Replacing A/C compressor and other parts...can save $125. on all four parts needed by buying re-manufacturered Compressor with 90 day warranty versus brand new with 2 year warranty. What are you experiences with re-man parts like that? better to buy new? thoughts?

 

I don't have experience with replacing these components, but I have seen a huge problem with buying the parts from Rock Auto and not following their instructions TO THE LETTER. One FTE'er ordered a compressor from them and installed it but found it was dead and didn't run whatsoever. But, since he hadn't cleaned the system as prescribed by them they weren't going to stand behind the warranty - even though the fact that the system wasn't cleaned had absolutely nothing to do with it since the component was DOA. After lots of bad-mouthing on here they finally relented, but I seriously doubt they've changed their policy. And, due to that I do not and will not buy anything from Rock Auto.

 

The bad thing with reman parts is some of the companies only replace the parts on the unit that are bad. I've seen that first hand at the parts store (old regulators on alternators, etc.). So, still having old parts in it, guess what fails next, and usually out of warranty.

 

My understanding is this is industry standard behavior with A/C parts like this... certain components need to be changed out when certain other components are changed in order to keep the remanufacturer's warranty.

If Amazon or Checker or whomever will eat the costs for you - or are staffed by people who simply don't know how to follow procedure - then that is great!

But please don't be dissing any particular parts supplier for following the requirements as dictated by the remanufacturers, especially when those requirements are spelled out up front in multiple different places. Places that eat those costs are passing them on to the customers in one way or another.

 

Auto zone had the best price one the reman compressor $293 and car quest had the best price w new compressor $419. The prices included tax, evaporator,dryer, orifice. I think I have that correct. My brother is the a/c man and is doing the labor at o charge... replacing everything except the two lines/hoses and condenser. All install instructions to be followed for warranty lines flushed etc.

 

I wouldn't be so hard over on this if they had used some reasonability in applying the policy. But shipping a DOA part and then hiding behind a technicality puts them squarely in the camp of people with which I will not do business.

My local O'Reilly's has bent over backwards to work with me on things which weren't right and has bent the rules on several occasions to get me coverage. Granted, I haven't as yet done an A/C compressor, but I feel confident from their track record that they would stand behind a DOA compressor regardless. Those are the kinds of people with which I will do business, and on many occasions have done so even when it cost me more money than if I'd ordered it.

 

I learned all about this A/C stuff last summer with my brother's Taurus. I replaced the evaporator, dryer & condenser and tried to replace the Liquid Line at the same time but the aftermarket replacement was too big to squeeze between the exhaust manifold and firewall:



Reminds me, I still need to send the aftermarket one back.


After talking with some people, I decided to flush the old one with alcohol & air and put it back in place and hope for the best. But so much stuff had been replaced on that car from a front-end accident (and the freon had been gone for several years) that me and my brother decided to not worry about it, there were more important things at the time.

 

I agree and can certainly respect that! There are certain places/people I give my money to even though they're not necessarily the least expensive. If I can find a small, family-owned local business, I almost always prefer to go there rather than some mega-corporate conglomerate.

And that's fine and great for you if you have that capability there in Podunk!

But I don't know how one could reasonably expect to be able to provide that kind of service when you're selling via mail order, and so many people lie and cheat and take advantage of you....

 

So you were advised to flush the lines with alcohol and air?

 

Agree 100% with all that was said - especially the part about people taking advantage of you. I try to be so above-board that there's no question, but of course the on-line folks won't know that and have to assume I'm just like the rest. But, for instance, I had O'Reilly's order in the tail lights for our years as well as those for the '87 & up trucks and, as you know, tested them and returned the '87 and up ones and kept the others. I paid something like $37/lens for the exact same ones I could have gotten for $22/lens via Amazon. But, I won't use O'Reilly's like that since it wouldn't be right.

On the other hand, I'm not dumb. On my daughter's Pacifica O'Reilly's wanted $367 plus tax for the exact same part # Monroe shock that Amazon wanted $220, inc shipping, and I went with Amazon. Duh! Savings of ~$350, or basically 50%, isn't something to quibble about.

