Thread: Compressor

Hey, quick question. My father-in-law's car (Oldsmobile Aurora) broke down yesterday, broken serpentine belt and compressor. My father-in-law is old and gullible, so he took it to a mechanic who said the compressor would cost $1000 to replace. I don't know too much about cars but I'm pretty sure that's way too high. He also said that if it just replaces the serpentine belt without the compressor, that the belt will fail again soon and that there's no point in fixing it at all without doing both. Again, I'm thinking this is bull****, but I don't for sure.

Any truth to this or is the mechanic trying to rip off my father-in-law? I don't trust the guy anyway, I took my Impala to him last year before a double cross country road trip, he said I had a coolant leak that was leaking into my oil and that if I didn't get it fixed (To the tun of $700) that the entire engine would likely break in the next few hundred miles. I drove that car 6,000 miles over the next 20 days, and another 10,000 or so since then, and absolutely no problem. Please let me know what you guys think of this, if it's gonna cost this much they're probably just going to get rid of the car. I'd stay and try to learn how to do it myself if it weren't for the fact that I'm moving today.

Thanks guys

Well if the compressor seized up it will defiantly ruin a belt. $1000 to have it replaced I am not to sure how long it takes to do one on those. Figure $60-80 an hour for labor and then the part cost.

I had my AC compressor fail towards the begining of spring and I asked a mechanic how much to do the repair. I was told 550 just for the compressor plus labor and refill the AC. The ac refill was about 130. Just from the numbers I got, your looking at 300 for labor. Not a great deal, he might want to shop around and get some estimates.

I just had my ac compressor replaced and refilled and it cost me $420.00 including labor and refill, plus a warranty on a new compressor. Not sure how much different it would be on an aurora but I would just call around to at least three different shops in your area that do this type of work and ask for a quote for replacing the AC compressor and refilling it. Get an installed price quote.........compare the prices and see who is ripping you off, if anyone.

Also when the compressor goes out you should replace the Orpheus tube and accumulator.

I would say no more than $300, but each shop will be different...did you call around to different places?