The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: jeromedawg on August 04, 2015, 02:51:43 PM
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Hey guys,
So my car has gone through a lot just in the past couple years. It's a 93 Camry with 204k miles on it. First, one side of the vents stopped blowing cold air from the AC. This went on for a while. My mechanic didn't seem to want to fix it because it just seems like a lot of trouble. OK no big deal - I'll just close the vents and blow cold air from the other side. I even tried to flush the radiator and refill it but then this exposed an issue where the radiator ending up needing replacement - it leaked and I basically wasted all my money on that coolant and then paid for a new radiator. Then while driving on the freeway with the AC on not that many months ago, I heard this loud screeching sound and smelled burning rubber... I confirmed that this happens about 5-10 minutes after driving the car around with the AC on. Sounds like the AC Compressor needs replacement. And all on top of that, I pulled an idiot move and backed my car out of the carport with the driver's side door open, resulting in the door bending backwards and causing the fender to buckle in near the hinge. I did go to the junkyard to get a new fender and door and was able to slap them on. So aside from the car looking ridiculous while driving it around, it's *extremely* unbearable to drive especially when it's been parked out in the sun. Take for example today, just driving around for 5 minutes my back and legs were sweaty and I had to keep wiping my face of sweat... blowing the air isn't a good option when it blows hot. Someone suggested the spray-water bottle trick but I have serious doubts that will be very effective, considering it's not just my face that feels hot and sweaty.
Anyway, in short, I'm getting really tired of this car. We have a little one on the way and while being a one-car family might be ideal, I don't *ever* want to have to install a car seat in the Camry while the AC isn't working and considering how hot it can get in there.
What do you think guys? After all I've been through with the car, should I just at least get the AC compressor replaced (or whatever the issue is...hopefully that would be it)? Or given the current state of things, should I just sell the car as-is and look for another used Camry (or other brand/model)?
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Your car sounds like it's nearing the end of its usable life. If you need a car go with something in the $3k - $6k range preferably under 60k miles. (As an example you could get a ford fiesta with 48k miles for $6k; it'll get 35 - 45 mpg.).
By the time you replace the AC pump and the misc other things that are probably wrong with a car that has 200k miles you'll have put in $6k anyway. (Seriously the AC pump will probably be over $800 installed alone).
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You have to replace the condenser and lines at the same time as the compressor, unless you want your new compressor to get trashed by the contaminants in those parts. I'm sure somebody will buy it as is for a work beater.
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I vote for new used car that will carry you through the next phase of life. Try looking up MMM's "Ten Cars for Smart People" post.
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I'm with the others. Its been a valiant run, but at this point its probably OK to splurge and buy another used car. This coming from someone who drove around an old Ford taurus with no A/C plus the passenger side window would not roll down. I made all the way into June in Arizona before I couldn't handle it anymore and caved.
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I think you made a valiant effort with the door replacement and it's time to move on. Sell the car as is and buy something cheap with working a/c. :)
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Wait, so far all the votes are to replace the whole car because the A/C compressor stopped working? WTF? A radiator and an A/C compressor are not major items. It's not like your transmission or head gasket blew. Fix the compressor. Keep driving the car.
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Wait, so far all the votes are to replace the whole car because the A/C compressor stopped working? WTF? A radiator and an A/C compressor are not major items. It's not like your transmission or head gasket blew. Fix the compressor. Keep driving the car.
Plus, it will be fall weather soon...put it off until next year!
Also, if or when you replace it we need to figure out something cool for you to do with your current car. I vote for demolition derby or gut it for autocross!
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Wait, so far all the votes are to replace the whole car because the A/C compressor stopped working? WTF? A radiator and an A/C compressor are not major items. It's not like your transmission or head gasket blew. Fix the compressor. Keep driving the car.
Plus, it will be fall weather soon...put it off until next year!
Also, if or when you replace it we need to figure out something cool for you to do with your current car. I vote for demolition derby or gut it for autocross!
Rallycross!
(I'd suggest Chump Car or LeMons, but I'm not sure how the rules account for a car you've owned for a while, and was relatively valuable when you bought it.)
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Wait, so far all the votes are to replace the whole car because the A/C compressor stopped working? WTF? A radiator and an A/C compressor are not major items. It's not like your transmission or head gasket blew. Fix the compressor. Keep driving the car.
Plus, it will be fall weather soon...put it off until next year!
Also, if or when you replace it we need to figure out something cool for you to do with your current car. I vote for demolition derby or gut it for autocross!
Rallycross!
