I have a 97 Civic LX 4D, The A/C was working fine since the last 2 years but I had parked it for 3 months in winter without using it and ever since it doesnt work at all. I suspect the gas leaked out but how does one check for a leak without paying a fortune?

Are there any tell tale signs? I can smell some weird gas when I switch it on now and the compressor does kick in......

What is a good price to get it refilled?

 

A/C that may have a leak is not the best thing to be playing with. Most shops have a machine that they hook up to your a/c and it will pull all your R134A out and check for a vacuum leak at the same time. The machine can then fill up your a/c. Most places in my area charge about 50-70 for the check and then a per pound charge to fill up. If you don't have a vacuum leak and need other repairs it should cost you in the 80-120 area.

 

you can alwayz buy an a/c recharger kit for like $40 bucks in autozone/strauss auto/pepboys and or the like. give it a try. i mean it doesnt hurt to try...im sure they come with directions as how to do it!

if not just do like he said and take it to a shop and have vacuum run!

 

I just got done replacing the evaporator core and one of my a/c lines under the hood.

a/c ownes south texas heat :woowoo:

 

i went to pepboys to check if my a/c system had a leak and to get it evacuated and recharged because it was not throwing cold air as before!

it cost me $100 bucks!!!

 

Well I took it to my local Precision Tune AutoCare Centre, they said that it had a condenser that leaked. The estimate given was $355.95 for replacing the part plus the evac/recharge for like 89.99 + 49.99 (per pound of gas)....They did like a pretty quick job with it and they said that they carried out a vaccum test and had some sort of leak detection gun which beeped at leaks.....How reliable is this? Should I go for a second opinion? I mean my car was doing OK until like the winter when it was standing for 3 months......

I think the part itself runs around $100 online and so this estimate is more like a crapestimate......Any Opinions?

 

a condenser cost like a $100 bucks just like u said...i dont know why they are charging $355.
i know for sure that the compressor cost that much,but not the condenser!

u can alwayz ask them the parts that are bad, and double check it with another shop!

and if u can buy the parts yourself, alot of the times u can buy them way cheaper for what they charge you!