Heater / aircon repair costs

[Born_Fast]

Hi there everyone!

I was relieved to learn from your replies to my last thread, that the brakes on my car should be working alright, although they are running a disc system with stock master cylinder.

Now there is still the issue of a disconnected heater and aircondition. I feel a bit cheated about this, because when i intially asked the dealer if there is anything about this car that needs to be fixed, he told me there's nothing.

We closed the deal, i sent him the money and now that i confront him about the disconnected things in the engine bay, he tells me that fixing both would cost almost 2k!!!  Can you believe this?   Smells like
It's simply not correct for the dealer to tell me the car needs nothing, when there are actually quite expensive parts broken.

That is all underlined by the fact that i initially asked him if this is a numbers matching 383, which he confirmed and after the purchase he told me it's not and was originally a 318.   

If he told me about all this before, i would have probably bought the car anyway, but at least i want to know what exactly it is that i'm buying and in what condition.

And last but not least, i believe that 2k for fixing a heater and aircon is quite expensive. Here is the original mail from the dealer, which i just received this morning:

"Ralph,
We have done an investigation. Figure the cost factor of $1950 to install
both a new A/C compressor unit, various other A/C parts and a new heater
unit. This cost factor includes both parts and labor.  Let me know.
Regards, "

Now let's assume that the whole heater/aircon system really needs to be replaced. How much can the parts mentioned in his mail cost and how long should it take to install them? Are 2k really justified for this work? Hell i could almost get a XV Lv1 Kit for that amount.

Thanks for all your advice and feedback.

Cheers,
Ralph

[ViperMan]

Well, I'll say this - you're paying on par with A/C work...

I've prepared a few dozen A/C estimates - they usually always touch the $1,200 to $1,400 range, including things like flushes, new freon, driers, valves, etc...  I can believe that with an older car (a classic,) the parts will run more due of course to less demand, few parts on shelves, etc.  I don't think you're being gouged, at least not EXCESSIVELY (I'm sure a tech said "Give me a few extra hours to compensate for broken bolts, etc") Ask if they can give you a detailed estimate, and I can tell you better what you're getting for your money, and what is simply mark-up.  Also ask their labor rate (if you dont already know.)

I feel your pain on the "He said it was fine and it wasn't" topic.  Unfortunately the guy I bought my mopar from knew exactly squat on cars.  He knew he had it "restored" and "painted," but knew nothing else than that.  He also figured his 3,000 dollars spent on "restoring and painting" the car could be directly added to what he paid for the car itself.  So when I got it, I really wan't able to be surprised to learn that he had no idea why it wouldn't start or why the brakes were out, nor was I shocked to see things like my A/C ducting missing or the absolute cluster f*** of wires under the dash, or the burnt connectors under the hood.  The shear fact that my 'Cuda ran at all when I got it became amazing to me, the more I learned!

Lemme see an estimate on that A/C work and I can tell you more.  Unfortunately A/C work isn't something you can really do in your garage because of the way freon has to be handled, and because of the care that must be taken in keeping contaminents out of the components and lines.

Jeff

[Born_Fast]

Thanks Jeff,
sounds like you had a tough time with your 'Cuda as well.
And you bet it was  to hear that the car is not even shipped and there is already a 2k repair bill coming my way.
But since i already bought the car, i guess i have to live with these broken things for now.

I just hope that this was the last unpleasant surprise about this purchase (non-matching numbers being the first one).

[ShelbyDogg]

I guess I'm a little late on this one.  I have 3 e-bodies with A/C and I can tell you that 2K is way too much to pay. If everything is still under the hood, and connected, I can't see it costing over $200, if you go to a Mopar guy that knows what he is doing.   I've added A/C to my non air car so I can tell you that there isn't much to the under hood stuff. Send up a pic of your engine compartment so I can see what you have.

More reason to take someone with you before making a purchase, that knows about these cars.

[Moparal]

Uh the list price on R12 will run the cost up by itself. A new dryer, What if the heater box needs to come out? That will shoot 200 bucks in the but quick just for the few things I just mentioned

[ViperMan]

Yeah whatever happened with this one?  I hope he's converting you over to R134A...  I'll probably still run you up in price, but be much cheaper to maintain.

What was the verdict?

Jeff