Last month - 1996 Lumina - AC check and recharge at the dealer -

dx - $142
freon - $ 30
dye - $ 15
shop supplies - $7
Tax - $ 12

Total $206

This morning 1999 Monte - AC check and recharge at independent shop -

dx - $10
freon - $22
tax - $ 2

Total - $34

The Monte is blowing 41 degrees after the $34 AC service.

 

But without the dye and oils and sealant that the dealer probably used, if there is still a leak you are out that money and will have to pay for diagnostics again :P

 

The cans are like $10 and it takes 5 mins :P

Sucks that you paid that much the first time tho

 

The AC on the Lumina was not working at all when it went to the dealer. They recharged the system added dye and could not locate a leak. I was out the door for $206. A recheck at the dealer (free!) two weeks later still showed no leak. The AC system on this car was last touched by this same dealer in 2002, when I had the compressor replaced. Apparently, freon can slowly be lost from your system over 9 years without a "leak".

As for the Monte, it's AC worked, but was blowing about 55 degrees. The independent shop evacuated the system, refilled it, checked for leaks with a sniffer, found no leak and sent me on my way for $34. As far as I know, this AC system had not been touched since the car rolled off the line 12 years ago.

It's the dealer's labor rate that's the killer. I don't mind paying $95/hr to have someone dx some major issue with the electronics on the engine or transmission. I do have an issue with $95/ hour x 1.5 hours to recharge an AC system.

I watched the process this morning at the independent shop, and the tech didn't spend much time actually on the car. I was in and out in under 45 minutes and much of that time was letting the machine evacuate the system or waiting for the system pressures to equalize, etc.

The shop I went to this morning (Catlin Truck Accessories and Auto Air) has been in business in Jacksonville since 1919 - so they've been around a while! The "$10 AC check plus freon" was a special, so their regular price may be higher.

 

JaxJim , used to use them all the time, when I had a shop off Main St.... am in OP now and replaced the UIM last week and redid the LIM gaskets too.... Hills out at the Industrail Park, told me the problemas soon as I drove up and no charge...good people