Question:
The air conditioning in my '98 TJ just plain isn't cold anymore. The local
Valvoline does air conditioning service for around $60, the dealer wants
$99.
Has anyone had experience with air conditioning not blowing cold anymore,
and can give a guess as to whether or not servicing will likely fix it?
(Or does it sound more like there may be a leak in the system?
Answer:
Service sounds like a fixed charge for doing minimal inspection and
possibly cleaning of your system. This might include easy stuff like
blowing dust out of the evaporator or condenser, maybe even a belt tension
check. If the mechanic is good, he might diagnose your actual problem
during the base service. Then, you will have to pay extra to get the real
problem fixed. Talk to them about what all is included. A leak is likely.
My friend does A/C service in his shop and charges $40 to recharge a system plus $5 a pound for
R134. He does the dye check automatically with any recharge. I know the
dealers charge a fortune for A/C service, but if you find an independent
mechanic they are usually much cheaper, especially to convert the R12
systems to R134. Most of his R134 conversions are done for well under $300.
It does pay to shop around.
