The bearing in the pulley for the A/C in my 92 went bad a while ago, and I took off the belt+pulley for the time being. Now I am selling the car, and some dude is telling me that the whole compressor needs to be replaced, and will cost $400. Is this true, or is it possible to just replace the pulley/bearing?

 

ummm, if you're talking about the idler pulley bearing, you can replace it for about $15 and an hour of labor. take it off and go to a bearing supply house. they'll be able to get you one in a few days for about $10-12. then go to the garage and swap the bearings out. it's good as new for under $20 and you can tell the guy to take his $400 deduction and shove it.

 

Its the pulley attached to the A/C, that also acts as a tensioner. Does that change what you are saying?

 

On the AC compressor itself?? The big tank lookin' thing? Or is the small pulley that just tightens the belt? I have both for sale.

AC compressor $200 + shipping
Idler pulley $25 + shipping.

 

I can't take a look at my car right now, but the pulley is the size of the palm of my hand, and is definitely attached to a tensioner. I had to slide this pulley (the defective one) off to take the belt off. I did this in December, so my memory is a bit hazy.

 

that's the tensioner/idler pulley. it's cheap to replace. $60 for a new one from the dealer, or $10-15 for a bearing for it from a supply place. Or buy it used from Jeff for $25.

 

Matt's right, I picked one up from a dealer for about $52.00 (I think) in May.