Question: The air conditioning in my car just died, and a mechanic said my “A/C compressor” bought the farm. I don’t really use A/C in my car ever, unless it’s super hot outside, so do I need to fix this? Can I drive my car without a working A/C compressor?
Answer:
We’re sorry you’re going through this! The good news is that you might be able to drive your car without an A/C compressor—as long as you’re not concerned about cooling or dehumidifying your car.
Without an A/C compressor, you won’t be able to use your car’s air conditioning. That will make it difficult to drive if you live in a hot climate. However, your car’s heater doesn’t require the A/C compressor, so cooler days won’t be a problem.
Your car’s air conditioning also dehumidifies the air, which helps defog windows. Without an A/C compressor, you can roll down your windows or use heat to defog, but both will be less efficient without the help of your air conditioner.
Bad A/C compressor symptoms
When my A/C compressor was about to fail, I noticed that when I turned on my air conditioning, it wasn’t as cool as before. Eventually, I got nothing but ambient air. I no longer heard the click of the A/C compressor clutch engaging when I turned on the air conditioner.
Will a bad A/C compressor affect the engine?
I drove my car without the A/C compressor, and the car was fine. Most of the time, you’ll be fine, too, unless your compressor’s clutch or pulley aren’t working. This could cause issues with your serpentine belt.
A serpentine belt connects many components in your car to the engine, such as the alternator, power steering pump, and the A/C compressor. Your serpentine belt runs through the A/C compressor’s pulleys and clutch, and if those are jammed, it can cause the serpentine belt to derail or break.
Some signs that your compressor’s pulley or clutch is bad include:
- Grinding noises from the compressor
- Pulley wobbling laterally
In such a case, you shouldn’t drive your car without getting it fixed.
How much does it cost to fix an A/C compressor?
One day, I decided to get the A/C compressor fixed, and it was expensive. I not only had to purchase the compressor, I needed to flush the entire air conditioning system and buy other related parts. You’ll likely pay between $750 and $1,500 to get a working compressor.
In order to work on vehicle A/Cs, the Environmental Protection Agency mandates that technicians need specialized training and certification, so keep in mind that not all garages can repair your compressor.
Xuyun Zeng is a writer and editor with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Alice Holbrook is an editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, including car insurance. She’s passionate about creating easy-to-understand content that demystifies intimidating topics for readers. Previously, she worked for NerdWallet, and her work has been featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among others.
