Knocking on some really tough wood here (or atleast the plastic kind in the center console).

But my last couple cars always had either A/C or waterpump issues all the time. I've been diligent about the coolant though with this car, using only toyota (it was filled with the red coolant because it was bought from a toyo dealership some years ago). I believe the green coolants played a part in ruining pumps in other cars. I believe the waterpump 'might' be an original based on the fuel filter and thermostats I changed.

But what I'm also impressed is the A/C compressor. I'm at around 200K and it still blows nice and cold and haven't even needed a recharge. Compressor is an original. I attribute it also to having the belts properly tensioned to where it can flex so bearings don't wear out. But sometimes I regret it when I floor it up to 5 or 6,000 thinking I'm hurting it or something.

I'm not questioning it, but just wondering if this is normal for anyone else? It's a huge relief for me because I got so tired of replacing those parts in my other cars. Getting rebuilt crap that would go out in a couple years or be faulty to begin with. I'm just thinking if a 1980s refrigerator in my apartment can hold up, why can't vehicle A/C's lol?

 

depends a lot on environment. In central Texas it gets BRUTAL during the summer. I've only had to replace my compressor once so far. Many factors helped it to fail though. My mud/debris covers were trimmed back and bent allowing more road debris to contact the compressor. I believe that during a heavy rain in the winter one time it was submerged in water for a long while. (big river type puddle across the road, no I don't think my car is a boat but I had no choice :/ ) At one point it seized. I still think I haven't found that sweet spot in the belt tension though because it never has run the same since.

The pressure is good both low and high but it's just as cold as it used to be.

 

Don't want to "Hex" you but my 94 AC unit just went out last year at around 215,000. I've currently got 220,000 on her...I'm debating on whether or not to spend the money to fix it or not. Right now I'm just driving her in the winter. Engine/Tranny of course is still strong....

 

200k miles, 14 years, only 2 cooling system services, all original pumps etc. radiator let loose last year. These cars are almost bullet proof.

 

I just replaced the A/C Compressor Clutch bearing last summer with OEM and original compressor still. Made sure to add back the splash guard to prevent the water from getting back there.

 

241,000 miles and still blowing ice cold, automatic climate control is a great feature.

 

222k still have ice cold air and original water pump...knock on wood.....

 

wow, those are some serious miles for an original lol.

To the response about it depends on where you live, for that it may be true. All the cars that had A/C problems I had were when I lived in Florida. I knew some people who would never turn their A/C off. Just hop in the car and start it up with the A/C everytime. I'm in Utah now so between October and April, you only use the a/c to prevent your windows from fogging up during snowstorms lol.

 

Just over 243K - still running original water pump and A/C compressor. Replaced radiator, hoses and thermostat about 2.5 years ago; very easy DIY job.

 

I just rolled over 300k and Im still on the original compressor. Its one of the few original parts still going.

 

Yeah I've did all of those as well. However the clearance getting to the thermostat was kind of tough. It was a working original, but the Beck Arnley gets my car up to temp a bit faster.

 

brutal? LOL its not even Humid there. I would take Dry heat anyway than walking through Boiling water in New England and Florida.(hell some parts of Florida it is even nice) New England all summer long its usually 86 the lowest up to 100 with over 100% humidity.

 

271,000 with original water pump and A/C compressor.

 

Texas heat IS brutal lol. And humid.

I live at 5,700 feet elevation. Everytime I visit Texas, Missouri, Eastern Kansas...I just can't believe I lived 20 years in South Florida and didn't walk around naked. On my last visit to Missouri and Oklahoma, I had to turn the A/C on day and night because it was just too yucky feeling to roll down windows. I can imagine Texas was much worse, which is why those foot long Palmetto bugs seem to thrive down there.

I would spend 10 minutes outside wearing a nice button down shirt, and look in the mirror to see sweat spots on the back. So the Italian/Cuban/Venezuelan look with an open shirt/hairy chest couldn't be had. I would have rather wore some Hanes t-shirt underneath.

 

my mechanic said I needed a new AC compressor. A member here recommended Rockauto.com and I'm seeing that they offer two different types of A/C compressors. One with and without clutch.

what are the differences? I'm driving a 1998 nissan maxima 3.0 engine V6. 134k

 

Buy the one with the clutch.

 

Does anyone know the difference between ac unit with a clutch vs one without? Any benefits?

 

You need the clutch. Its what engages your ac compressor. Unless you will reuse your old clutch, but those rarely come out undamaged from the old one.

 

Both of my a/c compressors are original. Florida heat too.

Both waterpumps have been replaced. But only because the orings went. I probably didn't need to replace them since they rarely go bad. I did use oem though.