[Naz]

Hoping I'm posting this in the right spot...

I've got a 2017 Cruze LT with 1.4L engine.

Earlier today after my wife drove home from work, she told me the A/C is no longer blowing cold air.

I'm going to presume it likely just needs a Freon Recharge...

However, I would like to know whether or not there is a way I could find out for sure if this is the case; and whether its something I could probably do myself?

 

[muisejt]

First turn the A/C on and check and see if the compressor is spinning. If that is working then you may have a leak. GM vehicles come from the factory with UV dye in the system so if you have an UV light you could go around the whole system looking for some bright green.

Whether you have a bad compressor or a leak you'll need an A/C machine to properly evacuate and refill the system. Don't use the cans you can get at the auto parts stores, many have a leak sealer that can cause more issues as well as plug up the A/C machines if you go to a mechanic

 

[snowwy66]

Gauges

Found at any parts store. Harborfreight too.

You can't diagnose anything without gauges

 

[Naz]

We can't really afford to do much with it.... dont have any UV lights, nor any fancy gauges or whatever....

Are A/C leaks that common for this car?

I mean it had been working fine, then it just started blowing hot air.

The wife is convinced that we just need to buy a can of freon from somewhere, and squirt it in... shes even looked up videos on how to do it already but after she showed them to me, I noticed that they're all for the Gen1 Cruze engine so I told her its not the same as ours.

We may just have to go without A/C for awhile until we can afford a mechanic to look at it.

Anyone know what the average cost on that would be, with a professional mechanic?

 

[Naz]

So we finally found mechanic who was willing to give us a FREE Evaluation.... everyone we called to ask about it, told us they charged $300 - 600 .. JUST TO LOOK AT IT.

Looks like the Compressor has gone bad and needs to be replaced... guy quoted us $1400 to do it.... which we can't do, unfortunately... but yea, thats a quote for a replacement compressor and to replace the freon. He told us the Compressor costs around $400.

So last night I looked around at the various local auto part shops and found they all have Compressor's (that fit our car) ranging from $180 - $280.,, then there's the ACDelco one, thats $400+ ....

I realize ACDelco is a known and popular brand.... but whats the deal with these other brands? The Oreilly's Auto Parts store near me sells a "Murray" one for $270... so who is Murray and are they a good brand?

I'm not asking because I intend to do that work myself... I just know you can sometimes get a better deal if you go buy the parts yourself, and then pay a professional mechanic to do the work with your provided parts. My previous car, I was quoted $1500 on a brake job... dude wanted like $600 for the brake parts (pads and rotors) two pairs so like $300 for each wheel... I went to Advanced Auto Parts and bought my own pads and rotors; $180 a pair; then paid another mechanic to put them on... saved us a ton of money and those brakes and rotors lasted another 10 years; in fact by the time I sold that car they were STILL good.