(I'd suggest Chump Car or LeMons, but I'm not sure how the rules account for a car you've owned for a while, and was relatively valuable when you bought it.)
This was actually a hand-me-down car that my parents bought off my uncle not too long after his wife passed on.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/XPvScoR1h7aoQEsR4sy0qxfXSUjyiOI2QHeQ_6YQt-Bf=w1287-h965-no)
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Wait, so far all the votes are to replace the whole car because the A/C compressor stopped working? WTF? A radiator and an A/C compressor are not major items. It's not like your transmission or head gasket blew. Fix the compressor. Keep driving the car.
This is what I was thinking. I drive a 99 camry and the ac doesnt work. I just drive in my undershirt. Also, i bike 13 miles to work every day and barely ever drive my car.
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MMM had a pretty good article a while back where he tried out driving on a long road trip without a/c. He used a spray bottle full of water to periodically spray himself. He said it was surprisingly effective.
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MMM had a pretty good article a while back where he tried out driving on a long road trip without a/c. He used a spray bottle full of water to periodically spray himself. He said it was surprisingly effective.
The OP mentioned that the spray bottle trick and that it might not be effective for him, plus he has a child on the way and does not risk having the child in there without AC.
For the record, I just bake inside my car; I have a high temperature tolerance range/comfort zone.
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The OP is having a baby! He needs AC for the baby so he/she doesn't overheat and a newer car should be much safer. Get something preowned and certified for $5k
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It's really miserable to get stuck somewhere with a little one-this car owes you nothing and as long as you're not hurting for money (as in no debts etc.) then buy a used car for under 5k that will be more reliable. It's not about the AC, it's about the general trajectory of this car's life-it's going downhill. It could be good for a long time still, but it would be better being owned by someone who can do all of their own work.
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Yeah, this car isn't baby material.
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Babies are such a bunch of complainypants.
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If it weren't for the baby and you're not already FIRE I'd just say suck it up and deal with the heat. But since baby, just replace the A/C. It's a Camry...why replace the entire car?
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You can get a new compressor from Rockauto.com for as little as $141.00 depending on your engine etc. While it's best practice to do a lot more than replace the compressor and recharge it, it would work for years that way. If you can't do it surely you know someone who can help you do it. Add $30 or 134a and maybe a new drive belt and you could have working a/c for $200 if you want to work at it.
Remember someone put the car together, you can learn to repair it.
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Priority is a safe car with AC for the baby. End of story.
The car had a nice run - let it go.
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It just cost me $700 in parts/labor to get my A/C system fixed. Granted my car is an 06' Taurus with half as many miles as your car. You can't replace just the compressor alone. You also have to replace the drier/accumulator and orifice tube. A special pump is required to remove and refill the freon. Sell it as is and get a nice used car with working A/C.
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Plus, it will be fall weather soon...put it off until next year!
We don't where the OP is but fall weather doesn't start until late November in the south.
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Babies are such a bunch of complainypants.
Lol! Actually, babies are tough, it's their owners who are complainypants!
Babies were around long before AC was invented. Ours were raised on the equator and didn't experience AC in a car until we were back in Northern Europe!
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Haha, I'm in Southern California. The weather has been in the 80s and 90s lately. I mean, it does seem as simple as "I'll just have the AC Compressor and a couple tubes replaced and call it done for under $1000" but will it really be that straightforward? Especially in the long-run? I can barely do my own car work let alone have the time to do it once the baby is here... one more thing to worry about. In fact, at this rate, I don't even know if I'll have time to fix anything or get a new car before the baby is here considering how long it takes me to research this stuff. This is really something I should have thought about months ago. It just turns out that the AC died within that time frame, forcing my hand, and now I need to make a decision. The car drives OK but in the back of my mind I still wonder how long I should hold onto it. I don't intend to put a carseat in it at this point and we also have a Rav4 which is the primary car we drive around in. I generally only commute with the Camry or take it around on short errands (and at this point given the weather, the only time of day I'll drive it besides for commuting is early morning or late night!), but yesterday I was driving out to get lunch (I know I know, anti-mustachian but it was just one of those days where I didn't bring lunch) and was only driving around for 10 minutes and had sweat dripping off the back of my head by the time I got back LOL. It's not the sweating alone that bothered me, but the fact that I was going back into work and sweaty.
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I mean, it does seem as simple as "I'll just have the AC Compressor and a couple tubes replaced and call it done for under $1000" but will it really be that straightforward?
