, fan and A/C belts, check center fan for A/C squeak (but still squealing) = total of 4.5 hours = $441
Replace rear rotors and pads with sensors and shims 2.5 hours = $245
Parts: air filter $33
Caps - 2 @ $171 = $343
Rotors 2@ $66 = $132
Air duct $51
Alt belt $18
Alt belt $24
AC belt $14
Cabin air filters $65
Power steering fluid $18
Freon 6 @ $17.99 = $107
Brake disc 2 @ $213
Pads 1 @ $222
Sensors 2 = $39
Shims 8 = $102
Receiver dryer $75
Expansion Valve $203
AC Compressor $400
Total with tax $4614 so far...
So I'm still stuck with an A/C system that needs to be fixed. I'm stuck with a squealing noise in the fan system (driver's side inside the car) that is driving me totally crazy. He said that when it gets hot, it makes the noise. It only starts squealing after about 20 minutes of driving.
He lubed it, checked stuff around it to see it it's hitting it and it's not. The only thing left, and he said it's VERY EXPENSIVE (I hate that phrase) is that I get a new fan motor (his cost is $930, my cost is $1150 plus 2 hours of labor).
It has never made the noise when it's sitting there so I have to drive it around for a while and bring it by so he can hear it. He said he won't buy a new motor for it until he's sure which one it is. That's $1350 to get rid of a squealing noise (or round trip airfare to Scandinavia next year for my summer trip
)He said he's looked around and only the dealer carries this part. True?
So, with the current $4614 I've paid, maybe another $1000 to fix the A/C, $1350 for this squealing noise and about $500 for an earlier service this year by another indie, I'm at $7464 so far this year and climbing.
Oh, and there's a mystery scratch on the car that came about recently that will cost $800 to get out. The indie said there is no way it happened there. Not the end of the world scratch, but it's a scratch above the rocker panel area.
Many people would dump this car at this point. Friends at work call it the money pit. But I'm doing really well there now, making lots of sales, I have no kids so there's no massive college expenses that the rest of my friends are currently allocating for, no alimony to the ex, a relatively low mortgage payment ($1500 mo) and a huge desire to keep this car.
Since I have no children, this is my baby. Many friends spend $5k+ per year for their kids. Logic tells me that I must keep fixing this 993. I'm sure most of you would agree, indie pricing be damned. There are many days I say "the hell with it" and think about buying 1 killer car to replace my 2, but there isn't 1 car in my price range that will do that. Though, I pine away for an 08 MB Silver S63 or E63 sometimes. The spell fades, I go out to the garage to see my beautiful 993 and I get right back on track.
Have any of you run into this A/C problem where you did all the above stuff but the there was still a restriction in the system and you had to take all the lines apart and blow air though and flush the system?
Thanks for the way too long thread. If you're still reading and may offer some words of consolation or help, you deserve a gold star.
Steve
08-24-2012, 01:12 AM
#3
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
I'll tell you what - YOU pick the date, and I'll let you know if I can make it work. Does Sept 30th work or Oct 7th work better? if you pick the date, you BETTER come this time.
Usually, any date I pick, people come up with about a million other Porsche events that just happen to fall on that same day. If you pick the date, then it's all on you if no one shows up. Last time, it was sprinkling outside and only 4 of us showed. We had a blast anyway.
08-24-2012, 01:21 AM
#4
How long have you had your car and what's the total for all-up maintenance per year? If you've driven more than 6k or 8k miles per year and you're under $2k/year consider yourself lucky. Most don't d/d these cars, and there's a reason for that. Maintenance costs on 993's will only continue to rise. The blower motor that you referenced was $430 in '05, and less than $200 in '03.
However,,, driving a 993, priceless.
However,,, driving a 993, priceless.
08-24-2012, 01:27 AM
#6
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How long have you had your car and what's the total for all-up maintenance per year? If you've driven more than 6k or 8k miles per year and you're under $2k/year consider yourself lucky. Most don't d/d these cars, and there's a reason for that. Maintenance costs on 993's will only continue to rise. The blower motor that you referenced was $430 in '05, and less than $200 in '03.
On the other hand, I think it may be liberating for you to sell the car (and do not buy a fun car for a year or so).
08-24-2012, 01:27 AM
#7
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
How long have you had your car and what's the total for all-up maintenance per year? If you've driven more than 6k or 8k miles per year and you're under $2k/year consider yourself lucky. Most don't d/d these cars, and there's a reason for that. Maintenance costs on 993's will only continue to rise. The blower motor that you referenced was $430 in '05, and less than $200 in '03.
However,,, driving a 993, priceless.
However,,, driving a 993, priceless.
