a/c compressor replace advice
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 9
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a/c compressor replace advice So I hit 130,000 miles on my '98 Firebird and the a/c compressor went out.
The shop I use said they could replace it for $1000 parts and labor.
I have a friend who used to be a mechanic, he offered to help me do it myself.
I can start searching salvage yards for a gently used a/c compressor or through my searching on the net I found a kit with the compressor and supposedly everything I need for $300 brand new. I am unsure as to the quality or this product though.
What would you guys recommend?
The shop I use said they could replace it for $1000 parts and labor.
I have a friend who used to be a mechanic, he offered to help me do it myself.
I can start searching salvage yards for a gently used a/c compressor or through my searching on the net I found a kit with the compressor and supposedly everything I need for $300 brand new. I am unsure as to the quality or this product though.
What would you guys recommend?
TECH Addict
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,012
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From: Tulsa, OK
"everything you need" and "brand new" are mutually exclusive terms for $400. A new compressor alone is closer to $400, with nothing. You should be able to get a reman for a couple hundred. Don't waste your time with a gently used one, it won't last.
Last edited by fleetmgr; Jul 18, 2010 at 06:11 PM.
a rebuilt compressor is between 200-250 dollars, orfice tube is like 3 dollars, and an accumulator is between 30-50 dollars. you will have to flush the system though and pull a vacuum on the system. then recharge it. r143a is like 8-10 dollars a can. shouldn't be no more than 400 dollars if you do the labor yourself.
I would buy a new OEM compressor (400 or so) a orifice tube and new accumulator, all of the o-rings (like 12 dollars) flush the system, replace the oil, pull a vacuum and recharge.
I did buy the $365 full kit with compressor and orifice tube, accumulator, and oil and o-rings and the quality seemed good, but after finding out you can get a new oem compressor for about $100 more, it is worth it to me. The dealerhships quote 800 for the compressor when you can find it online for 400 or less.
How did you original compressor fail?
Ryan
I did buy the $365 full kit with compressor and orifice tube, accumulator, and oil and o-rings and the quality seemed good, but after finding out you can get a new oem compressor for about $100 more, it is worth it to me. The dealerhships quote 800 for the compressor when you can find it online for 400 or less.
How did you original compressor fail?
Ryan
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Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: coldspring, tx
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=330452937073
i found this in another thread and ordered it cuz a few other people had great things to say about it and its cheap. like previosly mentioned the other parts are cheap and easy to come by at any auto parts
i found this in another thread and ordered it cuz a few other people had great things to say about it and its cheap. like previosly mentioned the other parts are cheap and easy to come by at any auto parts
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2008
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I'm 90% sure my clutch went out in the A/C compressor. I live in AZ so I run the A/C A LOT. I went with the compressor from the discount A/C web site. It was $315 with free shipping. It comes with the compressor, oil, Accumulator/Drier, and o rings. I should be putting it in, in about a week. I shall let you all know how it goes!
Thanks for all the advise and help!!!
Thanks for all the advise and help!!!
Let us know how it goes!
I live in Az and out of the past 4 years only 1 summer my AC has worked, I've just been rockin it, but I think it may be time to fix....or just get rid of it all....
I live in Az and out of the past 4 years only 1 summer my AC has worked, I've just been rockin it, but I think it may be time to fix....or just get rid of it all....
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2008
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Sorry I'm just now re-posting. I got the AC compressor replaced with out any trouble at all. I had some trouble with it not kicking on from time to time but added another can of coolant and that seemed to fix the problem. I think it was because I don't have a vacuum pump to pull the air out of the system before I put the coolant in.
Other than that it is working great and the install was a lot easier than I thought.
Other than that it is working great and the install was a lot easier than I thought.
