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Can I drive my car without an AC compressor?
The air conditioning in my car just died, and a mechanic said my “AC compressor” bought the farm. I don’t really use AC in my car ever, unless it’s super hot outside, so do I need to fix this? Can I drive my car without a working AC compressor?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We’re sorry you’re going through this! The good news is that yes, you can drive your car without an AC compressor.
This is one of those “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” situations. Where by “kitchen” we mean your car, and by “getting out” we mean replacing this broken component.
The AC compressor is connected to your engine’s serpentine belt, so it’s rather common to assume a blown AC compressor can damage the engine. But in reality, unless the pulley itself is damaged and causing issues, the blown compressor won’t hurt anything. It’ll just sit there, not making your car cooler.
We suggest asking the mechanic to at least check that the AC compressor’s pulley isn’t damaged. But as long as it’s not negatively impacting the serpentine belt, you can safely leave the broken compressor in your car until you feel the need to replace it.
If the day comes when you do want to replace your AC compressor (or if you ever decide to sell the car and want to increase its value), you should expect to pay between $800 and $1,400 for parts and labor in most cars.
It’s exceedingly rare, but replacing the AC compressor in some cars can end up costing more—in excess of $2,000 to $3,000, even!—but those prices are typically reserved for high-end vehicles, like sports and luxury cars.
You can safely drive your car without an AC compressor, but the same can’t be said for driving without
car insurance
. It’s illegal in most states, and if you did have an accident, you’d end up paying more out of pocket than most of us can afford.Insurance doesn’t have to be expensive, either. The
Jerry
app can find you money-saving quotes in as little as 45 seconds and has helped millions of drivers save more than $800 per year on car insurance!Jerry is a
trusted, licensed insurance broker
that works with over 50 top insurance companies. Download the app today and see how much money and time you can save!View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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