


Hoses, belts, the evaporator and the condenser, are all going to age and lead to trouble after a lifetime of use. The compressor is known for giving out after many miles of use, but it’s not the only part that can fail. If you drive an older vehicle that has been used heavily, you can expect parts of the air conditioning system to start wearing out. It’s one of the inevitable problems you will face as a car owner. When these clogs occur, pressure drops and the compressor can fail due to overheating conditions. It’s not uncommon to deal with a clog in the filters, condenser or valves. However, contamination buildup can lead to clogs in various components. With everything working as it should, the refrigerant flows smoothly in a closed loop around the air conditioning system. Otherwise, you could end up in the same boat after the compressor replacement. Before you move on with any fix, it’s important to find the leak and repair it. This corrosion is sure to damage the AC compressor, leading to failure. These leaks lead to AC compressor failure because there isn’t enough lubrication in the system.Īdditionally, without refrigerant, corrosion can start to occur. However, if there’s a problem, such as a torn hose or defective seal, the refrigerant will start to leak from the system. The air conditioning system is designed to be sealed, so refrigerant shouldn’t leak. The majority of the AC compressor replacement cost is because of the part itself and the refrigerant cost. It usually doesn’t take more than a couple of hours to put a new compressor in unless you drive a vehicle that it’s hard to locate. With this replacement, the majority of the cost is not spent on labor. Additionally, if you drive a bigger vehicle that requires more cooling, you can expect a more expensive compressor to be installed. For this reason, it’s made from high-quality parts to ensure integrity. The compressor has a very important job of pressurizing the refrigerant in the AC system. Why is Replacing an AC Compressor on a Car so Expensive? Without the AC compressor, the air blowing from the vents wouldn’t be cold. It also compresses the low-pressure refrigerant, so the pressure increases appropriately.

Normally, the AC compressor sits near the front of the motor, along with all of the belt-driven accessories. This part is required to move the refrigerant through the system. The AC compressor is considered one of the main components of the car’s air conditioning system. Therefore, the AC compressor replacement cost can vary greatly depending on who does the work. When replacing the AC compressor, you also need to empty and recharge the AC system with refrigerant, which is recommended to be done by a properly certified professional. The labor could run $150 to $250, while the remainder of the bill is spent on purchasing the part, so you aren’t saving much by doing the replacement yourself. On average, you may spend $750 to $1,250 to have the AC compressor replaced by a professional, depending on what type of car you drive. Conclusion How Much Does a Car AC Compressor Replacement Cost?
