Is The AC Compressor Covered Under Warranty?
Is the AC compressor covered under warranty? If your car is covered under a manufacturer or factory warranty, repairs are generally covered at no cost to you. However, most manufacturer warranties only last a certain amount of time or mileage, with most standard factory warranties ending at 3 years or 36,000 miles. If your car’s A/C unexpectedly breaks and your manufacturer’s warranty expired, then you’ll left paying those costly repair bills on your own.
It’s important to check the warranty information for your specific vehicle before making any repairs. Some warranties may cover the cost of repairs, while others may only cover the cost of replacement parts.
Manufacturer’s Warranty
Air conditioning systems are commonly covered by the vehicle’s Manufacturer Warranty. This coverage typically applies to defects in materials or workmanship during the warranty period. The warranty duration for a vehicle’s AC system can vary. It may range from a few years to the vehicle’s lifetime. Check your vehicle’s warranty documentation or contact the manufacturer for coverage period.
Manufacturer warranties frequently include exclusions, such as coverage for typical wear and tear or damage resulting from accidents, misuse, or modifications by the owner. Should your vehicle’s air conditioning system experience a problem covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, you can usually get it fixed or replaced at an authorized dealership or service center. In order to secure warranty coverage for your vehicle’s AC system, proof of ownership is typically required. This can be provided through your vehicle’s registration or purchase documents.
Extended Warranty
Consumers may choose to buy extended warranties for their AC systems. These are frequently provided by third-party companies or retailers and can offer coverage beyond the manufacturer’s warranty. Carefully review the policy to understand the coverage and circumstances for repairs under extended warranties.
The Mopar Maximum Care Warranty, also known as the “bumper-to-bumper” warranty, is the most comprehensive extended coverage available for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram. It extends your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram’s powertrain and basic component coverage beyond the 3-year/36,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty. Additionally, it covers more than 5,000 components, providing virtually complete mechanical coverage for your vehicle.
The only components not covered under this warranty include:
- Maintenance services and items used in such services.
- Glass, plastic lenses.
- Body and paint items, including soft trim.
- Wear items such as manual clutch assembly, brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums and belts are not covered at any time.
- Snowplows, winches and trailer hitches
How Much Does It Cost To Fix Your AC Compressor?
To have a shop properly change an AC compressor and related components, this will cost between $750 and $1500. Depending on the model of your vehicle, this cost could be even higher.
An AC compressor change can be complex depending on the parts needed to do the repair properly. This can vary quite a bit based on the vehicle you drive, and where the compressor is located. Besides the compressor, there are other parts that should always be replaced at the same time the compressor is being serviced.
It’s also important to note, that if your compressor suffered internal failure, the entire AC system’s lines and components will need to be flushed out of contaminants. Failure to do this will cause for another failed compressor, as these same contaminants will damage the new one. Keep in mind the following parts that should be changed when replacing your compressor.
- The complete AC compressor assembly
- All necessary seals to hook up the AC lines.
- Accumulator or receiver drier
It’s worth noting that this job is somewhat complicated, and probably not a good choice for new DIYers. You’ll need some specialized tools, like a vacuum pump and a set of manifold gauges, to do the job right. If your AC clutch has failed, these can many times be replaced on their own without swapping the compressor but require special tools and procedures to swap out properly. Many times, the entire compressor is more cost-effective to replace.
