Help Me Please re AC REPAIRS to 91 Audi Cpe Quattro

[Brown, Richard D]

Help me please:

My experience is similar to Nivi at aol.com. At the end of last summer, I had
the freon charged on the Coupe, and this year, no AC.  Per the dealer,
they've now quoted me total replacement of the AC Compressor, et al, and
total projected quote exceeds $1500.  In essence, they claim the compressor
needs to be replaced, and though it has always generated a rather noisy
system when "on" for AC/Heating, I am wondering whether there's a more
simple solution. The quote from the local dealer indicates that the repair
technician "checked the freon level and pressures [were] ok, compressor will
not kick on, bypassed switch and wired direct and did not kick on. Need to
replace compressor, ...."

Reaction/suggestions/solutions please help
Thanks for any advice anyone can give me.  rb
rbrown at amfam.com


Dorab, my A/C leaked all its juice out, yielding a hot summer ride. I
took it to a local A/C shop, had them evacuate the system (like it
needed it!) and locate the leaks, cost $45. They were in the condenser.
On Bob D'Amato's recommendation, I pulled the condenser, which is an
aluminum Modine unit, and took it to a local radiator shop. They welded
the leaks and painted it, cost $30. I put the condenser back in, took my
CQ back to the first shop, who put in some R12 lubricant and charged the
system, cost $135. Much cheaper than the hosing the dealer is proposing
for you. It took me a week, what with three trips to local shops, and
half an hour to remove the condenser, and half an hour to re-install it.
Total cost $210, plus an hour of my labor and a week chasing stuff.

My bomb is making signs (brake warning light takes 15-20 seconds to go
out when I start my CQ, and comes on briefly while driving if I jump on
the brakes) of wanting replacement, which I have been putting off. I am
going to try Blaufergnugen (sp?) and Linda for a replacement.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Ian Duff, 1990 Coupe quattro 20v, Red/Black
quattro Owners Club member P877

Home: New Bedford, MA, USA
Work: Charter Systems, Inc., West Newton, MA, USA
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>----------
>From:  Nivi at aol.com[SMTP:Nivi at aol.com]
>Sent:  Monday, 21 October, 1996 10:48 PM
>To:  quattro at coimbra.ans.net
>Subject:  Coupe Repairs...
>
><<snippage>>
>
>I just *forced* my Audi dealership service department to give me an
estimate
>on my airconditioning system, which had been leaking during the last four
>months, but I decided to hold off repairing it. They came back with an
>estimate for a hydroulic pump and a hydroulic accumulator as well as a
>"ignition system". I had taken the car in earlier the day before to check a
>knocking sound coming from the front of the block, and took a ride with the
>mechanic. He said that there really wasn't anything wrong, and that I
should
>just wait until the parts break down...*but*, that's not what the "service
>representative" said! Check this out:
><<more snippage, Audi dealer with a cranial-rectal transplant>>
>Then I asked, "is any of this really necessary?", he replied "well, if you
>want your car
>to perform as it should..."      What balls! I was *told* that it wasn't
>necessary, and this
>******** tries to get me to replace shit that I don't really need - I need
an
>airconditioning system to defog the car now!
><<more snippage>>
>I *will* keep you guys up to date on how this dealership is diagnosing
>problems, and I'm *not* paying $ 70/hour for bull***t! I can go to another
>one, bring my own parts, and pay only $ 56/hour, but I prefer the mechanic
at
>the dealership I have been using - he knows his stuff! I won't disclose the
>name of the place right now, but later, when I have verified everything.
>
>Any of you coupe owners replaced the hydroulic pump yet?? Bet that you
>haven't!! I know that the "bombs" go after a while....and can anyone verify
>that the accumulator is the "bomb"? Or, do I have to *add* to my grand
total
>of $ 1,878.50??
>
>BTW, the total quote for an a/c condensor, compressor, charge, labor and
>freon is..... (hold your breath!)....$ 1,800.95!! (I *don't* mind paying
the
>$ 70.00 labor if things are done right!!)
>
>TIA everyone,
>
>Dorab (Nivi at aol.com)
>1993 S4
>1990 CoupeQ
>1986 Chevy Caprice
>