1997 Sentra – is replacing AC condenser worth it?

[Eva_Luna]

@gotpasswords

Does the OP need a condenser (looks like a small radiator and located at the front of the car) or a compressor? (lumpy round thing driven by a belt) If it’s the condenser, can it be brazed, or must it be replaced?

Either way, I’m not sure it’s legal for people to open refrigerant lines if a system hasn’t been “vampired” and the refrigerant removed. I think most you-pick places take care of this, if only to prevent fools from intentionally releasing refrigerant and making that ozone hole a bit bigger. I’d be really leery of a used compressor - you have no way to tell if one is any good until after your AC tech has cleaned it, installed it, pumped down the system, put in the refrigerant charge and fired it up. If you picked a dud, you’re out a pile of labor and a bunch of expensive refrigerant.

It’s a condenser, and this is precisely why I don’t want to deal with used parts (even if I did know how to yank one out of a junkyard car, which I don’t). And as it is, we’re leaning toward just buying a new car - a friend’s niece needs a cheap car and may very well buy ours.

Any opinions on buying a new car, but one for which 2011 is apparently the last year of production? (Toyota Matrix is looking good, but we haven’t made any decisions yet.)