A/C......What could it cost?
03-16-07, 05:39 PM
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
A/C......What could it cost?
Hey guys,
I'm looking to purchase this 93 SC400 tomorrow from a friend of a friend. It has 120k miles and the price is $4k. The only problem is the a/c is not working. He said the compressor might be out.
I did a search and really didn't find an answer, so my question is, a/c out, what's a worst case scenario if I bought this a/c less car?
TIA, I appreciate any advice!
- Zishan
I'm looking to purchase this 93 SC400 tomorrow from a friend of a friend. It has 120k miles and the price is $4k. The only problem is the a/c is not working. He said the compressor might be out.
I did a search and really didn't find an answer, so my question is, a/c out, what's a worst case scenario if I bought this a/c less car?
TIA, I appreciate any advice!
- Zishan
03-16-07, 05:40 PM
#2
Keeper of the light
iTrader: (17)
It'll cost whatever the mechanic says it'll cost. The AC is not a compressor. The AC is a compressor, condenser, high pressure line, low pressure line, relay, AC line switch, etc, etc, etc,..............
03-16-07, 06:45 PM
#3
Driver
Thread Starter
Right, I understand that. The car is outside of the city in a small town. It's a good hour drive from me. I don't know of a dealership around that could look at it, so I'm looking for advise here.
What should I look for? It there a way someone, a novice, such as myself, can diagnose this when I view the car? And tale tell signs? Red flags to look for?
The owners said he "thinks" its the compressor. Sp if I bought it and it was the compressor, what am I looking at $? If it is not the compressor and it's the condensor, what am I looking at $?
Basically, I'm trying to figure if the car is worth it....and I realllllly want a SC400!
Again, thanks for any advise.
Regards,
What should I look for? It there a way someone, a novice, such as myself, can diagnose this when I view the car? And tale tell signs? Red flags to look for?
The owners said he "thinks" its the compressor. Sp if I bought it and it was the compressor, what am I looking at $? If it is not the compressor and it's the condensor, what am I looking at $?
Basically, I'm trying to figure if the car is worth it....and I realllllly want a SC400!
Again, thanks for any advise.
Regards,
03-16-07, 07:08 PM
#4
If its the compressor (check to see if the clutch on it spins when you turn the AC on), then that will cost you about 250 refurb. on ebay. And if you are in any way mechanically inclined, then you can swap out the old one for the refurbed one. Thats what we did and saved 1K that the dealer would have charged. Took us about maybe 3-5 hours i dont remember.
03-16-07, 08:18 PM
#5
Lexus Test Driver
Dont go to the dealer first off-- Except for a leak test--
To check your compressor-- just turn it by hand while the car is off-- it should spin freely (the clutch turns the shaft-- and you can turn this part which is on the front of the pulley) If it won't turn or is noisy or feels like metal to metal, ie: not smooth, it's toast--
I've priced rebuilt ones and it's not pretty-- I've rebuilt compressors before and it takes some legwork to find interchangeable cores from other cars, but it can be done and is entirely worth looking into. It could very well be that the internal assembly from an avalon fits the case halves of the oem SC compressor. Mine works for now so I hope I don't have to find out-- Maybe a unit from a tundra or a t100 also-- there could be several--
I found that the unit from my G20 interchanges internal assemblies with an older stanza in the Nihon brand unit-- and those have very low demand, which ended up costing me $40 for a reman unit on ebay since there were no bids-- I just swapped the unit into the original G20 compressor case, using the new seals and all, and presto-- a working a/c compressor-- good as new-- $40 spent instead of $350 for an oem unit....
To check your compressor-- just turn it by hand while the car is off-- it should spin freely (the clutch turns the shaft-- and you can turn this part which is on the front of the pulley) If it won't turn or is noisy or feels like metal to metal, ie: not smooth, it's toast--
I've priced rebuilt ones and it's not pretty-- I've rebuilt compressors before and it takes some legwork to find interchangeable cores from other cars, but it can be done and is entirely worth looking into. It could very well be that the internal assembly from an avalon fits the case halves of the oem SC compressor. Mine works for now so I hope I don't have to find out-- Maybe a unit from a tundra or a t100 also-- there could be several--
I found that the unit from my G20 interchanges internal assemblies with an older stanza in the Nihon brand unit-- and those have very low demand, which ended up costing me $40 for a reman unit on ebay since there were no bids-- I just swapped the unit into the original G20 compressor case, using the new seals and all, and presto-- a working a/c compressor-- good as new-- $40 spent instead of $350 for an oem unit....
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03-17-07, 11:34 AM
#10
Driver
Thread Starter
Btw, it's a SC400.
03-17-07, 11:59 AM
#11
Pole Position
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For being a car nut I think there is too much worry involved. You will have to put some money into the car, no telling what. Just my thoughts, Having nice cars depreciate make the money in your homes like your doing.
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