1997 Infiniti Q45 AC Drier and Relay

[tommyg]

My 97 Infiniti Q45 has 115,000 miles. The AC stopped working two weeks ago. Assuming that the freon was out, I took it to a shop for a re-charge.

Unfortunately, I was told that I have a bad AC relay, and there is no voltage (output) to the compressor. When the AC relay was replaced and a pressure test done, the mechanic found that the AC drier assembly and high pressure fan swich on AC drier leak. The AC drier and o-rings need to be replaced.

What I thought would be a $100 fix will now cost me $467.03:

Remove and Install AC Drier $103.50AC Diagnostic Service $55.00AC Contamination Check $8.95Electrical Diagnosis $138.00

Total Labor: $305.45

AC Relay $26.46AC Drier $105.87AC O-rings $7.00Freon $14.30AC Dye and Oil $7.95

Total Parts $161.58

Unfortunately, the systems on newer cars such as mine are a little too complex for me to understand, so I have to place a great deal of trust in my mechanic. I was hoping I could get some guidance from the knowledgeable experts on the board:

1. Is what I am paying typical for the repairs being made? Does the labor seem unusually high?2. Are these repairs unusual for an Infiniti with approximately the same mileage?3. Would a bad AC drier result in freon leakage?

Thanks everyone for making this board a great resource for us owner wanting to know more about our cars!

[maxnix]

Get your parts from Joe, http://www.everythinginfiniti.com

Labor is a regional/personal thing. The last thing you want is an incompetent mucking it up. AC repair is not a DIY thing without licenses and specialized equipment.

[DAEDALUS]

Be glad it's not R-12! $14 vs. $120! Shops go by book rates, so it's pretty moot to comment on what's "fair". But I will say that 2 weeks ago, when I pulled my drier, it took me about 10-15 minutes to remove it, and I expect it'll take me just a bit longer to install the new one. How long should it take to remove the battery, undo 2 bolts, loosen a clamp, and undo a harness connector? It's not a $100 worth of work to me, but it's not out of line with the industry I don't think.

[DAEDALUS]

For price comparison, you're probably not getting an OEM drier unless you're at a dealership. I think a new factory one from Joe is around $80.

[tommyg]

Thanks for your help. Because of my lack of knowledge, I worry about getting taken for unnecessary repairs. My 89 Corrolla was a joy to work on, but that was a much easier car to figure out. I was also younger and single with no family committments on the weekends!!!