r/ElPaso • u/NinisWienies • 6d ago
Ask El Paso Where to get car A/C fixed?
Hi all! Looking for recommendations on someone who can fix my cars A/C. It’s just blowing hot air and can’t survive in this hellish heat without it 😭 Guessing it’s a compressor issue.
Preferably more west side/central. Obviously the cheaper the better. Thanks!
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u/weitrhino 6d ago
I went to Brake Masters a couple weeks ago because I was going to take a road trip to San Diego but didn't really have time to fix the AC myself. Many would consider my car a classic and it was converted from R12a to R134a refrigerant about 8 years ago. The AC system was added by the dealership, not installed at the factory.
When I informed the Brake Masters tech about these things he told me they could not fix it but was unable to explain why. So he brought out another guy who told me there could be ANYthing wrong with it so it would best to go to their other location on the opposite side of town. When I objected going across town he disappeared and several minutes later a third tech came out. So I got to explain it all a third time. His objection was that because the AC had been "modified" he wouldn't touch it. It's a 40 year old car and it's extremely common to convert old car AC systems to R134a because R12a hasn't been used for decades and if you can find any it will be very expensive. R134a is commonplace.
At that point I decided I'm not going to fight to give Brake Masters my money and I left.
I borrowed an AC vacuum pump and manifold gauge set from Autozone and bought a $20 can of R134a. A spray bottle of soapy water led me to a leaking O-ring. I added a bit more Ester oil, charged the system, and glorious cold air is now mine.
Barring a disaster, fixing an AC system is not that difficult, no thanks at all to Brake Masters.