Very good post .

 

We are starting to get some current and up-to-date automotive AC information on this thread, a good thing.

Obviously in the last 10-15 years AC compressor failures are extremely rare. These modern AC systems are very reliable and robust.

I can report on one AC compressor failure dating back to a 1996 JGC (a SUV I sold to a family member in early 2001), the AC compressor failed at about 140K miles but not while I owned the vehicle. Otherwise I've experienced zero AC failures in the dozens of vehicles owned.

 

Good point....if that is indeed the case. There may (?) be a way to easily disconect a hybrid battery-pack, but I'm not aware of any (and I'll defer to you on that, since you own a hybrid). A hybrid battery-pack, though, holds a lot more power than a conventional gas-engine battery....seems like it would take a lot longer to discharge it under parasitic-drain conditions while parked.

 

More of them today are automatic, where the computer turns them on and off. Manual-operation, even once a weeek or so, has become less of a necessity.

You (or the computers in your cars) are probably diligent about using the compressors. If so, then this entire thread does not apply to you....you didn't need it.

 

Porsche cars are often garage queens used mostly in fair weather conditions. So they will often sit for weeks at a time in garages during mediocre weather. A battery maintainer helps (a OEM battery charger that plugs into ciggie lighter plug), but even using that I found the batteries lasted about 4 years.

 

I'm not especially diligent. I do not use my compressor for weeks at a time during the colder months. I use my auto climate control systems manually most of the time with manual use/control of the AC button. "Computers in my cars" are not "diligent about using the compressors".

My vehicle ownership experiences and use of AC is not uncommon these days. I think you started a good thread with the usual common knowledge out there, and now we have others chiming in with current/relevant/useful/updated information related to the automotive AC systems of today.

 

im too poor or use my AC hahaha (college student). But i will consider using it now

 

Might not be too recent, the compressor was replaced on my '99 RX300 in August '03. It was less than 5 years old and about 50K on the odometer. The first symptom was the flashing A/C light/hot air followed soon after by a completely inoperable instrument panel. The repair was over $500 for a remanufactured compressor. I had the extended warranty so I was covered. Didn't even have to pay the deductible. Everything worked well for the next month. I don't know what happened beyond that because I traded it in for the 330 I had ordered before the A/C failed.

 

kitlz - Thanks for the report on 1st gen '99 RX.

 

Mike, is the compressor on your GS450h electronic or belt driven?...just curious as the Prius is electronic.