What a horrible day today, I feel like I've been played!

[96ToyoCam164K]

SOrry to recreate another A/C thread...but today I got really pissed off and frustrated over this.

I went to another mechanic who added $25 of freon (R-134, I know) who then swore the 'new' compressor is no good. So he expected me to take that compressor off, put on a used one...and drive to the place I got it from to replace it. I just wasn't buying that.

So I decided to check with another mechanic (#2) who had an A/C machine with buttons fom recharge, evacuate and vacuum. I was telling him how I believed the A/C wasn't cooling properly because of not creating a vacuum...so he hooked it up for $50 and low and behold, A/C still not blowing cold enough, pointing to expansion valve.

I told him about everything I replaced, including the valve in May with the evaporator. But he insisted that it was stuck which is causing it to not cool. To remove dash to get to it: $250.

So, then I went back to the ones who put it in (#3)...and they were saying they did do the vacuum, but 'might' be able to reach the expansion valve since the 2 passenger doors cant be opened due to the wreck.

I am just fuming and feeling hopeless. Its like damn, do these morons not want me to have A/C or something? Why do I have to keep burning up like this? I had nearly $700 to put into my A/C...and now I have just enough to take it back to the original guys and hope it helps it. It just seems like a never-ending process and they just keep adding freon and I told another mechanic (#4) that NO...I dont need any more R-134! So dont charge me to add any either!

[zythr]

Maybe they really don't know what is wrong, that does happen. Sorry you're having so many problems.

[96ToyoCam164K]

Well, when I initially bought the kit...they should have put on EVERYTHING that came with it rather than half-assing it.

They then tried to 'school me' saying I should never buy my own parts because then the labor warrantee is not covered. But many times, mechanics put in cheap AutoZone parts...and cheap oil, when I want quality parts and synthetic oil.

I'll be glad when I get the hell out of this state and move up north. So even if the A/C does fail again, it wont even matter

[PhatRoyale]

Looks like you need to shop around and take some time to actually talk to mechanics to feel them out before jumping into anything like that.

[96ToyoCam164K]

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

Looks like you need to shop around and take some time to actually talk to mechanics to feel them out before jumping into anything like that.

Right, so Im the idiot

I didnt let them work on it the 1st time. I met them on Saturday and let them fix it Monday. I also checked with other mechanics in 3 different states (I drive alot) and they were all looking at compressor. I got quotes of $900, $600, $250 for 'kits' like I bought, and then this guy.

Its hard to 'shop around' when its 100+ degrees and every mechanic is telling you to 'come back, Im working on 3 other cars'

I think people look at my car, and give me bad service. I didnt have such issues when my car was looking good. They're discriminating...

[Chris Crash]

This is why I don't pay unless my shit IS fixed.

And if the problem comes back, I go back and demand a refund or the problem to be fixed. In today's world, you gotta be assertive and kind of a dick to get what you want, customer service doesn't exist anymore.

[96ToyoCam164K]

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

This is why I don't pay unless my shit IS fixed.

And if the problem comes back, I go back and demand a refund or the problem to be fixed. In today's world, you gotta be assertive and kind of a dick to get what you want, customer service doesn't exist anymore.

Well please show me how you do that! Because I have paid people on SEVERAL occassions only for it to be another problem with the A/C. This is the only repeat issue I ever have with this car.

I should have made a deal with the guy who did the vaccum, that if that didnt fix it...I wont pay, but hell its hard to go to any mechanic for A/C and not have to pay something. I've never seen it happen yet. Some of them charge 'just to look at it'.

Well, now...the original place wants to charge me the labor to get to the expansion valve, no charge for freon though. I paid them $170 so far. They want an extra $80. Is that fair?

[Chris Crash]

Just don't pay upfront. And don't pay until you get your car. If they throw parts at it, or do things, but doesn't fix it, don't pay.

Like my car. I brought it to a trans shop, they bled the clutch and adjusted some shit and when I picked it up, it didn't help my original issue of the pedal going to the floor. So I walked inside and said nothing had been fixed and demanded my money back and to speak to the mechanic who worked on my car.

They gave me my $90 back no problem.

Hell, I returned a used clutch kit and got my money back by complaining enough. Same with my machined flywheel, I bitched enough and got the money back.

I used to feel bad about complaining, but think of it this way: you're paying them for a service and trusting them to do it correctly. They don't do the service, why should you pay them? "trying" isn't enough. They have to actually do it.

[PhatRoyale]

Originally Posted by 96ToyoCam164K

Right, so Im the idiot

I was assuming that you made this thread to ask others on here for advice, not take out your anger and frustrations on whoever responded.

Originally Posted by 96ToyoCam164K

I didnt let them work on it the 1st time. I met them on Saturday and let them fix it Monday. I also checked with other mechanics in 3 different states (I drive alot) and they were all looking at compressor. I got quotes of $900, $600, $250 for 'kits' like I bought, and then this guy.

Its hard to 'shop around' when its 100+ degrees and every mechanic is telling you to 'come back, Im working on 3 other cars'


I think people look at my car, and give me bad service. I didnt have such issues when my car was looking good. They're discriminating...

No.

It was your impatience that lead to "them ripping you off".

You should have taken their advice and waited until they were able to have enough time to take a detailed look and give you a more accurate quote. If it sounds shady or overly expensive, then walk out and move on to another. I'm certain there are plenty of honest shops and mechanics left out there to fix your problem.

You just need to chill out.

[Gothmog3VZ]

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

This is why I don't pay unless my shit IS fixed.

And if the problem comes back, I go back and demand a refund or the problem to be fixed. In today's world, you gotta be assertive and kind of a dick to get what you want, customer service doesn't exist anymore.

