Overhaulin'

Does an non working a/c condenser affect car performance?

I found a 1998 crv with $120k miles for sale for $4000....The seller says the a/c condenser needs to be replaced..If the a/c condenser needs to be replaced, will that affect how the car's engine runs with the a/c off? Also, about how much would it cost to get this repaired? Should I ask them to take the repair costs off the price? thanks

Public Comments

1. will not affect the performance of the car if it is turned off. if you turn it on it will not work that's all.
2. When the A/C system is low on refrigerant the compressor will not engage. The pulley on the compressor act as an idler therefore there is no loss of performance or fuel economy. To repair the A/C system could be upwards of a grand. I think you could use it as a bargaining chip, however don't expect to have the price significantly reduced. »»»
3. The condenser should have no effect on the performance of the car unless the AC compressor bearing is bad. That would put extra drag on the engine. The condenser "being bad" generally means that it's leaking. It may also conceivable be clogged. Either way, it needs to be replaced. This also means refilling with refrigerant. I believe the '98 Hondas use the new stuff, so it would co$t a$ much as if it were the vintage stuff. If you're going to fix the condenser, I suggest changing all the rubber AC hoses also so you don't have to later. They're probably in not much better shape than that condenser. As for the sale price, best to go to kbb.com or some such and Do Your Homework. Maybe the seller is cool and already figured that in, but there's no way to tell until you've researched the going price for this vehicle in your market.
4. eyerotten, I had similar problems last spring and was glad I got my repairs covered under my extended warranty. They are less expensive if you buy them aftermarket. http://www.simpleautoquotes.com/Auto-Warranty.html