ok so apparently all the noise and burning smells and everything coming from my car in the past few days was my ac compressor burning up.. how hard is it to replace one? cus a shop quoted me $700 and i really don't want to spend that much

 

http://www.mpsautosalvage.com/produc....cfm?TypeID=72

buy a haynes manual too

 

if that's the quote for a replaced compressor... well that doesn't sound too bad. But make sure he didn't quote you for replacing the compressor clutch (although unlikely a clutch would stick or freeze-up).

 

you can buy a new compressor with clutch from mps for $50, a hell of alot cheaper than $700

 

and there is the go between solution: between DIY and the shop doing all:

buy the compressor and find a shop willing to install (Midas). since the haynes manual tells you to go to a shop and discharge the existing refrig, and then go back to a shop to recharge and test, heck you might as well have them do everything over a day or two.

 

true true... is it hard to replace? (already have a haynes).. is it just pretty much straightforwardunbolt and bolt back on?

 

Have you done this repair yourself, in a way such that your ONLY cost is $50? do you have the equipment to service the system, according to Haynes (according to my 1994-2003 book)? Or how much did a shop charge you for the evac recharge and test? replacing an A/C compressor is not like changing an alternator - you don't just slap it in there. There are probably cheaper alternatives, but you need to include the total scope of costs, not just the compressor when making these comparisons. Let the OP know the true nature of what he's looking at.

 

nope... but it looks pretty straight forward
buyin the compressor will probably knock off a few hundred dollars for sure though
i mean you know as well as i do that shops jack up the prices on replacement parts

 

no kidding.. they quoted me like $350 for the freaking compressor.. so at least that's $300 saved

 

im sure if you shop around and tell them you have all the parts required you can get it down even lower