Last night I smelt something burning while I was driving home. Got home, to dark to do anything. This morning, I popped the hood, start looking, and noticed a wadded up brown paper towel near my timing belt/firewall, close to the exhaust header, and it was naasty - I think that may have had some dirt on it that burned, because today there were no issues whatsoever. But I'm not going back to my dads mechanic again. $900 for my shift cables (one was replaced because "the bushings seized". Bullshit. You replace the bushings then for like 20 bucks, not the whole fucking cable for $450 . Only reasons I didn't give them shit were a) there's no other reputable bmw mechanic nearby that's not a dealership, and b) since my dad decided to approve the job (they called him instead of me - other ), he decided to step in and cover the parts cost. So fucking lucky, but never going back there again.

Originally Posted by 96ToyoCam164K

Well, when I initially bought the kit...they should have put on EVERYTHING that came with it rather than half-assing it.

They then tried to 'school me' saying I should never buy my own parts because then the labor warrantee is not covered. But many times, mechanics put in cheap AutoZone parts...and cheap oil, when I want quality parts and synthetic oil.

I'll be glad when I get the hell out of this state and move up north. So even if the A/C does fail again, it wont even matter

Lmao, my AC has been out all summer; way I see it, put up with 2 months of 40* heat (celsius) by driving with the windows down and sunroof popped. Chicks like that, and I'm not killing my power . Saving the $ from getting it recharged/repaired aint bad either.

If you really want cooling though, the budget idea would be one of those dollar-store electric fans. And next time you get it serviced, be a total asshole if they fuck you over. It's the only way to survive in this world (at least on this continent), I learned it the hard way

[Chris Crash]

Originally Posted by Gothmog3VZ

And next time you get it serviced, be a total asshole if they fuck you over. It's the only way to survive in this world (at least on this continent), I learned it the hard way

[fenixus]

96ToyoCam164K, i had some trouble long time ago with a/c blowing warm air. and first mechanic i went to (only one i knew around) wanted me to replace the a/c compressor for like $600 with some cheap rebuilt used crap.

I asked around people and found another shop (more reputable) that SOME people were recommending. tried them and it came up that a/c compressor wasn't even needed to be replaced. all they did was proper vacuum and recharge.
i still had a minor leak, so 3 years later i bought my own OEM parts (drier receiver tank, 2 front pipes) online and went back to them for installation (they used own choice gaskets/or-rings). no problems since, knock knock on the wood.

what i mean is, try asking neighbors, family, co-workers where they go to service a/c if they have/had problems. don't agree for compressor replacement every time so often .. those things (especially OEM) can last ages ... mine is still original (77k miles / 10 years old) - it has a little wobbling pulley, but runs OK.

I would trust only shops that have proper equipment (machine with "buttons" for proper vacuum test service), also if you ask around you will find the ones that actually know what they are doing instead of cheating people into throwing parts on cars and overcharging labor fees ...

Chris and Gothmog3vz also make a good point
I learned it the hard way too, now i'm the customer most shops are scared of haha
if something doesn't work as promised after repair, bitch about it, DON'T LEAVE until they resolve the issue (free repair to fix it finally or money back).

you can always say that you are a known member of toyota forums on the internet and will publish all the shit they did to you and your car online, so hundreds of people in your area start avoiding the [insert name here] auto shop.

[96ToyoCam164K]

LOL, great tips about bitching. But some mechanics are morons, 2 years ago 1 guy got upset at me because I was telling him he didn't put the compressor on correctly which caused a bolt to break and the belt to fall off. He said I was 'aggravating him' and that he had no control over the bolt breaking. Yet, after he put it on...it was making vibrations until it finally broke.

I can definently be meaner about not paying unless problem is solved though. Do any of you feel like I should try and get my $50 from the other shop who did a vacuum?

I know he's going to say, "well, I told you to do the expansion valve as the vacuum wouldn't work" (which he did), but still. I threw away $50 for him to hook up a machine to it and its not working. I shouldn't have to suffer because it didn't work. Plugging in a vacuum and have it not work is not worth my hard earned $50 that I did all types of freaky things for just to get it

[96ToyoCam164K]

[QUOTE=PhatRoyale;3286973]
It was your impatience that lead to "them ripping you off".

You should have taken their advice and waited until they were able to have enough time to take a detailed look and give you a more accurate quote. QUOTE]

I was not impatient. I traveled thru 5 states in 100+ degree heat before I decided to get it fixed. How much longer was I to wait?

Im not trying to be a prick towards you...Im just saying. But I will rephrase, the places I went to TODAY were busy. I went to an A/C specialist who would have charged me $45 to look at it, only to go to another one who charged $50 to hook up a vacuum.

I also went to another place that I used to go to all the time, but I changed my mind and went to this one. I admit, maybe I made a mistake trying out all these different mechanics, but when you're new in town you sorta wanna get different opinions (in fact, the same mechanic referred me to 'Joe's radiator' to get a quote...which they could give me in about 2 hours

My frustration is highly justified, apologies if it seeps out onto the board. Im sorry!

[fenixus]

well ... the vacuum test is not a "repair" as the matter of fact, so yeah they all charge for that (mine calls like $60). all it does is telling if you have serious (major) vacuum leaks or not, plus it "refreshes" the gas in system.

it's always worth a try first (firs aid kit), but if it fails then it means you need a repair, now it depends on mechanic on what he thinks is causing the trouble ... try talking to him about it, asking questions why he thinks it's that and not something else, ask if he guarantees it WILL work after his repair (or money back as you trusted too many times with repairing this issue), etc. in one word: negotiate