It’s never a good thing when your air conditioning in your car stops working. We get it-- it’s summer, it’s hot, and you have places to be. When you take your car to the mechanic it is likely that they are going to tell you that you will need to replace the A/C compressor in your vehicle. Instead of paying an outrageous price through the dealership or from the mechanic, you wisely decide to do some research online and see if you can find a compressor for cheaper. However don’t just get lured in by bargains and low prices-- make sure that the site you are purchasing from is reputable, offers a good warranty, and has US based customer service.
You can save yourself some money by just purchasing a compressor and many retailers will sell you one without giving you the whole story because they are only concerned with making money. It is absolutely crucial that you purchase a new accumulator/drier when you buy a new compressor. Often times the source of the problem in your car’s air conditioning is some type of contamination that got into the compressor and messed things up. The drier is the filter for your a/c system. You wouldn’t get an oil change and not replace the oil filter would you? It just doesn’t make sense. If you don’t replace it then all of the contamination that was in your a/c system when it broke the first time will go right back into your new compressor and then you will be in a lot of trouble. Especially if your A/C compressor failed internally then there will likely be metal shavings scoured throughout your A/C system waiting to cause future problems.
It may be tempting to skip the drier and save yourself $50 at the time of purchase but it is only going to cause you more problems and more money in the long run. Make sure you buy a drier with your compressor and rest assured that you will be enjoying cool air in your car’s cabin for many years to come.
