A/C repair for $500(Cad), worth it or rip off?

[Vibroseis]

Just wanted to check with you folks if the following diagnosis and quote I got for the A/C repair sounds fair or not?

Diagnosis:
------------

- Suspected leak in the condensor, not visible by soap suds but could be heard between the rad and the condensor near top right side (looking towards engine bay from the front).

- Also the mechanic said to replace the dryer every time the condensor is changed. He said this is done to eliminate any junk from entering the new condensor from the old dryer

Cost breakdown:
-------------------

Condensor: $170.
Dryer: $50.

Labour and recharge system: $286.

Total = $506.

Is this a fair price for this type of repair?

Also, I did have the condensor replaced about 2 years ago. But even after that the A/C only worked for about 2 months. I didn't bother with it last year at all. Not sure how the condensor could go bad so quickly. Could it be because I didn't change the dryer that time?

Thx for your replies.

Car: '93 LE V6.

[chronoti]

no your leak is somewhere else.

make then recharge it with a UV dye and then check it with a black light you know exactly where your leak is ... also a good shop would have a better method than the old soap suds.

[Vibroseis]

thx chronoti!

Could the UV dye method still detect leaks - by vapour etc - if it's hidden or behind other components such as radiator?

Today the the hissing noise (leak) we heard during recharge using r134a seemed that it was coming from between the condensor and the rad...not sure exactly what though.

Does anyone know of a shop in Toronto that uses the UV dye method to detect a/c leaks?

[V6LE_CAMRY]

I think that $500cad is a real rip off how much is it in dollars? like $300 bucks. when i was recharging my camry i had a leak at the compressor's hose's I took the hoses off and found that one of the O-rings was too skiny so i went to auto zone and got the two rubber rings for only $64cents then i put them on and leak stopped completely, check if thats were your ac is leaking also tightn all the connections. why not got to the auto store and get A/C leak stopper, they usually stop the leak if it's not that big.

[chronoti]

there are more than just the uv dye method. they can have your system suck in a red dye that will bleed out where it leaks (prolly dont want that). they also make tools where it's like a radiation detector that beeps louder/faster when over a leak. it could as V6LE said it's just the o-ring near the condser. maybe it's not even leaking there and that hissing noise is it not having enought pressure when it's going through the expansion valve.

[Pineapple]

Go to a car AC shop. Don't get it don't at a general repair shop.