So I just replaced my AC compressor 2 weeks ago. Paid almost $200 for new denso part with 1yr warranty and $100 for labor.

My question is if there is some sort of advantage using the "auto" mode on AC vs manual mode on "LO"?

Ever since the compressor died on me, my brain keeps thinking that it was because I had previously kept the setting on auto mode causing the compressor to turn off and on to keep the steady temp. Could that be a reason for the compressor dying?

Currently im using the manual mode on LO and can not really tell the difference in MPG. Which method is preferred here?

Thanks!

 

My girlfriends mom has a 06 Accord and their AC Compressor went out back in 2013. They had it replaced by a shop and than it died again 13 months later in 2014. The shop only gave them 12 month warranty and because they were 1 month out of warranty the shop would not do anything about it.

Her mom NEVER uses the "AUTO' feature. It's almost as if she doesn't even know what it's there for. After getting the AC Compressor replaced the first time by some other shop she still never used the "AUTO" feature and it still died 13 months later.

It's safe to say that the "AUTO" button has nothing to do with the compressor going out.

Your compressor is the original from 2004 so I think 10 years isn't bad at all..

$100 labor is on the cheap side. Did the shop use a AC Service machine to pull a vacuum to make sure all moisture in the system was removed before charging it with refrigerant?

If they did than I think you got a pretty good deal on that one.

Most shops charge $90-$100/hour. Removing and replacing the A/C Compressor is ~1-2 hours and using the AC service machine is about another 0.5-1 hour (depending on how long of a vacuum they decide to leave it on)

 

Yeah sorry. I leave my car's CC on auto 90% of the time the windows are up and my A/C is fine. 05 TL 118k

 

Hmm. yeah I guess it was just paranoia but damn that sucks! only 1 month out of warranty and it died?

Not sure about the vacuum, it took the mechanic about 2 and a half hours to finish the job. Oh well hopefully wont run into this problem again

Thanks for clearing the confusion!

 

Compressor can goes bad there isn't a specific reason cause it goes bad, my lexus compressor not gone but it work only when it want to, 160k miles on the original compressor and texas summer heat and traffic didn't seem to help either.

 

In all the cars I've owned my climate control was on "Auto" all the time winter/summer & never had an issue.

My current TL-S which I bought used had the compressor replaced by the shop when I bought it.....wish I knew what setting the previous owner used. Anyway its on "Auto" now.

 

Leaving it in auto is not gonna damage anything anymore than on all the time. The compressor is gonna be kicking on and off consistently anyways