Got a quote to replace a leaking AC on my 2010 Ram for $1800. Also recommended to replace the heater core and blend doors actuators at the same time while they're in there. Reasonable or no? $1000 of that was labor costs for pulling the dash apart and several days of work, so I'm thinking it's reasonable. Not enough cash or margin in the budget to cut my losses and buy something newer at this time unfortunately, so I gotta pull the trigger on it at some point. They quoted mopar blend door actuators at $290 for all 4, and I've replaced the blend door actuators myself before with cheap versions, so I could potentially save some money there if need be.

12 month warranty I hope.

A few years ago 2 of my f250 diesels had to have both cores replaced. About $1500 each. Not fun

If you are having blend door issues, it's probably the doors themselves not the actuators. I know the 3rd gen doors have a nasty tendency to break the shaft that connects to the motor. I replaced my doors with a kit from blenddoorusa.com when I had the box out. My factory actuators were just fine. I did the heater core and evaporator and replaced the cracked dash at the same time. Costwise it sucked, but the improvement has been well worth it.

I've replaced the actuators before and the gears were stripped off and clicking like crazy. No clicking this time and I smell the refrigerant after I turn it on, and the mechanic said there was refrigerant mixed with the condensation that they collected. I had also recharged it a few weeks ago and it started cooling again before abruptly going out shortly after. I know it has to be done, just figuring out how to get it done. Thanks for the replies, good to know that the price isn't crazy and that the heater core replacement is recommended too.

VStarr2024 said:

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Got a quote to replace a leaking AC on my 2010 Ram for $1800. Also recommended to replace the heater core and blend doors actuators at the same time while they're in there. Reasonable or no? $1000 of that was labor costs for pulling the dash apart and several days of work, so I'm thinking it's reasonable. Not enough cash or margin in the budget to cut my losses and buy something newer at this time unfortunately, so I gotta pull the trigger on it at some point. They quoted mopar blend door actuators at $290 for all 4, and I've replaced the blend door actuators myself before with cheap versions, so I could potentially save some money there if need be.

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Replace the heater core for sure. For ****s and grins ask for pictures. I had nasty mess in my evaporator on a 2000 Ram

Welp, I did it, knocked off the easy to reach blend doors to knock down the price a bit. Still $1600. Got it back and checked everything on the way back to work… defrost doesn't blow, comes out the regular vents instead.

Turns out they rewired it wrong, turning it to defrost now flips the recirc door. No idea what the recirc setting does now. Going back on Friday to have them fix it.