How Much Does It Cost to Replace A/C On a Car?

Living in Metro Vancouver or the Fraser Valley is something many of us take for granted. We are blessed to have beautiful scenery all around us, lakes and hiking trails within a few minutes drive for most of us, and reasonable weather most of the year. The key word in that last part is MOST of the year… Which is why knowing how much it costs to replace an air conditioner on your car is so important for many of us.

Living in British Columbia is amazing, but it most definitely comes with a price tag. Higher taxes than most other provinces, affordable living at an all-time low, and of course, wicked summer heat waves that quite literally set our province on fire.

When the temperatures reach a stifling 40 degrees Celsius and higher, having A/C in your home and in your car is a life saver. For many people who can’t afford in-home A/C they retreat to their cars on hot days. This is why it’s so important to keep your vehicle’s A/C working at its best.

Knowing what signs to look out for when your A/C is failing is the key to getting a quick diagnosis from a mechanic. For many people, a major A/C repair is too costly to perform, so they sell their car to More Cash For Scrap. We love buying junk cars in need of BIG mechanical repairs, and we always pay MORE cash for scrap cars than the other guys!

How Much Does It Cost to Fix A/C in a Car?

The cost to repair A/C on your car depends entirely on what is causing the issues with your car’s air conditioning system. The difference between fixing a minor leak and fixing a compressor are two totally different values.

Which is why it’s important to have your vehicle properly diagnosed by a professional mechanic like our friends at M & N Auto in Vancouver. Knowing exactly what is causing the problem is key to getting it resolved quickly and of course, economically.

On average, a typical car A/C repair costs between $120 – $600. This usually includes the initial diagnostic, and any minor repairs if needed. However, if there is a more complex issue, multiple issues, or other issues from other components that are affecting how the air conditioning functions, the price will naturally go up.

What Are the Most Common A/C Issues In a Car?

When you live in the Lower Mailand, you need A/C in some form or another. We live in a province that is globally famous for the rampant forest fires that happen every year, simply because of the extreme heat and dryness that it faces.

Our weather is unpredictable, to say the least. In the middle of July (like last month, and even currently this August) we can go from 16-degree Celsius weather to 38-degree Celsius weather over night. Having a place to escape when you don’t have A/C in your home is vital. And for many people, their car becomes their sanctuary.

There are many issues that can happen in a car’s A/C system. Not all of them are major, but they all do need some attention in one form or another. List below are the most common A/C issues on a car, and what your mechanic will likely do about them.

Most Common Air Conditioning Problems on a Car

1. Your A/C Needs to be Recharged

Much like that cooler that you fill with ice and take to Cultus Lake on hot days, car air conditioning usually needs to be recharged in the same way that you refill your camping cooler with ice.

Some vehicles will never require a recharge, which means if you are having cooling issues, that you need to get your A/C serviced. Because if it never needs recharging and you’re losing cooling function, something isn’t working right. Usually this means a leak of some sort, but it can also mean a much bigger issue.

Your mechanic will usually put a dye into your vehicle’s A/C unit after recharging your A/C, then ask you to come back a week or so later. He will then check to see if the dye is present anywhere within your A/C unit and components. If it is, you’ve got a leak, and he’s found it.

2. Your Car has a Faulty Pressure Switch

The pressure switch is responsible for controlling the pressure (just like it sounds) inside your car’s air conditioning system. There are in fact two switches that help regulate pressure. One above and one below the compressor.

When one or both of these switches aren’t operating correctly, it could mean a loss of A/C function. There is a literal button that you can push in this event, but if the compressor doesn’t turn on, it means you need a mechanic to repair it because the switch is blown.

Fortunately, many newer vehicles will have the Check Engine Light come on when this issue happens. However, many older vehicles will not. Usually when we buy older scrap cars with mechanical issues, the A/C is another problem that they weren’t even aware of also because the Check Engine Light was on for an entirely different reason.

As a professional scrap car removal company serving Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley since 2005, we always say get your vehicle serviced the minute your Check Engine Light comes on. You might think you know what the problem is, but it could be indicating another entirely.

3. You Have a A/C Malfunctioning Compressor

Your A/C compressor is an extremely complex piece of machinery with many moving parts that are responsible for supplying the A/C to your car. When it malfunctions, or anything within its operating system fails, you’ll lose air conditioning capabilities.

Within the compressor itself, there are bearings, seals, and various other components. When the bearings fail, metal shavings can wind up in your A/C system, halting its overall function to a complete stop. When a seal fails, it allows these shavings to get into other places that they shouldn’t. This is why getting your A/C looked at promptly is important if you lose A/C in your car suddenly.

A quick diagnosis is imperative to preventing further damage to other vital components in your car’s engine. You might think that as a scrap car removal company that the main reason people sell us their cars is because of dead engines or blown transmissions. However, major A/C issues and/or the need for replacement is right up there in the top 5 reasons to scrap your car.

4. You Need a New Belt

Sometimes when your A/C is failing, it’s not the air conditioning itself that is malfunctioning, it’s a belt. Some vehicles have a belt that drives multiple accessories like air conditioning as well as power steering. Others simply have one belt that connects directly to the compressor, and only functions for the A/C system itself.

Depending on what symptoms your vehicle is having, you may need a belt replacement, and not a whole new A/C system or some kind of a leak. This happens because much like any other belt within your vehicle’s engine, belts wear out over time from excessive use.

The belt itself is relatively cheap. However, the labour going into replacing it can stack up. Depending on what type of belt it is, your mechanic may have to remove various other parts to get to it. This is where the bill will climb quickly because labour costs usually outweigh the cost of parts to fix a belt.

