To enjoy comfortable, cool air conditioning in your vehicle during the summer, all of the system components must work properly. It’s easy for the A/C compressor to fail, resulting in an unexpectedly warm cabin.
This guide explains how much a car A/C compressor replacement costs, what makes them so expensive, and how to maintain them.
The cost of having a professional replace the A/C compressor varies from $750 to $1,250, depending on your car. By doing the replacement yourself, you won’t save much since the labor is $150 to $250, and the rest is spent on parts.
Why Car A/C Compressor Replacement is so Expensive?
A compressor in an A/C system is responsible for pressurizing the refrigerant. The components are made of high-quality materials to ensure integrity. You can also expect a more expensive compressor if you drive a larger vehicle with more cooling requirements.
Unlike other replacements, this one does not require a lot of labor. The process of replacing a compressor usually doesn’t take more than a couple of hours. The majority of the A/C compressor replacement cost is due to the part itself and the refrigerant recharge that make it expensive.
Maintaining your Compressor in Order to Avoid Car A/C Compressor Replacement
- Frequently Run the Air Conditioner
It might seem wise not to run the system in order to preserve it. The reality is quite the opposite.
You should run the air conditioning system of your car regularly if you want to maintain its optimal performance. A minimum of ten minutes of running the A/C at the coolest setting with the highest fan speed should be done at least once a week. In this way, you ensure sufficient lubrication and maintain an appropriate amount of pressure in the closed system. Furthermore, you prevent mold and mildew growth by reducing moisture levels in the vehicle.
- Make Use of the Defrost Mode
Despite what you may think, it’s a good idea to keep the air conditioning running in the winter. During the cooling process, moisture is removed from the cabin as a result of the removal of humidity.
Additionally, the Defrost setting runs the air conditioning as well. The system will stay free of mildew and mold if you run this for five to ten minutes each week.
- Replenish Refrigerant
It’s time to recharge the system again when the refrigerant gets low. This shouldn’t need to be done but every few years in most cases.
You may need to charge your car more frequently if there’s a leak in the system. If this is the case, it is best to resolve the issue so that the refrigerant stays where it needs to be.
- Keep Up with Regular Service
Regular maintenance is essential for any part of the car. If you fail to maintain your air conditioning system, you can’t expect it to continue working properly.
It’s a good idea to have the A/C system checked every other year at the very least. You might walk through the steps more often if you can perform the maintenance yourself. Visually inspecting the system on your own is free of charge.
Conclusion
It is important to note that in addition to replacing the A/C compressor, you should also empty and recharge the A/C system with refrigerant, which should be done by a professional. This also adds up to the car’s A/C compressor replacement costs, outside of time and labor costs.