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Black Market Freon Could Damage Your Car

The summer months are almost here, and many of you are wondering if the air conditioner in your car will last the season. The Better Business Bureau urges consumers to choose reliable service stations for repairs to air conditioner systems. Also, beware that utilizing an inexpensive poor quality refrigerant can prove to be a costly mistake.

The cost of keeping cool has gone up. Freon and other refrigerants containing "chlorofluorocarbons" or CFCs, are being phased out internationally to slow down the destruction of the ozone layer. The U.S. Government has ordered CFC production to end by January 1, 1996. Because of lower supply and federal excise taxes, CFC prices have skyrocketed. Some black marketers have been importing refrigerant without paying the tax and skirting government agency requirements. The results are low- cost, poor quality refrigerants that could ruin car air conditioning systems.

Because of the new environmental regulations, motor vehicle air conditioner repairs are more complicated than ever. If your system does need repairs, get several estimates from service shops with a reputation for good work. Contact your local BBB for a reliability report.

The Better Business Bureau suggests that the best way to avoid trouble is to ask the service station to use only name- brand refrigerants installed by a mechanic. Shop owners and technicians should use only reputable suppliers to ensure that the refrigerant they provide is legal and not contaminated.

Owners of older cars have an additional factor to take into account -- their cars must be retrofitted with special adapters and hoses in order to accept the new refrigerant, at a cost of up to $800. Relatively inexpensive retrofit kits are now on the market, and may be appropriate for many cars. Before using such a kit, car owners should get advice from a trusted technician or expert on its suitability and safety.

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