How Much Does It Cost to Recharge My A/C on My Car?

If you have a minor leak and need to have your A/C recharged after getting the leak fixed, it typically costs about $280 just for the recharge, plus the cost to repair wherever the leak is coming from. This is something that also costs additional labour fees because finding a leak in your A/C system can be tricky.

Although recharging your car’s A/C is always something that needs to be done by a professional, the initial diagnostic is. Some vehicles don’t require their A/C to be recharged ever. Others you can do yourself, but you need to know exactly which refrigerant to buy. The cost to recharge your A/C could be as little as $10.00 if your vehicle simply needs a cheap can of refrigerant that you can buy at Canadian Tire, Princess Auto, or even KMS Tools.

Knowing whether or not your vehicle needs its A/C recharged or if there is a bigger issue going on within your car’s air conditioning system is a job for a professional mechanic. To help reduce the risk of costing yourself thousands of dollars more by trying to self-diagnose the problem, simply visit any local shop and tell them you need your A/C looked at.

How Do I Know If I Need to Fix My A/C On My Car?

Much like anything that malfunctions on a vehicle, there will be signs when your air conditioning system is failing, or at the very least, needs attention. Knowing what to look for is key for you to identify that there’s an issue, and to get it looked at by a mechanic.

The Most Common Signs That Your Car Has a Problem with Its A/C Are:

• Air not getting cold
• Air not getting cold fast enough
• Air not getting cold as it once did
• Cold air not coming through vents at all
• Air smells like mildew when the A/C is on
• The car makes noise when the A/C is turned on
• Water within your car that pools on your floorboards under your dash
• A/C suddenly goes from cold to hot

Every sign and symptom indicates a different problem with your air conditioning. However, letting your mechanic know what symptoms your vehicle is having while running the A/C is crucial for getting the problem addressed correctly and quickly.

On average, an A/C system replacement on a common car is roughly between $1000 – $1500. However, if you have air conditioning that cools both the front of your car and the backseat (you’ll usually have vents in the back passenger area), it can run upwards of $2500 – $3500, depending on the vehicle.

SUVs, particularly 7-seaters with rear air conditioning tend to be the most expensive. Along with certain makes and models of vehicles.

Higher-end vehicles usually means a higher price tag at the mechanic. So, if you’re driving a higher-end model car, no matter how old, you’ll be paying for it when your A/C needs replacing.

This is why many vehicle owners choose to scrap their car instead of repairing it when they find out that the A/C system needs to be replaced. When you live in a place as expensive as Metro Vancouver, you look for any way to save a dollar, as well as earn one back. And with More Cash For Scrap, you can!

Which Vehicles Have the Most Problems with Air Conditioning?

Air conditioning problems are something that can happen with any vehicle, and of varying degrees. However, there are some vehicles that are more prone to having issues with their A/C due to their overall design and construction.

While many of the vehicles on this list are excellent vehicles to own, they do have the highest number of A/C failures or malfunction according to consumer reports.

The Cars Most Likely to Have A/C Problems Are:

• Mazda CX3 (2016-2017)
• Honda Civic (2016)
• Chevrolet Traverse (2014)
• Kia Sportage (2016)
• Buick Enclave (2013)
• Hyundai Santa Fe (2014)
• GMC Acadia (2015)
• BMW X5 (2013)
• Nissan Altima (2014)
• Ford Fiesta (2014)

Cash for Cars that Need A/C Replacement in the Lower Mainland

Have a late model vehicle that needs a $2,000+ A/C replacement that you don’t really want to fix? Have you started looking for a newer vehicle because if you’re going to invest in anything, it’s going to be a new car, not your old one? Want a quick and easy way to sell your car with mechanical issues for MORE cash in Metro Vancouver or the Fraser Valley? Then sell your car to More Cash For Scrap!

We love buying vehicles of any make, model, year, or condition, even when they need an A/C replacement or major repair. Our scrap car removal team provides free auto scrap pickup from anywhere in the Lower Mainland, 7 days a week (7:00 AM-11:00 PM).

Furthermore, we provide instant cash offers right over the phone, can usually provide same day scrap car removal services anywhere in Metro Vancouver or the Fraser Valley, and we always pay MORE cash for cars than the other guys!

How Much Can I Sell My Car for In Vancouver?

Even if it’s not your A/C giving you grief, there are a ton of other things that can and do go wrong on an aging vehicle. That’s why we proudly offer the most reliable and prompt scrap car removal services in Metro Vancouver. And all while paying MORE cash for scrap cars than any other scrap car removal company or car buyer in the Lower Mainland.

When you have an older vehicle, or even a late model car, truck, SUV, or van that is starting to experience more than one mechanical or electrical problem, it’s not always practical to continue to do the repairs.

Sometimes, it’s more economical to get a newer vehicle, even if it is still also used. However, when your current car has issues, it can be hard to sell it for a decent price before getting something new.

That’s why many Vancouverites turn to the scrap car removal services of More Cash For Scrap. We offer a quick and easy way to sell your car for MORE cash, no matter what issues it might have. Plus, we provide free towing and same day scrap car removal from anywhere in Metro Vancouver or the Fraser Valley.

Contact Our Scrap Car Removal Team Today

If you’re ready to scrap your car because of mounting mechanical issues, mystery electrical problems, or even because it has major collision damage, give our team of scrap car removal specialists a quick call today.

We are happy to answer any questions that you have about our scrap car removal process. And we can even provide you with an instant cash offer right over the phone without even seeing your vehicle.

If you want MORE customer service, MORE flexible auto scrap pickup, and MORE reasons to put a little extra cash back in your pocket, choose More Cash For Scrap. We always pay MORE!