There’s nothing worse than having your car’s AC go off or not blowing cool air in the middle of a hot day. Before you become too uncomfortable, take action if the air conditioning in your car isn’t as cold as it should be. So how much does it cost to fix the AC in your car? Don’t worry about that; you’ll get an idea of the cost to fix your car’s AC from this article.
However, before we get to the cost to fix the AC In a car, we’ll take a look at the working, causes, symptoms, and maintenance of the AC in a car.
Let’s get to it.
Contents
How does an AC actually work?
The AC system works by converting the refrigerant from a gaseous to a liquid state. When you turn on the AC, several components begin to operate. The AC compressor is initially belted to the engine’s crankshaft to begin the process. Inside the compressor, the air is compressed by several pistons, producing heat and high pressure.
The heated, pressurized gas is then transferred to the condenser, where it cools and changes into liquid. Then the fluid moves on to the thermal expansion valve after passing through the dryer to make sure no gas is present. The liquid is cooled as it reaches the expansion valve, turning it back into a gas, which then passes through an evaporator.
What causes your car’s AC to stop functioning properly?
Here are some of the things that cause your AC to stop functioning as it should:
Leaks in the AC system
Everything needs to be properly sealed due to the operating pressure in the hoses and other components. Less than an ounce of leak per year is typical for the refrigerant, but a larger loss could be problematic.
In addition to pressure and heat, age also contributes to leaks in the AC system because the material weakens over time. Instead of blowing cold air, the system will blow hot air when it is leaking. This might also occur if the AC’s refrigerant level is low.
So how much will it cost me to fix the leak in my AC system? A pack of O-rings will cost about $10. Depending on the component that needs fixing, the cost of labor will vary. The price of the labor should range from $150 to $500. Accordingly, the whole expense could range from $160 to $1000 or more, depending on the part that needs to be changed.
A clogged cabin air filter
One of the signs of a clogged cabin air filter is a shortage of airflow into the cabin, which is the most obvious symptom. Additionally, if the filter is inefficient, additional dust, pollen, and pollutants may enter the cabin.
It’s possible that the condenser, which is situated behind the car’s grille, as well as the filter will become clogged in some cases. The airflow into the condenser could be impeded by leaves, insects, and other potential objects on the road, which would limit the efficiency of the air conditioner.
So how much does it cost to replace a cabin air filter? Costs for replacing a cabin air filter range from $10 to $20. It takes little time and is quite simple to change the filter. There’s a good chance that shops and dealerships may overcharge you to replace the cabin filter. So it’s suggested you handle the cabin air filter replacement yourself.
Faulty AC compressor
The air conditioning compressor is a component that gets faulty most frequently. There won’t be any cool air coming from the vents if the compressor fails. When the system is running, it can also create strange noises.
Many people lack the knowledge necessary to replace the compressor. It will take a lot of labor and expensive tools to replace it. The compressor should cost you between $100 and $200, and labor can cost you another $250 to $750.
Other faulty and failing components
There is a chance that the AC’s other components may also be faulty, in which case the problem would need to be determined immediately. The compressor, evaporator, condenser, and hoses, as well as other components, could all be affected.
If this occurs, the job needs to be done by a professional with a professional tool to prevent system contamination. Depending on the component that needs to be replaced, the cost of the repair may be high due to its cost. The cost of labor and parts might possibly reach $1,000.
Symptoms of an AC system problem
Here are some symptoms and signs you’ll notice when your AC is having an issue:
Warm air is coming from the vent.
Is warm air coming from your car vent? That is actually not good because it can make the car’s interior very uncomfortable. It may be the result of a faulty AC compressor, a clogged cabin air filter, a refrigerant leak, or other faulty components.
Unusual noise
Typically, air conditioners run quietly. Hearing a loud or unusual noise is bad. Turn off the air conditioning system and make a repair call if you hear hissing, whistling, screeching, squealing, clanging, or grinding noises.
Low airflow
There should be a strong, constant flow of cool air passing through each vent while the cooling cycle is running. The air conditioner may not be working properly if you can only feel a slight breeze. A clogged filter, a frozen evaporator coil, or a refrigerant leak could be the reasons for this.
Unpleasant smell
Your air conditioner’s cooled air shouldn’t smell. A damaged electrical component or the motor may be the cause of a smoky smell. This needs an immediate AC repair. If there are chemical smells like ether or chloroform, a refrigerant leak may be present.
Never try to ignore the signs that your AC needs repair. The air conditioner won’t fix itself, and delaying scheduling a qualified AC repair could cause additional damages and an extended disturbance in your comfort.