Yes, yes it will be. Then if something else minor breaks, you can get that fixed too. It blows my mind that people (upthread) somehow think that getting a different car will automatically come without anything that can break. Cars break. Yes, even those newer ones. Find a good mechanic if you can't do it yourself. You know the car drives fine. Your kid will not care if the quarter panels are different colors. It sounds like s/he won't even ride in this one much if at all.
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Also, MMM would punch half of you in the face. You should feel shame. Maybe try www.alwaysgetanewcareverytimeanythingminorgoeswrong.com/forum for your dirty pleasure.
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I mean, it does seem as simple as "I'll just have the AC Compressor and a couple tubes replaced and call it done for under $1000" but will it really be that straightforward?
Yes, yes it will be. Then if something else minor breaks, you can get that fixed too. It blows my mind that people (upthread) somehow think that getting a different car will automatically come without anything that can break. Cars break. Yes, even those newer ones. Find a good mechanic if you can't do it yourself. You know the car drives fine. Your kid will not care if the quarter panels are different colors. It sounds like s/he won't even ride in this one much if at all.
Yea, if this were my only car, then I'd feel more strongly about ditching it and buying another used. But if it's as simple as replacing a few things that won't cost an arm and a leg, then fine. But I've been down this road before too where one thing breaks, you fix it, then more crap breaks, etc etc etc rinse and repeat... I mean, it is a pretty old car (22yrs!!) so I suppose things are expected to fail - but it just sucks if and when everything starts failing at the same time!
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Yea, if this were my only car, then I'd feel more strongly about ditching it and buying another used. But if it's as simple as replacing a few things that won't cost an arm and a leg, then fine. But I've been down this road before too where one thing breaks, you fix it, then more crap breaks, etc etc etc rinse and repeat... I mean, it is a pretty old car (22yrs!!) so I suppose things are expected to fail - but it just sucks if and when everything starts failing at the same time!
You've been down that road with this car? If not, then you cross that bridge if (not when) you come to it.
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Yea, if this were my only car, then I'd feel more strongly about ditching it and buying another used. But if it's as simple as replacing a few things that won't cost an arm and a leg, then fine. But I've been down this road before too where one thing breaks, you fix it, then more crap breaks, etc etc etc rinse and repeat... I mean, it is a pretty old car (22yrs!!) so I suppose things are expected to fail - but it just sucks if and when everything starts failing at the same time!
You've been down that road with this car? If not, then you cross that bridge if (not when) you come to it.
Yea... with this car: catalytic converter, a couple radiators, head gasket, transmission, shocks, a bunch of other crap I forgot about, etc. All within the past 10 years (and probably 20,000-30,000 miles - I've never had a long commute, fortunately) of having it. Then again, considering I didn't actually purchase the car, I guess that's not so bad. It just seems like a lot of money has been spent on the car in this time (of course, I wasn't very 'frugal' about car stuff until I got into MMM in the past year but I should tally it all up just for kicks). I sometimes wonder if I would have been better off just getting a used car with low mileage back then... hindsight is 20/20
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Well shit, it's practically a brand new car at this point! :)
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Well shit, it's practically a brand new car at this point! :)
LOL until the next thing... oh yea, I had to replace the windshield recently too but that wasn't so bad; cept for the fact that the new windshield got hit with another friggin pebble literally the next day driving on the fwy (at least it didn't result in a long-crack like the previous one - I swear someone was playing with a slingshot and aiming at passing cars the day that happened).
I need to start riding my bike again - if I'm gonna sweat, I'd rather sweat on a bike than in my car hahaha!
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Im def with Eric on this. i had a car for 10 years with no ac. i have ac in my car now, but ive never used it. i have ac in my house too- but ive never used it. a little cool water on the wrists cools you right down. do the windows work? roll them down. put the baby in the rav4. the camry has a lot of life left.
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Im def with Eric on this. i had a car for 10 years with no ac. i have ac in my car now, but ive never used it. i have ac in my house too- but ive never used it. a little cool water on the wrists cools you right down. do the windows work? roll them down. put the baby in the rav4. the camry has a lot of life left.
Yea the windows are fine. There's even a sunroof LOL. Problem is the interior of the car is dark leather, so it heats up fast and heats up a lot (prob over 100 degrees) and doesn't cool down much even with the windows and vents open. It really sucks. If the parking lot here at work were covered, it would be no problem. Oh well... I guess I can continue to designate it as my commuting car and "emergency" car. I may get a quote on the AC stuff though first just to see. If it's only $300-$600, I'd probably be OK with it.
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Yeah, this car isn't baby material.
