How much would it cost to have Aircon installed into my car?

This is a question that I am asked constantly, frequently by email. As the answer is not straightforward and what is more, I do not do installations like this, I will go into it a little.
If your car does not have AC at all, apart from a little advice, I cannot help. As to the cost the following paragraphs may help a little. Firstly it should be noted that to install AC into a car whilst it is being assembled is a great deal easier and thus cheaper than it is to add it later to a finished car. Having AC fitted later can be a bit of a shock.
Let me divide cars into two broad categories:
Type 1 Cars built by Japanese manufacturers or by manufacturers heavily influenced by Japan - Examples: Toyota, Mitsubishi etc, and ROVER when it was building cars influenced by Honda, also Range Rovers although probably not under Japanese influence.
Type 2 Other cars generally of European origin or design - Examples: BMW, Ford, Opel etc and DAEWOO (uses GM technology)
Cars in the first category are relatively simple to retrofit AC as the Japanese tend to install the evaporator under the dashboard in front of the passengers knees, where it is relatively easy to access.
Type 2 cars generally have the evaporator mounted underneath or behind the heater matrix right deep behind the dashboard, which means that to access it the whole dashboard with all the wiring, airbags, possibly the steering column needs to come out. This can be a very lengthy and expensive task, possibly up to two days work.
The evaporator is not the whole story of course, many cars have the wiring loom for AC installed in all models, whether actually fitted with AC or not. Naturally this simplifies any later retrofit. Also have a look under the bonnet. Is there room for a mechanic to get his hands into the space around the engine like a Honda Civic or is the under-bonnet space crammed with components as are so many cars where a large or powerful engine is shoehorned into a tiny space, necessitating removal of some other components first in order to mount the compressor (about the size of a kilo bag of sugar) and the condenser (a radiator, similar in size and shape to the water radiator and mounted directly in front of it). General rule: the more room under the bonnet, the easier and thus cheaper it will be to retrofit.
Type of installation - 4 possibilities
1. Manufacturers kit - usually the best but most expensive option. As prices vary much the best is to contact your local motor dealer.
2. Approved alternative kit - these kits (Crispair is a very good example) are made specifically for many models and use switches identical to the manufacturers own, and utilise good quality components. These are installed only by registered installers who can be found in your local  Yellow Pages (or their Web equivalents) under the general heading for Air Conditioning Equipment. Prices would range from about R7500 up.
3. An installation by an AC technician - varies from excellent to very mediocre. Some I have seen are every bit as good as a manufacturers installation but some have been barely adequate. Fortunately some of the mediocre installers eventually go to the wall. Prices probably from R5000.
4. A secondhand system. A possible if the car is not in the first flush of youth and you may not consider it worth spending around R6000 on it. Let's imagine a three year old Mondeo or say a six year old Jaguar. In both of these cases it may be worthwhile to look in Motor Trader or Exchange & Mart at the section following the 'cars for sale' of your make. This usually contains adverts of spares for this make and also details of cars written off, a car which has been rolled will frequently be written off by the insurance company although the level of damage to the bulk of the car may be minimal. A car like this will probably still be capable of having the engine running and of ascertaining that the AC is functioning correctly or at least is still charged with refrigerant. In these circumstances the AC system may be easily transferable to another car fairly cheaply. The firm advertising the spares may be able to install them in your own car or be able to suggest someone who could. I would always recommend that you discard the secondhand drier and install a new drier from an AC technician (R200 to R500) who could then charge and test the installed system.
 

Return to the Contents Page

Or carry on to the next page - we've nearly finished