Cost to fix the AC in a car
The cost to fix the AC in a car may vary depending on the issue and the place you live in. For an AC repair, you should budget between $10 and $1,000. If all you need to do is recharge the refrigerant, you could spend as little as $10. However, you can actually spend $1,000 or more if costly and critical components need to be replaced or you need a qualified mechanic to work on them.
Car AC system maintenance
Regular maintenance is the best approach to ensuring that the air conditioning system in your vehicle keeps functioning as it should. The air conditioning system needs to be checked routinely, even though many individuals don’t believe it needs to be checked frequently.
Although AC system problems are unavoidable sometimes, following some maintenance guidelines can help you keep the problems to a minimum and also help you spend less on fixing the problem.
Some car AC maintenance approaches include:
- When the device needs a recharge, do so. To protect the compressor, check the air conditioning every year or two and recharge as required.
- On a weekly basis, run the air conditioner. It’s good to leave it on the highest, coldest setting for at least ten minutes. This easy action aids in maintaining gas pressure.
- As soon as a failure starts to show, get air conditioning repairs done. Allowing the issue to persist could result in additional failures that are more expensive to fix.
- Every week, run defrost mode. It only has to be on each week for around five minutes. By eliminating the moisture, this procedure aids in preventing mildew growth.
- Make use of the air conditioner during the winter season. You can use the air conditioner to reduce humidity and moisture in the air even when it’s cold outside.
By practicing most of the maintenance approaches listed above, you will be able to prevent unnecessary AC system failure. You’ll also be able to invest your money on important things instead of spending it on replacing parts of the AC system.
FAQs
Why is my car’s AC not blowing cold air?
Leaks or compressor problems are the two most frequent reasons for broken air conditioning. If your air conditioner is blowing cool air but not cool enough, the issue may be a clogged filter, a failed cooling fan or radiator, or it may just be that your AC needs to be recharged.
How much does it cost to fix the AC fan in a car?
For an AC repair, you should budget between $10 and $1,000. If all you need to do is recharge the refrigerant, you could spend as little as $10. However, you can actually spend $1,000 or more if costly and critical components need to be replaced or you need a qualified mechanic to work on them.
Why is my AC blowing warm air in my car?
One of the most frequent causes of warm air flowing from your car’s air conditioner is a refrigerant problem, or more specifically, a refrigerant leak. Your car’s refrigerant levels may be too low, or there may be a leak causing this refrigerant loss.
Does AutoZone help with AC?
According to AutoZone, “Visit AutoZone for an AC recharge when the time comes.” Along with other things, we sell R134a refrigerant, PAG46 oil, AC leak stoppers, and AC system cleanser. To find the ideal AC solution for you and your vehicle, shop online for same-day in-store pickup or visit your nearby AutoZone.
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
A blocked or clogged condenser coil may be the cause of your air conditioner running but failing to reduce the temperature inside. In order to remove heat energy from your cabin, the condenser fan draws air into the outdoor unit through the condenser coil.
How do I know if my car’s AC compressor is bad?
- Odd Noises When you turn on the air conditioner in your car, you might hear some odd noises; if so, the compressor is most likely the source of the noise.
- Hot air. The entire purpose of turning on your car’s air conditioning is to have cool air blow through the vents.
- Fluid leak
- Clutch is not moving.
How often does a car’s AC need to be recharged?
Most likely, once every year or two is enough. The time to do this is in the spring. Before your air conditioner completely stops blowing cold air, we suggest scheduling a recharge. Give us a call if you find that the air blowing out of your vents is not quite as brisk.
How much does it cost to recharge the AC?
However, the price of a house air conditioner recharge depends on your cooling needs and whether your system still uses Freon or R-22 refrigerant. As of 2021, a Freon refill typically costs between $100 and $350.
How much does it cost to replace an AC compressor?
Your mechanic isn’t too far off; the typical price to replace a car’s air conditioning compressor is roughly $1,100. Depending on where you live, labor and part prices can differ significantly. The parts can cost between $650 and $840, while the labor can cost anywhere between $160 and $200 on average.
Is it worth fixing an AC?
If your air conditioner is relatively new, it rarely makes financial sense to replace it with a new one unless the cost of maintenance is in the hundreds of dollars. The “5,000 rule” serves as general guidance for many HCAV professionals.
Related Article:
- How much does it cost to replace the strut of a car
- How to Find Tracker on Car and Disable if Needed
- How to track a car with GPS
- How to track a car without a tracker
- Should I Repair or replace my old car?
That is all for this article, where we discussed the cost to fix the AC in a car. We also took a look at the working, causes, symptoms, and maintenance of the AC in a car. I hope you learned a lot from reading this article. If you do, kindly share it with others. Thanks for reading; see you around!
