If it is hidden under the Fitzer valve and the brand has a European name, expect to pay more. If you are lucky and the AC compressor is easy to access, if the part is from an affordable brand, and is available remanufactured or as an aftermarket part, your cost will be lower. However, with inflation rapidly changing the value of the dollar, and shortages of vehicle parts rampant, this could change in the coming year. $1,150 is about the average price to have a car’s AC compressor replaced. The cost to fix the AC compressor in your car usually runs between $800 and $1,500 for this repair.

How Much Does Replacing a Car’s AC Compressor Cost? The belt drives other things you need to make the car run safely and smoothly. If the compressor, its bearing, or the clutch mechanism are causing the pulley to be frozen, you must have it fixed. If your AC compressor freezes, the belt can't spin freely, and this is a problem.Īlthough many of us would simply forego AC in an older car to avoid the repair bill, unfortunately, that is not always an option. The belt is called the “accessory belt” or “serpentine belt,” and it must spin in order for your car to work. Can I just Ignore an AC Compressor Failure In My Car and Drive Without AC?Īlthough some new hybrids and EVs have a more modern heat pump design that runs electrically, most AC compressors in most cars are belt driven. If you do fix the clutch, you will then be spending money to reinstall an old AC compressor. The time spent troubleshooting and trying to repair the clutch is not very different from the cost of the part. The AC compressor and clutch assembly have to both come out to work on the clutch, and then both go back in. The reason for this is that time is money. Most of the time, if the clutch fails, you end up replacing the compressor completely. It would be great if the clutch were simple to replace on its own, but all of the sources we can find say that it is not usually cost effective. It turns the compressor on and off as needed and on your demand by using the AC. There is a large campaign underway at Honda related to failed AC units.Ĭan I Just Replace the Clutch Mechanism of My Car’s AC Compressor?Ī very common failure mode of AC systems in cars is the clutch affixed to the compressor. If you have a Honda, be sure to check with your dealer if your particular model and year is covered under an extended AC warranty program before you pay to have a mechanic fix it.

Kidding aside, the AC compressor is designed to last the life of the car, but they often last less than 10 years. Add in a dash of road salt and some sand and road debris each time you drive all winter, and it's a miracle the AC compressors ever work. That is not a recipe for a happy machine. Why Does an AC Compressor Fail?Ĭompressors are machines that run hot, making pressure half the year, and then they sit idle, not moving for half the year. AC that is always on may also be a sign that the AC compressor is broken, or more accurately, its clutch mechanism is malfunctioning. However, a check engine light may also illuminate if the clutch or pulley bearing is frozen and the belt that drives the compressor (and other things) is no longer spinning. No cold air is the most common symptom of a failed AC compressor. What are the Symptoms of a Failed AC Compressor?

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