Mechanical Repair
A/C repair near you
A/C repair for air that will not cool, cycles, leaks or smells: leak test, compressor, condenser, hoses, blower and blend-door faults fixed.
- Time at the shop
- 2 h
- about
- Mobile service
- Available
- at your address
- Shops in Canada
- Joining soon
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
Free to post, no obligation
Mechanical Repair
What A/C repair is
When the A/C stays warm after a recharge, or the compressor is noisy, a top-up is not the answer and the fault has to be found. The technician measures vent temperature and the pressures on both sides of the system, then checks the compressor clutch, its fuses and relays, the pressure switches and the cooling fans the system depends on. A leak search follows, using UV dye, an electronic sniffer or a nitrogen pressure test.
Repairs run from an O-ring or hose to the condenser, the compressor or, with the dash out, the evaporator. Whenever the loop is opened, the system is drawn down under vacuum and refilled with oil and refrigerant by weight, and a major part such as the compressor or condenser goes in with a new receiver-drier or accumulator. The same climate unit also warms the cabin and clears the windshield, so blend-door and heater faults are diagnosed at the same visit.
- For cars, EVs, vans and trucks
- Takes about 2 h
- Can be done at your address
What does A/C repair cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
Shops across Canada that do A/C repair see your request.
What to expect
A/C repair, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Complaint confirmed with a vent-temperature reading and a high- and low-side pressure test
- Compressor clutch, drive belt, cooling fans, fuses, relays and pressure switches tested
- Leak search with UV dye, an electronic detector or a nitrogen pressure test
- Cabin air filter, blower motor and blend doors checked for weak airflow or stuck temperature control
- Failed part replaced as approved: compressor, condenser, hose, valve, O-rings or pressure switch
- New receiver-drier or accumulator with any major part; new expansion valve or orifice tube after compressor failure
- System evacuated, refilled with the correct oil and charged with refrigerant by weight
- Final performance test, with vent temperatures and pressures recorded on the invoice
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Find out what the diagnostic fee covers, and whether it is subtracted from the bill if the repair goes ahead
- 02Before a compressor is replaced, ask how debris in the system is dealt with, since a condenser cannot always be flushed
- 03Ask if the price includes the new drier or accumulator, the oil and the refrigerant charge
- 04Say whether a can of refrigerant or leak sealer has ever been used in the system
- 05Get the warranty terms in writing for the part and the labour, including a repeat leak at the same joint
- 06Mention if the heater, defrost or fan speeds also misbehave, since they share the same blower and blend doors
Signs
When you need it
- Warm air even after a recharge, or cold air that fades again within weeks
- A squeal, rattle or grinding noise from the compressor when the A/C is switched on
- A musty or sour smell from the vents, or water on the passenger-side floor
- Weak airflow, a fan that works only on high, or temperature control that does not respond
- The heater blows cold, or the defrost is slow to clear the windshield
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get A/C repair done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
A/C recharge
A/C recharge with the refrigerant recovered, a vacuum test for leaks, then a charge by weight with oil and dye and the vent temperature checked.
Radiator & cooling system repair
Overheating, coolant leaks and a cold heater traced by pressure test, then the radiator, hoses, thermostat or fan repaired and the coolant refilled.
Drive belt replacement
Serpentine belt replacement, also called a drive belt, with the tensioner and pulleys checked, to stop squealing and keep the alternator turning.
Auto Electrical
Auto electrical repair
Auto electrical repair for blown fuses, dead circuits, warning lights and overnight battery drain, with the faulty wire, relay or connection traced and fixed.
Mobile Mechanics
Mobile mechanic
A mobile mechanic comes to your driveway, workplace or parking spot with tools, a scan tool and common parts to diagnose, service or repair your vehicle.
Questions
Questions about A/C repair
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Why did my A/C stop blowing cold shortly after a recharge?
A leak is the likely reason: the system is losing refrigerant faster than a recharge can be expected to last. Common sites are the condenser behind the grille, the hose fittings and the compressor shaft seal. A dye test or nitrogen pressure test finds it. Another possibility is a compressor or control fault that never let the refrigerant do its work.
How do I know if my A/C compressor has failed?
Signs include a grinding or rattling noise when the A/C is on, a clutch that will not engage, and almost no pressure difference between the two sides of the system. Not every case needs a new compressor: a bad clutch coil, relay, fuse or low charge can look the same. When the compressor has failed inside, metal debris travels through the system, so the condenser and drier need replacing too.
Why does my car’s A/C smell musty?
Moisture collects on the cold evaporator, and when the system is switched off, mould and bacteria grow there. A dirty cabin filter or a blocked evaporator drain makes it worse. A new cabin filter and a cleaning treatment often help. To prevent it, switch the A/C off a couple of minutes before you park and let the fan run so the evaporator dries. Water on the front passenger floor points to a blocked drain.
Is it worth repairing the A/C on an older car?
That depends on the fault, the vehicle’s value and how long you will keep it. A leaking O-ring or hose is a small bill on almost any car. A compressor and condenser on a car worth a few thousand dollars is a harder decision. Working A/C also clears the windshield in winter, since defrost uses the compressor, so it is more than a summer comfort.
How long will the vehicle be in the shop for an A/C repair?
A leak test and a minor repair fit in about two hours, and a mobile technician can do them at your address. Replacing a condenser or compressor is typically half a day, because other parts come off first and the system needs time under vacuum before it is charged. An evaporator repair keeps the vehicle a day or two, since the dashboard has to come out. Parts on order can add days, so ask for a finish date when you approve the work.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
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