A/C Compressor appears dead. How much to replace?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 30,492
Likes: 11
From: San Antonio Texas
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Cruise-In V Veteran
A/C Compressor appears dead. How much to replace?
I went to recharge my A/C system last night after it stopped blowing cold air. After hooking up my manifold gauges and checking my system pressure with the A/C running I saw that my pressure didn't move from the static measurements beforehand. Based on my documentation that tells me the compressor is not working.
So as we continue to experience record heat this summer in San Antonio I now have the joy of needing to get my AC compressor replaced in my 2000 C5. How much am I looking at $$$ wise for this repair? I know I need to find a good shop first which will be half the challenge. Should I get the compressor and take it to them or let them order it? New compressor or rebuilt?
Just finished my headlight motor repair this weekend and had hoped I wouldn't have to worry about anymore repairs for a while.....didn't make it 3 days. UGH!
So as we continue to experience record heat this summer in San Antonio I now have the joy of needing to get my AC compressor replaced in my 2000 C5. How much am I looking at $$$ wise for this repair? I know I need to find a good shop first which will be half the challenge. Should I get the compressor and take it to them or let them order it? New compressor or rebuilt?
Just finished my headlight motor repair this weekend and had hoped I wouldn't have to worry about anymore repairs for a while.....didn't make it 3 days. UGH!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
You didn't mention what pressures you had.?
If the pressures are good you might just have a defective low pressure switch. Did you check to see if you had 12 V on the compressor?
If you have done this I would use only NEW or Factory Reman compressors. I have had too many go backs on rebuilt. But that is just my own experience.
I would expect in the area of $1500 for compressor replacement.
Unless you do it yourself. Then you could probably do the job for around $500
If the pressures are good you might just have a defective low pressure switch. Did you check to see if you had 12 V on the compressor?
If you have done this I would use only NEW or Factory Reman compressors. I have had too many go backs on rebuilt. But that is just my own experience.
I would expect in the area of $1500 for compressor replacement.
Unless you do it yourself. Then you could probably do the job for around $500
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 925
Likes: 4
From: EXTON PA
I went to recharge my A/C system last night after it stopped blowing cold air. After hooking up my manifold gauges and checking my system pressure with the A/C running I saw that my pressure didn't move from the static measurements beforehand. Based on my documentation that tells me the compressor is not working.
So as we continue to experience record heat this summer in San Antonio I now have the joy of needing to get my AC compressor replaced in my 2000 C5. How much am I looking at $$$ wise for this repair? I know I need to find a good shop first which will be half the challenge. Should I get the compressor and take it to them or let them order it? New compressor or rebuilt?
Just finished my headlight motor repair this weekend and had hoped I wouldn't have to worry about anymore repairs for a while.....didn't make it 3 days. UGH!
So as we continue to experience record heat this summer in San Antonio I now have the joy of needing to get my AC compressor replaced in my 2000 C5. How much am I looking at $$$ wise for this repair? I know I need to find a good shop first which will be half the challenge. Should I get the compressor and take it to them or let them order it? New compressor or rebuilt?
Just finished my headlight motor repair this weekend and had hoped I wouldn't have to worry about anymore repairs for a while.....didn't make it 3 days. UGH!
Parts are about $500-$600 to replace all the effected parts. Mechanics labor is 900-1000. Time/labor is a killer.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 30,492
Likes: 11
From: San Antonio Texas
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
You didn't mention what pressures you had.?
If the pressures are good you might just have a defective low pressure switch. Did you check to see if you had 12 V on the compressor?
If you have done this I would use only NEW or Factory Reman compressors. I have had too many go backs on rebuilt. But that is just my own experience.
I would expect in the area of $1500 for compressor replacement. Unless you do it yourself. Then you could probably do the job for around $500
If the pressures are good you might just have a defective low pressure switch. Did you check to see if you had 12 V on the compressor?
If you have done this I would use only NEW or Factory Reman compressors. I have had too many go backs on rebuilt. But that is just my own experience.
