<p>I own a 1992 Ford Mustang and took it into the dealership today. My air conditioner started blowing hot air the last two months last summer. Money was tight for me at the time, so I decided to wait until the spring to fix it. I took it in today and they said I would need a whole new compressor and clutch. Since my car is older (and since my car uses Freon), they have to special order the parts. The total with labor would be $900. I could find the part somewhere else and the labor would cost $350 (with a total of around $650).</p>
<p>Do you think it would be worth it to repair the car? My car has 80,000 miles on it and I expect to use it for a couple of more years. I was offered a few thousand for the car a couple of times. Do you think it would be worth it to repair the air conditioner?</p>
<p>Do you have anyone that works on cars that is not associated with either a dealership or expensive repair shop ?</p>
<p>We had a similar problem with a Toyota Previa several yrs back…our friend, who works for an import auto parts company took a quick look ( back in the day when he fixed cars on the side )
Rather than costing the $ 1200 that Toyota quoted, all it took was a new switch for $ 15…just a small difference:)</p>
<p>The question is do you need the air conditioning? Unless you deem it a necessity, there is no need to have it operational. If the compressor is not seized, you can do nothing and run with it as is. If the compressor is seized, or the bearings are whining, just remove the separate drive belt that drives the compressor. (Or have your mechanic do it if it’s a serpentine belt, or if one belt drives more than one pull driven accessory.)</p>
<p>The car may well be worth keeping without ac. It just depends on your climate and personal comfort zone.</p>
<p>One inherent problem with ac repair, recharges is that over time the seals and o-rings disintegrate. Most shops will not bother to a full seal test, but will just recharge your system and you’ll be back every month or three for a recharge.</p>
<p>Go to KBB.com to determine the actual value of your car (with non-functional a/c). Figure out the costs if you’d replace it in increased cost for the car as well as insurance for the replacement car. From that, figure out the total new costs. It may or may not be worth repairing it. Keep in mind that after the compressor/clutch is replaced (assuming it’s really the problem), there may very well be other issues as ‘violadad’ says so you should just add 50% to the estimates in order to make your decision. You’ll need to do the math and couple the bottom line with your desires - i.e. maybe you WANT a newer or different car.</p>
<p>I once drove a car with non-functioning a/c for years but I never use a/c here and like driving with the window down. I had a 91 Ford ExploDer that had lousy a/c that broke, I spent a fair amount to fix, and it never did work well. My 98 Dodge Durango, however, is 10 years old and 150k miles and I’ve never had a single issue with the a/c (yet) and it blows plenty cold.</p>
<p>I went through this whole thing of fixing my car’s AC, and it was just a waste of money, a lot of money. I kept spending and spending, and the dealership told me after each outlay, “That should do it.” And then a month later the AC needed another expensive repair. At the same time, the gaskets started going, so I suspected that the rubber was breaking down. I should have listened to my gut. Instead, I was between jobs and didn’t think the timing was right to buy a new car, but I so regret sinking the money into that old car. It was an Acura, so I thought it was worth the money, but it wasn’t. Your mileage may vary!</p>
<p>Does it matter that the car is a Mustang? If you really like the car and there’s nothing else major wrong with it you aren’t spending much compared to a new car or someone else’s reject (used car). I had a Volvo that a local repair shop replaced O rings on when the dealership couldn’t figure out the problem- avoided an expensive compressor replacement (later sold it to a CA relative, warned about problems, they figured it was worth the price even knowing it would/did eventually need more repairs). I had to spend over $100 to have a dashboard lightbulb replaced on that car- labor to take apart/put back together to get to the failed bulb, they offered a warranty on that part on their new models shortly after that.</p>