Just as it hit 95 degrees in NYC my A/C conks out!

It was running fine and suddenly started to sound like an 800 lb gorilla was riding inside the engine!

I took it to the shop and was told that the compressor went bad! OK here's where I died; they told me the compressor cost about $800 and this did not include labor...I called lexus, just to get a price comparison to see if $800 was reasonable and it cost $1445, labor still not included!

I finally ended up finding a salvaged compressor from a used parts joint for $150!!!...and I'm going to have it installed as soon as I get a minute; and will let you all know how it worx out!

DONT LET THIS HAPPEN 2 U! LOL!

94 GS300 Emerald Green 177,950+K

 

i see its a 94' gs300 dude. i think you're lucky its lasted this long if it hadn't been changed already. GL with everything.

 

Thanx man; the car is in really good condish for the most part; it's been in the family for 10 years! ...never any major problems.

It's just that sometimes you dont always know which auto part is on it's last leg! (especially since I had work done at Lexus just 3 weeks prior; I'm starting to think that they switched my compressor out for an old beat up one!! LOL)

 

That's FUBAR'd bro, not this time of the summer... it's just starting. GL with the AC!

 

The A/C works now, but it still squeals every now and then and I have to turn it off then turn it back on...they still havent been able to determine what the actual problem is though...I didnt have any of these problems until after I took my baby to the Lexus dealer to have some work done...
(could they be trying to stick it to me!)

If any one has any ideas about what this problem could be, get at me please! This problem is costly! What to do what to do!

 

Man your lucky you got a slavaged one .. Mine died in my 01 300 and it cost me 2400 to get replaced labor and all

 

Yeah, that's how much Lexus told me it would cost...that's way too much...have you had any prob's since you had your compressor replaced?

 

Dealing with A/C problems can quickly become expensive, in part because when one component (usually the compressor) fails, metal debris can then damage other parts of the system like the condenser. You said you used a salvaged unit so I take that to mean it was not rebuilt just removed from another 1st Gen GS. A rebuilt unit would probably cost you somewhat more, like $250-$300 but would have new seals and bearings. The squeal you describe may be coming from the clutch mechanism that allows the compressor to free-wheel when A/C is turned off then engage when A/C switch is turned on. In some models this clutch is integrated into the compressor and other models it is a separate component that attaches between the compressor and the drive pulley. There are a couple of posters on this site that are Lexus Master Mechanics and can probably help you more.

 

No, the compressor hasnt been rebuilt; I've just been calling it a donor part, it was a good part taken from another GS. I believe it's just what you said...some of my other parts may have been damaged...the "newer" compressor seems to work better than the other one though.

thanx for all your help!

 

I had a similar problem where I thought my ac compressor was going out because it was making a squeling noise..It turned out to be the cranshaft pulley that was going bad because of the extra drag the ac compressor would put on the motor when it was turned on..You may want to have it checked asap..

 

Will do!

I dont want everything else going wrong because of this!

Thanx Johnee!

 

My compressor is messed up to, I was considering getting mine rebuilt but wasn't sure if it's worth?? How long should it last if it gets rebuilt? I plan on keeping the car for a while.