I would expect in the area of $1500 for compressor replacement.
Unless you do it yourself. Then you could probably do the job for around $500
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
100 psi is about right on a hot day. You really must verify the voltage to the compressor before replacing it.
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 299
Likes: 2
From: Grove City Oh
Should be around 33psi low side, and 225?psi on high side, on a hot day. That is at 2000 rpms. Sounds like your compressor is def bad.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
I sledom see a compressor fail unless it siezes up or wears out slowly allowing the high side pressure to fall. If compressor was working when he turned the car off I suspect electrical supply issues to the compressor.
If there is no power hi / lo pressures will be the same and it might be a defective compressor or a power supply issue.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
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From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Your numbers are close to what I use for a good system. This is based on the compressor having 12 volts and running.
I sledom see a compressor fail unless it siezes up or wears out slowly allowing the high side pressure to fall. If compressor was working when he turned the car off I suspect electrical supply issues to the compressor.
If there is no power hi / lo pressures will be the same and it might be a defective compressor or a power supply issue.
I sledom see a compressor fail unless it siezes up or wears out slowly allowing the high side pressure to fall. If compressor was working when he turned the car off I suspect electrical supply issues to the compressor.
If there is no power hi / lo pressures will be the same and it might be a defective compressor or a power supply issue.
Could also be a bad coil on the clutch. Need to check power to it.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 30,492
Likes: 11
From: San Antonio Texas
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Found a good shop that can give me a complete and proper diagnosis for $60 and then we go from there on what needs to be repaired. Hopefully it's something that is less expensive then a complete replacement but we shall see. Thanks for the advice guys. 
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 30,492
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From: San Antonio Texas
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Well the shop called back. They said the system was completely empty of refrigerant so they filled it up, added dye and then ran the system for an hour. They could find no leaks anywhere. A/C blowing 40 degrees out the vents. They are gonna wait until 3pm this afternoon and then stress test it in the heat of the day to see if a leak is apparent when the system is stressing with 100 degree heat after sitting in the sun all day. They said the compressor looked good, makes a little noise but otherwise appears fine. They did say that if they can't find a leak in the common places; acumulator, compressor, orifice tube, etc; then a leak might in the evaporator core. He made it sound that if this is the culprit that it is a bigger and more expensive problem then simply a compressor replacement.
Anyone had an evaporator core need replacing and if so how much? I'm hoping that's not it and I can live with adding refrigerant once a year or so for a while before shelling out the big $$$$ for a more extensive repair donw the road.
Anyone had an evaporator core need replacing and if so how much? I'm hoping that's not it and I can live with adding refrigerant once a year or so for a while before shelling out the big $$$$ for a more extensive repair donw the road.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
He made it sound that if this is the culprit that it is a bigger and more expensive problem then simply a compressor replacement.
Anyone had an evaporator core need replacing and if so how much? I'm hoping that's not it and I can live with adding refrigerant once a year or so for a while before shelling out the big $$$$ for a more extensive repair donw the road.
Anyone had an evaporator core need replacing and if so how much? I'm hoping that's not it and I can live with adding refrigerant once a year or so for a while before shelling out the big $$$$ for a more extensive repair donw the road.
You hope it isn't the evap. You have to pull the entire dash out of the car to get to it. Read Lots of labor = $$$$$$$$Parts about $250 total.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge LA
Mine is going through a can of Freon a week. Put the dye in and it looks like the leak is on the rear of the compressor. The seal kit is only $10. How hard is it to change the seals? Can I do it without removing the compressor? Looks like I might be able to jack it up and take the wheel off and get to it with a long extension and swivel. Anybody do this?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
Mine is going through a can of Freon a week. Put the dye in and it looks like the leak is on the rear of the compressor. The seal kit is only $10. How hard is it to change the seals? Can I do it without removing the compressor? Looks like I might be able to jack it up and take the wheel off and get to it with a long extension and swivel. Anybody do this?
I have done this job on conventional cars with a/c comp on the top of the engine.
