A/C Swap... Is it worth it.

TODD01R/T · Post by **TODD01R/T** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:49 pm

OK here's the deal. I've got a 01 R/T and my A/C is totally broken. I took it to the shop and they said I would need a whole bunch of new parts to fix estimating it to be around $1200 to fix. Now my wife has a 02 and her A/C blows great. She will be trading it in for a new car next week so I was thinking of swapping parts ( i'm sure the dealer doesn't care if her A/C works or not) to try and save me some money. Is something like this doable or even worth it?

Post by **racer12306** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:53 pm

Should be very doable. You will just need to have it purged and charged after.

I'm sure the dealer will care if the A/C doesn't work, and they will lower the value they give you.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:02 pm

racer12306 wrote:Should be very doable. You will just need to have it purged and charged after.

I'm sure the dealer will care if the A/C doesn't work, and they will lower the value they give you.

I see no reason why the parts aren't interchangeable, however a car with working AC should absolutely fetch a higher price than one without it.

As far as whether it's worth it or not... well, that depends really. If the dealer will give you an amount that is less than 1200 less for the car if the AC doesn't work, then it'll save you money. However, if the dealer will give you more than 1200 less... it ends up costing you.

As far as having AC, I'll never own another car that doesn't have it. I don't know what the weather is like up there in summer, but down here it's regular 90+ with high humidity, so not having AC on a DD is pretty miserable.

TODD01R/T · Post by **TODD01R/T** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:25 pm

They are giving us $2500 for it. Most dealerships around here usually have a push pull or drag sale of $2000 sight unseen so I figure they probably wouldn't look too close at hers. All the components ( my components) would be there but it just wouldn't blow AC cold. I guess it's a bit of a shade thing to do but I figure, it's a big dealership and they will probably send it off to auction anyways. How much work would it be to pull out an A/C system and Replace it. I only have a couple of days.

Post by **racer12306** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:27 pm

Depending on what exactly you need to exchange it could only take a couple hours or a full afternoon.

TODD01R/T · Post by **TODD01R/T** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:29 pm

I'd replace the compressor/ evaporator and the lines for sure.
I'm assuming this is something i can do with out blowing myself up! Is there a valve I can release the pressure out of it or does it all come out when I lossen the first bolt.

Thanks

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:51 pm

NO! Do NOT just send the gas into the air, it's harmful and quite illegal. If you really are going to do this, go to a shop and have the system professionally evacuated first.

Once that is done, remove all the parts you want from one, swap them over. Probably take you most of the day on a Saturday/Sunday or so to do it.

Forest Green 2k · Post by **Forest Green 2k** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:01 am

Don't let that ACR get junked by the dealer

Post by **racer12306** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:08 am

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:27 am

racer12306 wrote:ACR?

And you're in Canada. You don't need ac.

Gnuserup · Post by **Gnuserup** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 11:06 am

You will find a valve where you can let the fluid out, but as mentioned before - don´t do this ! On one hand it´s harmful and illegal and on the other the oil which is present in the fluid would spread your whole car

supaslowneon · Post by **supaslowneon** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:37 pm

Your best bet is going to be figuring out WHY your ac isnt working. Its going to take FAR more work to swap over the entire ac system than it would to simply repair your existing system. Figure out whats not working or where the leak is, and replace those parts from a junkyard. These cars are everywhere, and parts are dirt cheap- its not like youre saving a whole ton by pulling parts off a working car. The shop probably quoted you $1200 because ac components- when bought new, are quite expensive. But secondhand a/c parts (for a lot of cars) are practically free. Im sure you could get the whole system out of a junkyard neon for under $100. Long story short, youre better off just fixing yours.

Forest Green 2k · Post by **Forest Green 2k** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:42 pm

racer12306 wrote:ACR?

I totally thought it said ACR after 02,. I probably wasn't sober or tired when I posted that, lol.