Air Conditioning

[melav]

Can anyone give me the name of non-dealer shop in the LA area they have used to repair air in a Boxster S. My dealer has quoted around $3,000 to repair a freon leak!

Edited July 15, 2006 by melav

[Paul Fraser]

It's probably a job you can do yourself. What have they said the problem is? Usually it is the condensers as leaves and dirt get into the corners and then cause corrosion, but I doubt it gets that wet in Texas...

[deliriousga]

Ask them what the problem is. They should tell you where it's coming from and what they plan to replace. Then you can do one of two things.

1) If it's a very small, slow leak, refill the freon. Btw, if the dealer tells you they are required to repair the leak before refilling it, they are lying to you so they can do more work and you need to go elswhere. The EPA certification course says refills are fine and asks you to report mechanics who tell you that and they can pull their certification. Since it's R134, you can buy the freon and a guage/filler hose at the local auto shop and have it done for about $30.

2) If it's a fast leak, list them here and we can tell you if they are difficult to get to and replace. If not, you can DIY the job with parts from Sunset Porsche for way less.

Good luck! :cheers:

[Paul Fraser]

If you think that the system has lost all its pressure and has been open to atmosphere I wouldn't use the self-refill kits. My aircon guy says they contain sealant that solidifies on contact with water and knows of two drivers who have 1. wrecked their compressor and 2. blocked their expansion valve. Both required costly replacement.

[deliriousga]

If you think that the system has lost all its pressure and has been open to atmosphere I wouldn't use the self-refill kits. My aircon guy says they contain sealant that solidifies on contact with water and knows of two drivers who have 1. wrecked their compressor and 2. blocked their expansion valve. Both required costly replacement.

That's a great point. If you do a refill yourself, get the cans of freon only. Don't get the ones with oil and/or leak stopper in them. The oil does not leak out so there is no reason to put more in. If it ends up being a leak, you should get it repaired to keep from causing further damage if it suddenly drains out.