you're actually nardwuar ain't ya

Changing a compressor isn't any harder than changing any other part of the AC. The cost in parts it almost always below $200, including incidental things like new refrigerant. The main thing that makes it a pain is you need the right equipment to do it right. You have to use a vacuum pump to suck out all the air before you introduce new refrigerant. Any moisture left in will cause corrosion and eat at the seals, and then you will have a leak in a few years.

If you don't do it with the proper tools, you will still have working ac for a few years, and then leaky AC for a few more before it needs fixing again. Completely worth it on cheap junker cars you don't expect to last another decade.

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