Air conditioning problems with Hyundai i10 - should I bother with a repair?

I own a 2010 Hyundai i10 and have been spending a lot on it recently for essential repairs. The latest thing to go wrong is the air conditioning compressor, which my local service centre says is totally worn out and in need of immediate replacement.

They have quoted me £500 for this repair, which includes replacing the compressor and regassing the whole system. Do you think that this is a fair price?

Asked on 17 October 2022 by Steve Pulfer

Answered by Dan Powell
The cost of the repair is fairly typical for a new compressor and regas for a car of this size. However, due to the age and history of the vehicle, I'd question the value of fixing the air conditioning system.

If the car is already suffering from costly wear and tear issues then it may be approaching the end of its mechanical life. Most cars in the UK are scrapped at 13 or 14 years, due to the fact they become uneconomical to repair.

It may be better to have the AC system disconnected and save the £500 for future repairs or a replacement vehicle.
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