Reader Question Hi Austin,
My name is Will J. and I just recently purchased your product "Honest Mechanic". I find the information truly helpful in understanding what exactly goes on "behind the scenes" (0r) just a day in the life of a service advisor. Anyways, I just had a quick question regarding the A/C in my 1987 Honda Accord. I just had a refurbished compressor put in my honda in 2004 - and I've only used the a/c for - I guess about 2 seasons. Well, I started having some trouble last fall (2005) with my a/c.
I took it to a repair shop and they said I would need a new compressor. Well, since my car is RATHER old to be investing $1000 or more into it - I took it upon myself to put some Refrigerant R-134a in the system. Well, the a/c starting working for a couple of months (2 to be exact) - then stopped once again. I had another mechanic look at it again - and they told me the same thing - I needed a new compressor or a refurbished one. I am wondering
(1) is it safe to place Refrigerant R-134a in one's vehicle - and does it have any permanent *negative* effects on one's vehicle? AND
(2) why would my compressor only last for one season before it went out on me? I don't understand.
Maybe you can clarify this situation for me. It has been bugging me for a while. I just recently got married and moved to a new town - and it's frustrating not having any a/c here in the summer. Plus, I was trying to avoid heavy car costs (if you know what I mean). Any advice you would have for me regarding this situation - I will gratefully accept. Or, maybe you could point me in the right direction - so that I can find out what needs to be done about this problem. Thank you for your time Austin.
Your Loyal Customer,
Will J.
Hey Will,Thanks for your purchase.
You do have a dilemma here, this is an "old" car, a great car that will last forever if properly maintained, but never the less, an almost 20 year old car. So, the REAL question here is are you ready for a new car, or do you LIKE this car enough to sink more money into?
My gut tells me the real reason the replacement compressor did not last very long is because it was poor quality to begin with. A rebuilt compressor is someone else’s worn out compressor that has been "overhauled", but rarely do these rebuilt units make it 2 seasons, and in some cases not even one. There is a reason a new compressor is twice as much as a rebuilt unit...they last.
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