Maintenance on a 1987 Buick LeSabre? (vehicles, air conditioning, replace, cost)

[smoky_topaz]

My grandmother recently left in her will for me to have her old 1987 Buick LeSabre. It drives really well, it was a smooth ride all the way back to Georgia from Tennessee last Sunday.

Uncle says there is no air conditioning and that may cost about $800 to replace, and you know in Georgia you can't live without ac.

In case I have some problems, do maintenance guys and mechanics these days do a lot of work on 80s vehicles? This one is 25 years old. I live in the central Georgia area and wonder if I will need to find a good mechanic one day that deals with older models.

Also is 1987 considered a "classic" car? thanks

[M3 Mitch]

You need to find the right shop, a good, probably older independent mechanic who knows these cars. Outside of rebuilding the A/C, this car *should* not cost you a lot to maintain.

I doubt you will find anyone who considers this a "classic" car - I don't remember what the rules are in Georgia, here in Washington you can put a "collector car" plate on anything 30 years old or older, avoid having to renew the tag yearly - but what you can do in GA I don't recall (despite being born there).

[Deez Nuttz]

I don't know if maintenance guys and mechanics work much on 80's vehicles, but yes it can run $800 or more to fix the a/c. It really depends on what is wrong. It's likely the seals have allowed the refrigerant to escape. It's not a hard job to do but you do need the right tools and know how to do it.

I replaced the a/c compressor, drier,orfice tube on my 87 Buick Regal T type last summer. I had the manifold gauge kit and the vacuum pump to do the work. I spent a little north of $300 on just parts.

[Fighter 1]

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

I don't know if maintenance guys and mechanics work much on 80's vehicles, but yes it can run $800 or more to fix the a/c. It really depends on what is wrong. It's likely the seals have allowed the refrigerant to escape. It's not a hard job to do but you do need the right tools and know how to do it.

I replaced the a/c compressor, drier,orfice tube on my 87 Buick Regal T type last summer. I had the manifold gauge kit and the vacuum pump to do the work. I spent a little north of $300 on just parts.

Sounds about right ! Then add $150 for the shop to recharge the unit and your ready for the hot weather. $450.00 sounds a little more like it . most of the time its just the compress that goes out , replace that , flush the lines , change the O rings ann it just like new . I just did the same on my1996 ford . blows cold enough now to freeze ice !

[mkeithddc]

before you waste your money, go down to autozone or any parts store, and ask for a set of 134a adapter fittings, they come in a little bag. put the low side on, its the smaller of the 2, and just get a can of 134a from Walmart, its like 9 bucks, then get the little hose that screws onto the can, its sold right there( i say Walmart cause the parts store will charge you double what Walmart does) and screw the can onto the hose, follow the instructions, there should be a gauge on it, hook up the your low side fitting that you installed, and fill it up while car and a/c is on, you want the pressure to be around 20-35 psi. if it doesn't work, you'll be out like 30 bucks. ive been a mechanic for 20 years, and the crap about not mixing r12 and 134a is a bunch of bull. hope this helps.