Thread: Condition or compress?

Yes......without a doubt. The intangible daily benefits far outweigh the repair cost.

Perhaps also consider this too Jeff. Personal circumstances can change in the blink of an eye and selling it for expected or unexpected reasons in the future will be made easier and more profitable if the car is complete with all its systems in working order. Any car gutted of its factory a/c will likely turn many potential buyers away.

And obviously it makes sense to get a second opinion too!
Did they give you a list of what's wrong?
Try chasing up the parts yourself too.

Well you don't say what's wrong with it. If it's AC specific you might be better going to a small AC specialist, at least for a diagnosis and quote.

They claimed the core was leaking. Must admit I've never understood why it would cost 2.5k to repair. Maybe an alternate quote should be my next move.

It's possible the cost of a core through a workshop is pricey. Workshops don't have the luxury of spending time shopping around for the cheapest part like you do... If you confirmed the diagnosis of core, you could probably source your own and get it swapped out.

When you say core, I'm guessing you mean evaporator ?

Get one out of the UK and swing some $$ a compliant fridgey's way.

I'm guessing it'd be a bastard of a job, you or you're compliant tradie will need a receiver/dryer, refrigerant, O rings, a dab of oil and dry nitrogen for pressure testing plus a bucket load of labour to pull the dash apart, fit and reassemble to complete but I'd do it.

I thought the td5's (2004) were still the under dash units. Should be a lot easier than most vehicles yeah?

Good call on the drier. Still not a huge cost although all the little things will add up a bit.