Monday, March 28, 2011

OUCH!!!

.

Replacing the air conditioner clutch on a 1997 Mercury Sable...



And, the Serpentine Belt...

$656.12 !!!!!!!

Riding in an air conditioned BLACK Mercury Sable in the sweltering Louisiana Summer...


  Priceless !
Posted by Andy at 6:26 AM
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10 comments:

  1. MUDMarch 28, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    I find it worthwhile to take a picture of the belt when it is on the car and spend a minute or two making sure I know where to run the new belt before I take the old one off.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AndyMarch 28, 2011 at 9:04 AM

    That's good advice, MUD. Mine was fairly new, but busted because the AC clutch had completely locked up.

    Had no choice but to replace the clutch, because the car was completely inoperable. Plus, nobody wants to ride without AC in July in Louisiana. In a black car.

    ReplyDelete
  3. innominatusMarch 28, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    Dang, AC problems seem to be a recurring theme around here.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Scooney AdriftMarch 28, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    You're right Andy, it's worth every penny. It gets hot there in Loosiana.

    ReplyDelete
  5. BuckMarch 28, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    Ya do what must be done, no? I sometimes wonder how folks survived in your neck o' the woods without AC. That thought always boggles my small lil mind...

    ReplyDelete
  6. BoogieMarch 28, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    That much for an AC clutch? On a 14 year old car? That's scary, dude.

    But, as a Mississippian who drove around with no AC in my Jeep for two summers, I know how you feel. Priceless, indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AndyMarch 28, 2011 at 7:17 PM

    Boogie, this is not just ANY 14 year old car we're talking about. This is "Black Beauty."

    Her paint is sterling...her interior is like new...she handles like the day The Mrs. fell in love of her...

    We've got history.

    Plus, she's only got 130,000 miles, and I plan to run her until Jesus comes.

    We've got history.

    The deal is that the lion's share of that $656.12 was for labor. And, I understand. She's a bitch to work on, even though she's worth the effort. When you hand her over to the pros they actually charge American dollars (by the hour).

    Once again...she was completely inoperable with the AC clutch frozen up. There was NO WAY to even move her aside of a tow truck...and I couldn't bear to put her on another one. We've got history.

    So, it's not scary at all. She's back in the garage where she belongs. She's all healed up. Even the "check engine" light has quit reminding me that she's been sick.

    And, time will pass, and I'll forget about the $656.12 I paid to enjoy her once again.

    We've got history...

    ReplyDelete
  8. diamond daveMarch 28, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    Wonder if the serpentine belt wound around the motor mounts, like the one in my car. That would explain the hefty labor charge...

    ReplyDelete
  9. PaulMarch 29, 2011 at 4:59 AM

    Andy, I'd really like to see a picture of her if she's not to camera shy.
    At one point in our military moving life, we moved from Ft. Lewis, WA to Ft. Rucker, AL with NO A/C in either vehicle. Didn't need it up in WA but that didn't last down in UCLA. (Ugly corner of lower Alabama) Never owned a vehicle since that didn't have A/C!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AndyMarch 29, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    Dave, no the belt just snapped. Labor is just that high because it takes a long dang time to take her apart, and put her back together.

    Paul, right now, Black Beauty is kinda like a yellowish-green beauty. But, once I give her a bath, we'll see what we can do.

    ReplyDelete

Don't cuss nobody out, okay?

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