Fix or Trade?
 

Hi, I am new here and not at all a knowledgeable car person; but I am hoping y'all that are can help.

I have a 2006 Honda Accord EXL V6 Automatic. I bought the car used in 2007 with 26k miles. It now has 187,600 miles and NO air conditioner. After several opinions, I will have to have the whole A/C replaced. This is a $1400-1500 repair. I have always taken care of this car. Regular oil changes, timing belt change at 100k, brakes changed, many sets of new tires, but this is a large repair for the age and mileage of the car. I also know I am looking at the timing belt, water pump, etc again here pretty soon needing to be changed. The car drives well and is is fairly good shape (would be great shape except for my daughers.) I would love to get another two years or 50-60k miles out of this car.

So, what do y'all think? A/C is absolutely necessary here in Alabama. Fix or trade?


2006 Honda Accord EXL V6 Automatic


Go MSU DAWGS!!!!

Can you elaborate as to what exactly needs to be replaced for the ac system to work? I can't imagine a situation in which the whole thing(compressor, lines, condenser) would all have to be replaced.

What needs to be replaced
 

Yes, it is the compressor, clutch, condenser, drier, etc. Then the labor is nearly as much as the parts due to the handling of the freon from what I understand, the evacuating, disposing and replacing.

We got one quote from the Honda Dealership who I usually use for my brakes, etc. and regular maintenance and then one from another mechanic who was recommended by friends. The quotes were within $100 of each other.

So, you can't imagine a scenario where this would happen?

What happened to all of that? I remember something about the condenser being really fragile on that generation of accord, making it susceptible to damage from rocks, etc. that said, my compressor has been dry of coolant for literally 8 years and I just put it in another 5th gen, works flawlessly.
I can't imagine anything that would cause a failure of all parts of the system at once.

I have no idea what happened to all of it only that it doesn't work. I travel alot for work so most miles are highway. However I did live on the Gulf Coast from 2007 until 2011. On windy days alot of sand could blow over highway 90 so maybe sand?

The car may be difficult to sell for any more than salvage value w/o working AC and new timing belt, perhaps $2k-$3k.

If you repair AC ($1500) and new TB ($800), you should be good for at least 60K miles and perhaps much more. This cost is < 1 yrs worth of car payments. If you're pleased w/ car otherwise, repair seems to be worthwhile. Repaired value should b $5k-$7k, depending on general appearance.

good luck

Thanks TexasHonda that's exactly what I was needing to know. After we get it fixed we will probably trade my husbands car for a 2010 accord exl and use my 2006 as his car since he works for home. Heck it might last five more years as little as he drives.

Not buying it, no need to replace all those parts to get a functioning A/C system. They are selling you a new A/C system.

Cost me $30 to get my system evacuated and freon disposed of that was several years ago, but again I feel someone is completely trying sell you a new A/C system.