[Donald]

My air conditioning in one car hasn't worked since late last summer. We would've fixed it then, but the weather's generally not too bad where I live, so we let it go to save some cash. As summer approaches again, I think it's finally time to address this. Before I go to a service center, I'm curious as to what I might be dealing with. What are some main causes of A/C failure? The vents work fine, so we've just used the outside air while we can. This is obviously becoming more and more uncomfortable as summer approaches.

[Dodge Doll]

The seals in the compressor 'went', or it's out of refridgerant.

It's happened to a few vehicles I've owned now, and I quickly discovered that it's EXPENSIVE if you deal with a dealership to address the matter. I went out to a trucking place that overhauls big rigs, and had a new compressor put in for 1/5th the cost: those same units are used in sleeper cab rigs.

Shop around, because in all likelihood the seals went... and the compressor unit needs replacing.

[Donald]

I really appreciate the advice, since sometimes I do go to my dealership to take care of problems like these. Hopefully it's simply out of refrigerant, but my guess is that it is a bigger issue like the seals. I'll be sure to get a few estimates before I make a decision here, if indeed it is the compressor. I've lived without A/C in this car for a while, I don't want to spend too much to get something like this fixed.

[Jon]

Before I go spend all that money on a new compressor, I'd take it to an air conditioning shop and let them check the freon. I'd rather spend ten or twenty dollars than three or four hundred, if freon is all it is.

[Donald]

I'd also definitely prefer to pay twenty bucks rather than hundreds. I figured whoever checks the compressor for me would also look at the more simple problems, but maybe that's a bad assumption. I'll get the freon checked out first, I really hope that's all it is!

[Midnight Tech]

What kind of car is it, Donald?