78k miles on the 02z car and my ac is kaput. My compressor has been talking to me for awhile and finally no cooling so I shut it down. Got a price of $800.00 for replacing with new compressor and dryer.
Just wondering how many miles any of you got out of your ac systems before they puked out. I know of some that didn't make it to 20k but I suspect that its because they sat to much. I think things like that actually last more miles if you actually use them.

Same question on the water pump. I'm still on original.

 

water pump will go anytime. it's also difficult to say on the mileage / life of a compressor since a 100k mile car that's mostly been on the freeway will have fewer revolutions and less stress than a car that's done HPDE and is spun up frequently

my 02z has 96k miles now and i have a squeel from time to time, either that or an intake whistle from 5000rpm to 6000rpm, oddly it goes away from 6000-6500 and only does it on occasion

not sure if it's the belt, alt or ac pump

you can check rock auto for prices on the ac compressors and get an idea of cost to line up with your quote. i would personally buy a good one, ac delco or the like

my waterpump was leaking at 90k, but, waterpumps are really an 80% age 20% mileage item. failure at the 10 year mark is common

here are the parts for your cooling system, you may want to order online so you aren't in a pinch when it goes

Ac delco 20889 radiator $188.16
Ac delco water pump 251-744 $177.61
Ac delco water pump inlet w/ stat 15-11057 $29.30
Ac delco 18021L hose $27.52
Ac delco 24388L hose $25.35
Ac delco 24458L hose $14.59
GM hose 10229491 $24
Gates 18127 $12.62
Gates 5/8” heater hose {runs small} 2ft section
GM coolant tank 10430189 $69.95

 

I have an '02 with nearly same mileage as yours when my compressor bit the dust. Got parts from Gene at GMpartshouse and had it installed at highly repuatable chevy dealer. Total cost after labor and freon and 4 wheel alignment right at $1100.

 

how are you guys having compressor failure? they just quit pumping? get noisy? squeel?

 

My 04 vette WP was leaking (gaskets IIRC) at about 33K miles.. replaced with new OEM pump and new Metal gaskets and good so far. My Vette's AC is going strong. My bonneville's compressor Shyt the bed at 145K miles and i have had other GM's with 165K w/ original comp. and 180K with what apprears to be original compressor (OE stickers). Make sure you get a Delco or a Delphi compressor not a cheap parts store one. I got mine from Amazon. and when you replace it also do the reciever dryer and a new Orifice valve (i suggest a variable orifice... blows cooler at idle and hot days). If you have gunk in the lines have the system cleaned (air and cleaner)... my Orifice valve was packed full ofmetal shavings form the compressor bearings. It sounded like rocks rolling around for a while then just all together quit.

MAKE sure whoever does the recharge does a Full evac (vac and hold to check for any leaks), recharge with correct ammount of freon AND oil.

 

i can't figure out why there is such a vast difference between compressors. the 3 best ones i noticed for the corvette were delphi, delco and denso. i had a densor compressor make it 285k in a honda i had when i was younger, still was going strong when i sold the car

just weird how some fail early and some keep going and going

 

the compressors are known to go early in these cars and they're quite expensive. Mine went out about 3 years ago. Metal shavings all over in the system. Shop had to replace the orifice filter 3 times before all the shavings were out of the system. Working great now!

 

Good idea to start the car and run it with air on occasionally.. circulates the oil in the system and keeps things lubed... like the engine.

 

thanks for the feedback. i'll make sure to ask my mechanic what brand he's using. I've been told you have to remove the water pump to get the ac compressor out. If that's true I'm going to go ahead and replace the water pump. If the water pump is coming out I'm also going to have the lower belt tensioner replaced.

 

unless your mechanic insists on making money on labor and on parts, you can get delco parts on amazon for about the same as most shops pay for them

 

I have my A/C on almost every day that I drive. (The joys of living in Houston...) My compressor went out at about 125,000 miles. Like Z06ufgrad2002, there were metal shavings throughout the system. I'm told it was a pain to clean out... I also had both actuators (temp control) get stuck around the same time. It sucks when it's 95 degrees outside with near 100% humidity and your A/C is stuck blowing air that's hotter than it is outside.

 

My 04Z06 just got a new compressor 2 weeks ago with 40K miles. It didn't go all out but started making noise and my extended warranty is still active so I wasted no time.

The dealer price list said the compressor itself was around ~$700 and another $600 for labor. I got lucky I still have a few months on warranty left.

$800 for a compressor change seems a bit low, double check the parts are OE. I know paying $600-700 just for the compressor is steep but I have had bad experience on other cars with non OEM compressor. Carmax once put a re-manufactured one on a Tahoe and they had to change it again 3 months later. Luckily second time they went for new OE.

 

you catch which one the dealers are selling?

ac delco, delphi and denso are all available, denso being the most expensive