[Shotimes] you be the judge: charge for AC service

[Bruce Malachuk]

When I just refilled my A/C system cause it all leaked out over the winter,
I rigged up something to first vacuum it out, then pressurize it to 125psi
with my air compressor. Double moisture filters and the compressor had been
off for 3 days. When I did that I found out I had a leak at the pressure
switch o-ring. $.54 cents later and about 12 hours of a vacuum, a slight
fill of r134a gas then a full vacuum for an hour, I have 34F air and it's
been that way for 3 weeks now. I'm really glad a friend of mine bought a
30lb cylinder last year when it was $125 for 30lbs. Not like the nearly $400
per 30lbs of today.

I'm surprised they were able to find the tubes you need, course it is a SLO
so those would be more common.


Bruce J Malachuk

*	94 Opal Frost MTX 
*	93 Emerald Green MTX - SOLD 
*	93 Black ATX - New Parts CAR 
*	95 Silver Frost ATX SE - SLO -Buyer waiting 
*	96 TR - Cam Failed parts car :-(


-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of van Oss
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 7:45 PM
To: shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: [Shotimes] you be the judge: charge for AC service

Yesterday morning we took my wife's 95 LX wagon in for AC service.  $134
later (inc. $75 labor, $50 for 2 lbs. R134), momma very happy.

That afternoon, momma unhappy.  Car blows only hot air.  Take it back, and
they discover one of the AC lines has burst (reinforced rubber tubing, it
looked like) with the increased pressure of the morning fill.  Now they want
$320 (inc. $130 tube, $100 labor, $50 for 2 more lbs. R134).

I raised cain, arguing that if the system had been visually inspected in the
morning, the impending failure of the tube would have been spotted.  Crucial
point:  When they showed me the tube, the flap of rubber was dirty on the
edge, indicating it had been that way for a while.  They said it's such a
rat's nest that a visual inspection of the whole system is impractical and
they rely on a vacuum test.  I replied that a vacuum test may not stress
rubber tubing as high pressure would.

Said I'd pay the bill but it would be our last work there.  (We go to church
with the owner.)  Evening guy knocked off the labor and second refrigerant
charge, bringing second bill down to $160.

Any comments?

VO
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