I have two years left on it to pay it off. The A/C has went out on it twice. The first time it went out, it was under warranty and they repaired the entire A/C Unit. A year after it was repaired it has went out again. Did I mention I also live in Texas???? Now this second time, it is not under warranty. I've gotten a quote to fix it and was told that it will cost me $2300. Should I get the money to replace the car or should I just buy a new car and start all over again?
2006-09-18 01:53:09 · 5 answers · asked by ? 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It sounds like maybe you better get a different airconditioner man! I would think that is near the total system replacement cost. First of all it would lbe helpful to know what they say is wrong. Normally,- you have compressor go out, or maybe broken/-damaged hoses. Properly serviced system normaly doesn't fail this fast. I am not farmiliar with evaporator setup (the part in heater box where the "cold" happens),- It is also true that most systems on newer a/c systems are built cheaper, - and are more troublesome.... but not that much worse!!
If the system was not "evacuated" properly when it was fixed the last times, - that could be key to problems now. Irt is essential to take out ALL the moisture possible with vacuum pump before the system is charged with freon. Also the system should have a new "drier" (most have filters in them too),- This is supposed to pick up any remaining moisture, - and olther contaminants that might remain in system. Moisture and the coolant (freon) combine to make a sludge that tends to plug up the orfice where the coolant; changes from high pressure to low pressure (which makes it cold). If it plugs up here, it sometimes makes the compressor go out, - as it uses oil circulated through system with coolant to lubricate compressor! However there is supposed to be a pressure sensing switch that shuts down the system if this happens! It would be prudent to have a good airconditioner man chech this out, as it could be as simple as a failed pressure sensing switch!
As for replacing the car, how much is the present one worth,- with a/c out of commission? I'll bet that the difference between another one and the price of repairing the one you have, - is going to be a big additional cost to you,- like a couple thousand dollars or more. And a lot of hassle and wasted time. If the car is a good car otherwise, -I myself would fix it!
I live in Texas too. So I know what it is like to have a/c out. Both of my cars had a/c go out this year, -- however when I checked them out, - I found one with a broken wire (poor wire routing by mfr.), - same car a second time, (burned out "fusable link") these two different repairs cost me about $2 (of course labor free). The second one has a "slow leak" it looses enough freon to start working poorly in about 3 1/2m months, so needs charged twice a summer. First of all it is an older Mopar (Chrysler corp) system, - which still uses the "archaic" throttle expansion valve systgem, - which compensates for differences in pressure at the entry point, - so that it comes out at the same "flow", -- sort of like the gas pedal on your car controlls speed. The cost on this is about two cans of "coolant 134a" (freon), - at Wal-Mart, - which amounts to around $18.00 this summer!
Yours on the other hand,- probably has to have the exact right pressures coming in and going out of the "pellet" (where it is expanded to cool), - so it has to be almost exactly right or it won't work at all).
Sorry this is so long, but if you understand how the system works, -you then can tell to a higher degree, - if you are getting a "snow job" - which doesn't work well in Texas in the summer!
2006-09-18 02:48:52 · answer #1 · answered by guess78624 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what you owe. You could end up upside down, meaning the car is worth less than what you owe. If you trade in and are upside down, get gap coverage for the next car, which will cover the difference between what it is worth and what you owe in the event it gets totalled. It's a shame that you are having so many problems with a Honda. I would never buy American. My Honda has 90k miles and I bought new with 2 miles on it 6 years ago and have had no problems.
2006-09-18 09:04:46 · answer #2 · answered by GreenEyedSista 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get more quotes on the cost of the repair.
Then save the money to fix it.
Honda's are good dependable cars and well worth the investment.
It's cheaper to pay a repair or maintenance bill than a car note.............
2006-09-18 09:32:25 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on if you have a loan and if you have positive or negative value in the car. If your remaining loan is higher than the value of the car, then you are "upside down" and it's not a good idea to trade it in. If you the car is worth more than your remaining loan, then trading it in is not a bad idea.
I'd hate to be stuck in Texas without A/C, but at least winter is coming.
2006-09-18 09:02:09 · answer #4 · answered by pvreditor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Trade it in and buy AMERICAN!!!
2006-09-18 09:00:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