To me, this is the bottom line. You need to protect the baby, and a baby isn't always going to tell you when it's uncomfortable. Nor will it mist itself with a spray bottle.
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Yeah, this car isn't baby material.
To me, this is the bottom line. You need to protect the baby, and a baby isn't always going to tell you when it's uncomfortable. Nor will it mist itself with a spray bottle.
Isn't that what the crying is for?
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Also, MMM would punch half of you in the face. You should feel shame. Maybe try www.alwaysgetanewcareverytimeanythingminorgoeswrong.com/forum for your dirty pleasure.
A car with 240k miles is on it's last leg as far as I'm concerned. If it hasn't had almost every part replaced yet it'll need to shortly. It's really about the amount of maintenance you're likely to put in on a vehicle. I didn't tell him to go buy a NEW car, just a less used one. From what I saw in the picture it looks like he'll need new tires soon... I'm sure the transmission is 3/4 of the way to dead.
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I'm in the baby will be fine camp. He/she is chilling at 98.6 degrees F as we speak. Cooler weather can not be much more than 60 days away. Stick it out and you will have at least until next spring to think about it. Cover your black seats with old light colored sheets or towels. Bring along a bottle of ice water to both drink and hold against your skin for the hotter trips. Even if you only get another 6-12 months out of the car, do that a few times in a lifetime and you save the entire purchase of a car or two.
I went 3-4 years without AC in the humid SE, you can do it!
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MMM had a pretty good article a while back where he tried out driving on a long road trip without a/c. He used a spray bottle full of water to periodically spray himself. He said it was surprisingly effective.
Came to say almost exactly this.
Get a wicking shirt, something you'd wear while playing sports or going to the gym.
Soak in water, wring it out so it's not dripping, wear it until dry, lather, rinse, repeat. Worked for me when I didn't have A/C.
As for the car: if there's any chance other stuff is starting to go (suspension, brakes, frame rot, engine, exhaust system etc) you gotta decide if the car is going to cost more over the next few years in repairs than a newer model would.
Something like a "mid-2000s" Elantra (2004-2006), Mazda 3, Ford Focus etc might have a longer life and reduced ongoing ownership costs.
There's a tipping point when keeping and fixing an older car gets as expensive as spending $3-5k on something newer.
A wicking shirt? So I should dress like I'm going to the gym for my commutes to work? That's hilarious! Can't wait to see my wife's reaction when I do that and she asks where I'm going :O
As far as the car, I'm not sure how much more money will be put into it versus if I were to just get a used car. It sure would be nice if we could anticipate and know exactly when and how much though right? I was sort of considering a [used] Mazda 5 at some point. At least to potentially replace the Rav4 if we have more than one kid. Or I could eventually dump the Camry, keep the Rav4, and get a Mazda 5.
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Also, MMM would punch half of you in the face. You should feel shame. Maybe try www.alwaysgetanewcareverytimeanythingminorgoeswrong.com/forum for your dirty pleasure.
A car with 240k miles is on it's last leg as far as I'm concerned. If it hasn't had almost every part replaced yet it'll need to shortly. It's really about the amount of maintenance you're likely to put in on a vehicle. I didn't tell him to go buy a NEW car, just a less used one. From what I saw in the picture it looks like he'll need new tires soon... I'm sure the transmission is 3/4 of the way to dead.
It's actually 204k miles currently. Camrys (especially the older ones) run forever btw... older Camrys in the 200ks are quite a common occurrence. Probably one of the most reliable long-lasting cars ever as far as the engine is concerned. But yea, it is the maintenance and repair costs for *everything else* that seems like it can start adding up. It may not be worth holding onto for a super long time if more expensive repairs come up. But it's hard to tell the future too... after I destroyed the driver's side door and damaged the fender badly (per the tricolors in the picture above), I was *this* close to donating the car but was strongly encouraged to endure through DIY fixing it (pulled off damaged door and fender, went to a junkyard, pulled a decent door and fender, reinstalled... etc). But that took me at least a month's worth of time including removal, converting the interior card and all components over to the replacement door, installation, as well as lots of rest and recovery for wrist strain in between. Anyway, if another 'major' component fails I'm not sure if I want to deal with it. The tranny my mechanic put in was a used tranny so for all I know it could very well be on its last legs.
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Remember the sunk cost fallacy--money already spent on the car is gone.