Wish my indie could find a blower motor for cheap. Can't believe they've more than doubled in price in the last 7 years. Is there a source for these that he's missing?
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08-24-2012, 01:35 AM
#8
Drifting
In my experience, $2k a year probably sounds about right. But it also doesn't happen every year.
Own the car for 4 years, no problems, no maintenance (pads, rotors and tires not included.) Then on year five, $10,000 worth of work.
That's $2k a year, it's just spread out over 5 years but all came at once.
Own the car for 4 years, no problems, no maintenance (pads, rotors and tires not included.) Then on year five, $10,000 worth of work.
That's $2k a year, it's just spread out over 5 years but all came at once.
08-24-2012, 01:44 AM
#9
Steve, if my 7 years of experience are any help, and I also have a 96 C4S, the years I've poured lots of money into my car on big ticket items have been usually followed by a few years of very little money poured into it. And my car is a daily driver as well.
So, over the years, it's still gonna be cheaper than leasing a lesser car.
Just pay the bills and move on. Chances are pretty good that it'll probably be waaay less money in 2013 and 2014 at least to operate your car.
So, over the years, it's still gonna be cheaper than leasing a lesser car.
Just pay the bills and move on. Chances are pretty good that it'll probably be waaay less money in 2013 and 2014 at least to operate your car.
08-24-2012, 01:59 AM
#10
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I have records on mine since new, 30k was spent over that period of 15 years. As others said, some years were a few hundred but then some were over 5k. Average 2k per year.
The things you've fixed with this bill ought to be good for a fairly long time.
The things you've fixed with this bill ought to be good for a fairly long time.
08-24-2012, 02:16 AM
#11
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Man have I been lucky (ooop, shouldn't have said that out loud!)!!. But my 95 is now at around 138K miles and has been nothing but the most dependable DD car. I did have to recharge the AC twice in the last, oh, 10 years, maybe, but barring the usual expenses (clutch and the "while you were in there" stuff was astrnomical, for example), I've had great luck with her. By contrast, I had one Volvo wagon a long time ago that was a nightmare expense ...very surprising! Best yo you on your A/C!
Edward
Edward
08-24-2012, 02:17 AM
#12
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Thread Starter
I'd be interested to hear if anyone lately has had this same A/C problem as mine or blower motor squealing problem. It's a high pitched constant squeal that would drive any owner mad. Do the fixes my indie has recommended sound like the best bet to eradicate these issues?
08-24-2012, 03:04 AM
#13
Rennlist Member
The evaporator is known to fail in our cars. A 10-hour job to fix, even for my mechanic who's done it several times before. Have a specialistto fill the system with nitrogen and use a electronic sniffer through the resirculation opening.
I'm afraid the only permanent fix for a squealing fan motor is to change it.
If you have any money left after this, welcome to Norway, I'll keep the kettle on for you!
Cheers from Oslo,
Tore
I'm afraid the only permanent fix for a squealing fan motor is to change it.
If you have any money left after this, welcome to Norway, I'll keep the kettle on for you!
Cheers from Oslo,
Tore
08-24-2012, 06:19 AM
#14
Instructor
Sounds like your "indie" is just guessing. Like Tore, I think you need to replace your evaporator. I had your issues, and after replacing all these, Radiator Aircon Desicator o-ring, Aircon Evaporator, Radiator Aircon Condensor Desicator, Radiator Aircon Ballast resistor, Pollen filters (set of 2), the air-con is now perfect. I too replaced freon and messed about trying to do it the cheap way, but to no avail. Pulling the frunk apart is a mission and you say it's not for you, so, get ready for more wallet pain. I am surprised at some of your prices, I purchased mine from CA and got them shipped to NZ for less than you are paying. Best of luck, Craig.
08-24-2012, 08:56 AM
#15
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Thread Starter
Sounds like your "indie" is just guessing. Like Tore, I think you need to replace your evaporator. I had your issues, and after replacing all these, Radiator Aircon Desicator o-ring, Aircon Evaporator, Radiator Aircon Condensor Desicator, Radiator Aircon Ballast resistor, Pollen filters (set of 2), the air-con is now perfect. I too replaced freon and messed about trying to do it the cheap way, but to no avail. Pulling the frunk apart is a mission and you say it's not for you, so, get ready for more wallet pain. I am surprised at some of your prices, I purchased mine from CA and got them shipped to NZ for less than you are paying. Best of luck, Craig.
I will run this info you guys posted by my indie in the hopes it may help here. I'd love to have working A/C again but damn, this is pricey. People say not to buy a MB AMG product (like a 2007 E63) due to repair costs to airmatic and some other components, but I can't imagine they are more expensive to fix per year than my car has been.