A/C keeps blowing up

2001 TOYOTA ECHO
190,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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PAULETTE CLARK
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I bought the car brand new in 2001 and five years later the A/C blow a big hole in it. I brought it in and luckily the warranty was still in effect on it and they replayed it. But again five years later the same thing happened again and every since then I have been driving around in a hot city in a car with no A/C with no means to replace it. I keep hearing from mechanics that this is a common problem with this car. So far from what I have read and from experiences from driving other cars I have never seen this problem happen so constantly. I am so tired of being lied to. I need to know if this is a real problem with this type of car or am I being lied to by mechanics. I need to know the answer so that if I do repair it at the end of anther five years I have $2,000.00 to $3,000.00 for repairs.

Signed,
Really Mad
Dec 12, 2017 at 9:37 PM
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STEVE W.
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Can you clarify where it is blowing the hole in? Is it in the condenser located in front of the radiator under the hood? Or the evaporator core that is inside the dash? Or something else. It doesn't appear to be a common issue from the TSBs or other items saying to watch out for it. If it's something on the outside of the vehicle where you can see it could you take a picture and post it on here? That might help ID the problem easier.
Dec 17, 2017 at 12:38 AM
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PAULETTE CLARK
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One I don't have that kind of camera phone and two I think that the condenser itself blew a 1in. hole in it. The condenser is gone, done for no longer working. It can blow outside air during the Summer time but that is it. The A/C is located on the passenger side behind the radiator underneath the engine.
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:17 PM
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STEVE W.
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OK, that is not a common failure. That also shouldn't cost that kind of money.
If you did a complete job and replaced the compressor, condenser, receiver/drier and expansion valve. Pulled a proper vacuum and recharged you would have right around $500.00 in parts. Maybe another $150 - $200.00 in labor. That is using all new parts that should last an easy 10 years.
A new OEM Denso condenser with the receiver/drier is under $100.00 at Rock Auto.

With AC work it really pays to shop around.
Dec 18, 2017 at 8:39 PM
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PAULETTE CLARK
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The first time that it happened I had looked around to price check everything and it came out to be about $1500.00. Luckily the warrenty was still in affect so I did not have to pay anything at all. But then the same thing happened again about 5 years later. The cheapest price I have been quoted to far was $1300.00 dollars. That is supposed to include the entire unit. The compressor, condenser, receiver/drier, and the expansion valve. What I am guessing as to what happened the 1st time Toyota did the repair is that they did not clean out the system properly when they repaired it the first time. I really don't have that kind of money. I barely clear $1100.00 each month. I am so angry that this has happened again. I have been shopping around.
Dec 19, 2017 at 8:27 PM
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STEVE W.
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The prices I gave you are current parts prices , no labor included. But none of the parts are especially difficult to change.
The full compressor kit and condenser are on Rock Auto if you want to price the parts. Labor wise I would look for a small independent shop. The work is simple R&R with flushing the lines and evap core. Not sure of your location but there has to be a shop that won't wipe out your budget out there.
Dec 19, 2017 at 10:29 PM
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PAULETTE CLARK
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Doubtful, but I will look into it.
Dec 20, 2017 at 10:38 AM
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STEVE W.
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Finding a good place can be difficult. It's why, once you find one that does good work and doesn't rob you blind, the occasional bribe of cookies, pizza, beverage is helpful...
If you are on social media ask around, see if friends family have an idea. I'm sure there is at least a couple, but if they are good don't expect to get into the line real fast, most good shops are 2-3 weeks out on appointments unless it's a slow time of year. Being this is the holiday season it will be worse. Also don't be afraid to look around the area you are in. I know of shops where people drive 4-5 hours to go there, even though they are in large cities with multiple shops around them.
Dec 22, 2017 at 7:39 AM