My car started smoking...

I had a problem starting my corolla recently, it sounded like the belts were slipping. Then, it started smoking and one of the belts had melted. It wasn't the serpentine belt, but a smaller one. I had it towed to a repair shop and they are telling me that the a/c compressor locked up and that is what caused all of the problems. They have quoted me almost $900.00. Does this sound right, or sound like a scam??? Help, please!

hey now way man, 900 for installing an AC compressor?

come on, get one on ebay or a scrap yard and install it yourself if you can, then go to an AC shop and have it refilled.. it should cost something like 60$.. and if you have a PRE 96 model that uses R12 gas instead of the new R134A gas and they want to change everything in order to get it "up to the standard" like changing the evaporator and a whole lot of thing then f*** them, i have an 89 rolla and believe me, i know a guy that fixes AC on cars, houses anything and he replaced my R12 gas with R122(not sure of the name though) gas and that is a replacement gas "without modifying the original AC system". and it's cheaper too..and i know it works since he did mine :)

you might ask " why don't the other shops use it?" ..easy, $$$$$$$

they make more $$$ when they have to change everything..

do you really thing that those old beer fridge in a store that works on old gas will have to replace everything in order to be in the norm? heck no. hey use that replacement gas.

Deadring

Have to agree with deadring.. Goto a salvage yard and get a compressor, or just cut the belt, go without AC and call it a day

BTW tell that machanic you'll no longer ever need his services.

BTW tell that machanic you'll no longer ever need his services.[/QUOTE]

lol.....yeah.....$900 is a no no for a/c, my sis had her brake rotors changed for $1000 tsk tsk, just buy the parts cheaply and have them install, shouldn't take less than 1 hour, and most shops charge like $60-$70 an hour, you'll save a lot

what you guys dont realize is that you cant change an ac compressor without changing other things like your reciever/dryer. This is what sets a dealership tech apart from the local mechanic. You have to replace this cause when you take out your compressor you let air into the system and this will dry up the desecent in the reciever/dryer. 5 minutes of air and it is toast, There is nothing you can do, it is a must. At my dealer if an ac compressor siezes then we replace every component, because the metal shaving damage every component. AC is very specialized work that you cant really do at home. And if you do dont let anyone see because you will get fined for it. I had to go school, take my ase and take a clean air certification course before i could legally touch ac jobs.

The last car that i had a compressor sieze i think was around 2500 dollars total for the customer.(thats replacing everything)
p.s we charge 90 dollars an hour for labor. But your not just paying for labor, the price is that high because your paying for our knowledge and experience. If you only pay us 30 dollars an hour then why would we go through school and learn advanced diagnostics to only make 20,000 a year. The truth is there wouldnt be any master diagnostitions or any mechanics that knew what they were doing if the pay would only satisfy a grease monkey. Sorry if im being a little defensive but i feel its my responsibility as a dealershiop mechanic. And in this day and age you must be more book smart and computer intelegent then anything else, and that education costs alot.