# Auto mechanics, would you use a rebuilt AC compressor?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-mechanics-would-you-use-a-rebuilt-ac-compressor/369762
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 22, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-mechanics-would-you-use-a-rebuilt-ac-compressor/369762 "2006-08-22T15:48:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-mechanics-would-you-use-a-rebuilt-ac-compressor/369762/1 "2006-08-22T15:48:04Z")
The title says it all. I need to rebuild the air conditioning in my Jeep, along with doing an R-134 conversion. A mechanic friend is willing to help with the evacuation and charging.
I can save about $150 by using a rebuilt compressor, but I’ve seen my share of cheap rebuilds that don’t last. Would you trust a rebuilt comressor?
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-mechanics-would-you-use-a-rebuilt-ac-compressor/369762/2 "2006-08-22T16:22:38Z")
I might consider a rebuilt provided by the car manufacturer, but even then I’d first see what the parts and service people at the dealership thought.
I’ve seen too many problems with aftermarket rebuilds. I only use good quality new ones, and have had no problems with them. If a customer insisted on using an aftermarket rebuild, I’d send him to another shop.
If your old compressor failed, be sure to replace the receiver/drier or accumulator, properly flush the system, and either replace the orifice tube or clean the expansion tube screen, whichever is applicable. Otherwise even a good new compressor is likely to fail from debris in the system.
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### Author:  [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-mechanics-would-you-use-a-rebuilt-ac-compressor/369762/3 "2006-08-22T16:49:37Z")
Thanks, Gary. I’ve seen enough parts where a rebuild seemed to consist of a quick coat of paint and maybe a bearing or two to really want to risk it. It was worth a hundred bucks just to ask.
I bought this car a year ago, and the AC worked well back then but it had a slow leak. I added R12 twice last summer and have only run it for about fifteen minutes this year when I needed the defrost. Hopefully this little use has not caused any destruction.
Short of the coils and the hoses, I plan to replace everything in the loop.
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### Author:  [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-mechanics-would-you-use-a-rebuilt-ac-compressor/369762/4 "2006-08-22T17:03:07Z")
Cornflakes, I had the same thing done about 3 years ago to my 93 Grand Cherokee. I spent the extra money, and it came with a warranty because it was new. I suggest you tough it out for the rest of the summer, then get a NEW, non-rebuilt, compressor put in. The $150 extra you spend is well worth it. My buddy had gone with the rebuilt, whch lasted a year and a half, then tanked with a different problem than what had originally gone wrong.
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### Author:  [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-mechanics-would-you-use-a-rebuilt-ac-compressor/369762/5 "2006-08-23T00:31:15Z")
**Gary T** is quite right-that being said, I gave a JC Whitney replacement compressor a shot on my (then) wife’s car some years ago and everything worked nicely, was still doing so when we sold the car. Sometimes you get lucky with a rebuild, but as the gentleman noted-he’s seen problems, and he doesn’t need the aggravation of iffy parts.