Does anyone know of a good AC repair shop in the Knoxville or Chattanooga area? I need to get my wifes car fixed, it is a 1993 300D Mercedes, It keeps leaking freon, Thanks!!!

 

I can refer you to a shop just outside Chattanooga. It is only a couple miles from my house.

The guy does decent work (not sure about A/C). He just did 12K of work on my car.

If you still interested, I'll post the shops name & the number if the board will let me.

 

If the freon is already leaked away, you can do a lot yourself.

Get the connector tools from Auto Zone (nine bucks!) and replace the O-ring seals in the snap together connections. Next get a UV test kit and take a hard look at the front of the compressor.

The front shaft seal on some compressors will leak eventually, and that is the big dollar AC killer. The seals for the lines are chicken feed - nickels and dimes. R-134 is available for do it yourselfers. You don't need a license, just basic understanding of the system. If the R-12 is gone anyway (assuming an old system) you can convert it now yourself, and you're home free.

Line seals (O-rings) are a high failure item. If you R&R them first, chances are you cured the problem. For unknown reasons people at repair shops tend to "F" with them to their detriment. Put them in right, and they last for ages.

Don't believe me? PM Larry Mantta in Virginia and he will give you so much advice your head will spin around...

Do it up for dimes to dollars, and you might be able to charge it yourself too.

Or let an unconcerned bone-head with a nine to five job mess with it.

Up to you.

 

Like Dutch had said....


If the freon has leaked all the way out, this may be a great time to convert to 134A.

 

You got it. You're breaking no laws if it escaped on its own.

GO FOR IT!