Ok so i have a 2002 wrx and the AC compressor is toast.The dealer(santa cruz) said it would be about $1000 for parts and labor.He said he would have to order the parts cause this never happens which is my luck of course.So have any of you had this problem and any advice on getting it done for cheaper.I love santa cruz subaru but thats alot of money.Any help would be great ,thanks

 

Bump

 

Mine's still good...
I'd definitely get a quote from some independant shops if I were you. Dealers charge top dollar and the truly good mechanics that start out at dealerships often open their own shop. Besides, if it truly "never happens", Santa Cruz isn't going to have the advantage of experience over anyone else.

 

i had mine go out
waited until i found someone on here that bought a parts car and bought the compressor from him
cost like $70 to fill it up with refridgerant (i can spell!!)
took about 2 hours to swap out the compressor ... just make sure you get a universal joint for your wrench
some of the bolts are a $*%&% to get out, but it's pretty straight forward

also remember the compressor will not engage if there isn't any refridgerant in the system

good luck

 

Actually, it's refrigerant...

But yeah, we just had the AC compressor go out on our SVX. The compressor alone is over $600 at the dealership, so we bought a used one on ebay for $65. All it needs now is a charge.

 

my AC went out on my 03 wrx awhile back. not sure if it was the compressor that went or if it needed a recharge or whatever they do to the system. I ended up just removing the AC all together when I did the motor swap, sorta regret removing it now though since it's so hot in the bay area.

 

i've had the little wire break on the compressor lol. i dont know if some animal ate it or what...

haha

 

Wasn't there a recall on some AC parts for our cars? I remember someone said something about that...

 

I'm still using my RS ac on my wrx swap. ~111K miles on it now and still works but I never really use it, I prefer windows down hehe. I might just yank the whole thing out if it ever dies on me.

 

all of my major ac components ceased to work, compressor, condensor and expansion valve are the major parts, was covered under extended warranty.. compressor was $520, and i havnt gotten my car back yet for the condensor and expansion valve replacements because of recurring ticking noise coming from the motor, will letyou know as soon as i do

 

Cool, thanks for the input.I might just order the parts and do it myself.

 

$1000? That's a lot of $$ I mean, I know they have to get the receiver drier in order for the compressor to be under warranty, but that is just crazy! Go find a shop to suck out all the R134a, swap the compressor yourself, and have them put the r134a back in. Just make sure they do a vacum and leak check. I recently did that and it was only $40.

good luck!