 

Correct! I think it was denatured alcohol I was told to use, and I luckily had a gallon can of that in the garage.

Apparently, there are tiny, tiny orifices inside some of these tubes, and flushing in reverse-flow direction with compressed air and alcohol will help clean them out.

Didn't replace the compressor at all, I had jumped the switch and forced it to come on (as a test) and it seemed to be working just fine, if only there were freon in the system

 

Exactatacaly!

O'Reilly's provided a service to you by ordering both sets and allowing you to test them both and return one, that is so cool! I was kinda-sorta getting to know some of the guys at a local O'Reilly's the past year but staff changes there are apparently frequent and my "main friend" there went away.

Same thing happened several years ago when I was rebuilding the truck engine... I had "made friends with" several of the people at the local NAPA store and they would do stuff for me like you describe, but two of my favorite people left there leaving me with only two others who I don't know as well.

C'est la vie. I still go there, though, just not as often (and they're a bit farther away than O'Reilly's but not a significant amount).

I would really much rather get to know people in person, and, ideally, from a family-owned, independent business which almost don't exist anymore these days, at least near me, but you would be impressed with how I interviewed local machinists before finding one I felt comfortable with to work on my engine. Then would come a local chain store where the people seem to be at least reasonably competent. Boy, buying parts for a specialty car like the SHO has really made me aware of the (in)competence of some parts store employees!

But that's not always possible nor desirable, and sometimes buying stuff from Rock a family-owned & operated business, although not at all local just makes more sense, especially some of their Wholesaler Clouseout specials.

So, in the end, it all depends. I like Rock because they're a family-owned business and they sometimes offer really good prices on some things, especially the commodity items. But radiators & heater cores, engine crankshaft bearings and similar things where I feel it's important to "get the right one," I'll buy that stuff locally. I don't have A/C yet, the parts are in the basement and just recently learned of all this hubbub wrt remanufactured A/C components and needing to replace other connected components at the same time.

'nuff of my rant.

 

I'm still in mode - having very little else to do since I can't walk at the mo. Sorry, allteve.

Anyway, I'm on a first-name basis with the store manager, assistant manager, and most of the rest of the guys. In fact, I take scrap to one of them who adds it to his collection and then takes it in for money. And I discuss Mopars with one of the kids there as he has a 70 Charger he's building up and knows I have the 69 Bee. So, today, when I called to see if they'd gotten the 4 heater cores in the assistant manager, who is new there, answered the phone and told me they'd come in and were on the shelf waiting on me - just from hearing my name. Got there and the manager took his knife and opened all 4 boxes and then said "You need to find them somewhere else 'cause these won't fit" and then looked up a place in Tulsa for me in his files. Given that kind of service and the support on many, MANY other things, like the 5 clutches they ordered in to let me find one that would work with the ZF5/351M combo, I have a wonderful relationship with O'Reilly's. No, it isn't a locally-owned store, but the days of a locally-owned auto parts store are long gone. But the guys that work there are local and I'm paying city (yes, Skiatook is technically a city, but....) and state taxes, so am contributing to the local economy on several levels. And I'm happy to do that even if it costs a bit more. Not bunches more, but a bit more.

So, where I'm headed is that I recommend others create that kind of relationship if possible. It may not be possible as the people at the store may not be willing to help like mine are, but then they weren't that willing to help at the outset of this relationship either. It took many trips to the store and many purchases to get there, and not every instance was perfect. I've had a few bad parts and a few parts that weren't the right ones. But, the vast majority have been right and even the ones that weren't or were bad were handled well and with consideration. They are humans and being courteous and appreciative helps, as it does in any relationship.

 

I went through this last summer with my '84...I learned a long time ago that AC systems are not just replace a part...and good to go..Most places will tell you to replace the drier and expansion valve if you want to do it right..I used a rebuilt unit from Oreilly ...AND..The AC god reared it's ugly heard again last week on the Mercedes 450 SL that I am doing..Got a tip from a forum member to check AMAZON..Got a NEW Delco..A6...compressor for $280 delivered to my door..A little more than a rebuilt from Oreilly..and again..I replaced the drier and expansion valve. You would do good to make sure the entire system is clean..and functioning properly..