I actually have a similar story about North Carolina. I think it was 2 years ago during a crazy snow storm that closed all 3 major airports in New York. I was down in Tampa FL buying a cheap Isuzu Trooper. Down there I was using the A/C which actually worked. It was odd considering the vehicle's age and price. I didn't think to check that the heat worked.

Anyway, it started getting cold once I hit NC and I eventually had to pull-off the highway (in Lumberton I think) when I was unable to defrost the windshield because no heat + ice storm = icy windshield (which is not very good to be driving with at 2AM). I took it to an Isuzu dealer in-town the next morning. They were working on that car all day long. They ended up only charging me something like $40. Really nice people.

I would have been bent-over in NY at any car dealer's garage. The going rate for work up here is $75 per hour + diagnosis (about $90).