Can the Car Compressor Be Repaired?
3 Answers
If the car's compressor fails, the cooling effect will deteriorate. After turning on the air conditioning cooling switch, the engine speed remains unchanged. When the air conditioning is turned on, if the engine speed increases, it indicates that the compressor control circuit is functioning properly. If the engine speed does not increase, the compressor control circuit is damaged, or the compressor electromagnetic clutch is faulty. If the compressor's electromagnetic clutch is broken, it can be replaced separately. However, some repair shops may require a complete replacement. If the compressor piston is damaged, the compressor must be replaced entirely. Similarly, if the compressor's intake and exhaust valves are faulty, the compressor must also be replaced.
Last time I went on a long trip and encountered the AC not cooling. When I took it to my trusted repair shop and opened it up, they found the compressor bearing was seized. The experienced mechanic said this kind of mechanical damage can indeed be repaired—just replace the bearing seal—but you'd need to find a shop that specializes in compressor repairs. Most roadside shops will only recharge the refrigerant for you, which is just a temporary fix. However, if the compressor piston is cracked or the cylinder is worn out, the repair cost could be enough to buy half a new compressor. In such cases, it’s more cost-effective to just replace the whole unit. By the way, if the compressor belt is too loose, it can also cause insufficient cooling. Tightening the screws yourself can solve this minor issue—don’t get tricked into replacing the entire unit.
My old car's compressor is making strange noises, and the repair shop diagnosed it as a burnt electromagnetic clutch. The mechanic said replacing just the clutch would cost around 700-800 RMB including labor and parts, which is half the price of replacing the entire assembly. But it depends on the compressor model - some imported car clutches need to be ordered and take about a week to arrive. Actually, most compressor failures are caused by impurities in the refrigerant. Since then, I always make sure to use machine-circulated filtered refrigerant when topping up. Remember to vacuum test for leaks after repairs - my neighbor skipped this step to save money last time, and the compressor failed again within two months.
