Should I Fix my car’s A/C before I sell it?
Pros and Cons of Repairing Your Car’s A/C
If you are considering whether or not to fix your car’s A/C before selling it, there are a few factors to consider. Below are some pros and cons to help you make an informed decision:
Pros:
- Increase Resale Value: A car with a working A/C system may attract more potential buyers and fetch a higher price.
- Improved Driving Experience: Fixing the A/C can make the car more comfortable to drive, especially in hot weather conditions.
- Prevent Negative Feedback: If a potential buyer test drives the car and finds out the A/C is not working, they may walk away or offer a lower price.
Cons:
- Cost of Repairs: Depending on the extent of the damage, repairing the A/C can be expensive and may not provide a good return on investment.
- Age of the Car: If your car is old and has high mileage, investing in A/C repairs may not be worth it.
- Time Constraints: If you need to sell the car quickly, spending time and money on A/C repairs may not be feasible.
Factors to Consider Before Making a Decision
Before deciding whether to fix your car’s A/C, consider the following factors:
Long-term Plans:
- Plan to Sell Soon: If you plan to sell the car within a few months, it may not be worth investing in A/C repairs.
- Desire for a Quick Sale: If you want to sell the car quickly, fixing the A/C may make it more attractive to potential buyers.
Location and Climate:
- Hot Climate: If you live in a hot climate where A/C is essential, fixing it may help sell the car faster.
- Seasonal Demand: Consider if selling in the summer months when A/C is crucial can affect the resale value.
Budget:
- Available Funds: If you have enough funds to cover A/C repairs without impacting your overall budget, it may be worth considering.
- Cost vs. Value: Compare the cost of repairs to the potential increase in resale value to determine if it’s financially viable.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the decision to fix your car’s A/C before selling it depends on your specific circumstances. Consider factors like resale value, budget, timeframe, and location to make an informed choice. In some cases, repairing the A/C may be beneficial, while in others, it may not be worth the investment. Assess your priorities and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. 🚗💸🔧
you won’t increase the value by the amount you spend on it, but it’ll make it easier to sell because plenty of people don’t want a car without AC.
That car isn’t worth much anyway. Sinking money into the AC probably won’t net more more.
Repair cost has to outweigh the price difference of selling it.
if you fix the air conditioner will you still sell the car or will you keep it?
Nope. Just let the buyer know – there are plenty of people who need a car and will consider AC a luxury they can live without.
no…..how much you expecting to get for the car even with a working ac? Its a 16 year old kia with nearly 200k. List the car $500 higher than what you wanna sell it for and when someone comes to look at it, tell them that you will knock $500 off for the AC.
getting it fixed will make it more likely to sell, but don’t expect it to increase the sell price
I would poke around underneath and see if you can figure out what the problem actually is.
Every place where an a/c line bolts up to another a/c component, there’s an o-ring helping it seal properly. That’s A LOT of o-rings. Chances are, one of them is leaking. If you can pressurize the a/c system with compressed air, you might be able to hear a hiss where it’s leaking, and then unbolt it (let the pressure out first) and replace the o-rings inside, and then pressurize it again to see if it holds.
O-rings are like $10 for 200 of them in like 20 assorted sizes.
If you successfully find and repair the leak, it’s $50 or so to buy a couple cans of refrigerant and fill the system. Or, you could have an a/c shop vacuum out the air and fill it properly with refrigerant (it works a bit less-good if you leave the air in there.)
How much is that car worth compared to the cost of the ac?
I ask because my first car had to have £200 of repairs to it just when I was selling it. I only got £200 for it in the end and was totally scunnered. I should have just sold it for scrap or kept it another year.
Wait until winter and sell it then. Problem solved.
I wouldn’t buy a car without A/C and I wouldn’t listen to the “it only needs” story. That’s just me
kbb.com shows your car to be worth $2137 as a private-party sale if everything works, and it is in basically “good” condition.
Consider advertising it “as-is / likely needs AC compressor” for $1500 and see if you get any interest.
Nope. Sell it as is and disclose that the AC does not work on the bill of sale.
This is a prime example of expected Maintenace and something that does not at value to the car but makes it easier to sell. You fixing the AC would not be a selling point. I see a lot of people who list vehicles with “Just dropped $800 into the AC unit” and expect to get $800 over KBB.
To all saying that it won’t increase value, would you really pay the same for a car with no AC?
It might make the car slightly easier to sell but I doubt you’d see any return on the investment. For a sub $2,500 car, if it runs, can pass state inspection, and isn’t rusted out then everything else is secondary.
It’s not the environmentally friendly solution and is potentially bad in the long term but have you tried topping off the R134a with a cheap recharge kit? If the pressure is really low, the compressor won’t necessarily attempt to cycle.
This is a kia with 190k miles. Forget about finding a buyer. Even if it runs well this is headed to the junkyard for parts. Call around to a few places and see what you can get.
Selling a vehicle with that little value is just going to be a nightmare, lots of people wasting your time. you could post it for $500 and you will have people offering to buy it, show up then offer you $200 for something else they think is a problem.
Other thing is you have a very high chance of getting a phone call from the police because it was found abandoned a few weeks after you sold it, buyer put fake/stolen plates on it and used it for some sort of crime then dumped it. Cops will look up the VIN and find you as the last recorded owner.