Does this car meet your needs now? You don't want to put a car seat in it, so it won't meet your needs when the baby comes. You are tired of driving it, you're very uncomfortable in it right now. You're concerned about its reliability in the future, so it doesn't help with your peace of mind. If you replaced the entire AC system, the other issues would be there. With a baby on the way, peace of mind is going to get scarcer, as will time and money and your tolerance for irritation.
It's mustachian to keep the old car forever, but it's also mustachian to eliminate unnecessary sources of stress in your life. There is some other Mustachian out there with automotive skills who will appreciate the Camry. Maybe you should give yourself the gift of not worrying about your car by getting a newer one.
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Remember the sunk cost fallacy--money already spent on the car is gone.
Does this car meet your needs now? You don't want to put a car seat in it, so it won't meet your needs when the baby comes. You are tired of driving it, you're very uncomfortable in it right now. You're concerned about its reliability in the future, so it doesn't help with your peace of mind. If you replaced the entire AC system, the other issues would be there. With a baby on the way, peace of mind is going to get scarcer, as will time and money and your tolerance for irritation.
It's mustachian to keep the old car forever, but it's also mustachian to eliminate unnecessary sources of stress in your life. There is some other Mustachian out there with automotive skills who will appreciate the Camry. Maybe you should give yourself the gift of not worrying about your car by getting a newer one.
Thanks for the perspective. Since we'll depend more on the Rav4 for baby, having the Camry around should be OK until the next *big* repair comes up. I'm going to take it into an mechanic who specializes in AC in a couple weeks (good Yelp reviews, reasonable pricing, and recommended by a coworker as well) to get a diagnosis and quote. Depending on the cost, I may decide to go ahead and fix it. Right now the main thing is the AC. But whatever issue comes up next, especially if it's a major component, that's when we'll probably decide to ditch the car and get something else. Or I could just resort to biking into work, driving the Rav4 around, or having my wife drop me off even once the baby is a little older.
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I didn't read the whoLe thread, but have you tried winding the windows down?
Even keep it parked with the windows down a bit to let the air circulate.
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Since you are having a baby then you need to get another car. I am sure you can find something good in the $3k-$5k range but since you are having a baby do not take chances.
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Given the age of the car, I'd start saving for an eventual replacement.
Babies survived thousands of years without AC. My 3 have only had AC in the last year, and even then we only use it on long freeway trips to avoid the annoying noise from having the windows all open.
A shitty car like that? Unless rain was in the forecast (not likely in SoCal) I'd park it with the windows all open. Who's gonna steal it? The temp inside a parked car with the windows down is MUCH lower than when rolling the windows up.
I've driven in super hot weather without AC. As long as you're moving, the air through the windows is enough. Bumper to bumper traffic sucks, but you should be using the bike for that ;)
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Yeah, this car isn't baby material.
To me, this is the bottom line. You need to protect the baby, and a baby isn't always going to tell you when it's uncomfortable. Nor will it mist itself with a spray bottle.
Isn't that what the crying is for?
The crying is for lots of things, unfortunately. It's amazing how much easier it is to solve my daughter's problems now that she can use sentences (sort of, "Kick Daddy ball!")...
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Plus, it will be fall weather soon...put it off until next year!
We don't where the OP is but fall weather doesn't start until late November in the south.
Yeah, we're setting record temperatures here lately, and it's not been fun. I think we're averaging 99 in the afternoons. We're not getting our typical summer late-day quick rainstorms -- they usually knock the temperature down 20 degrees in minutes.
Anyone who says "tough it out" isn't a Southerner.
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Since you are having a baby then you need to get another car. I am sure you can find something good in the $3k-$5k range but since you are having a baby do not take chances.
This made me LOL. OMG, there's chance that your baby could experience the natural climate! DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!!!!!!
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I didn't read the whoLe thread, but have you tried winding the windows down?
Even keep it parked with the windows down a bit to let the air circulate.
Ah good idea! Totally forgot about doing that lol. I think it helps a bit. Not much but every little bit helps I suppose.
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This is the perfect opportunity to get down to one car. Actually, your situation is almost exactly how we got down to one car. We had one crappy car and a baby. Once the baby is old enough to be transported by bike, depending on your living circumstances, maybe you won't need two cars. I'd limp along with the car you have until then and then get rid of it. Bonus: it sucks so much to drive you'll get used to not having two cars!
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My brother and I grew up without AC in our house or cars. I don't understand the concept that you need AC to protect the baby. As long as you don't leave the baby in a parked car, the baby will be fine.
Keep in mind though that whatever is preventing your AC from working could need to be fixed if it is necessary for otherwise cooling your engine. I had something with my AC go last year and I had no choice but to fix it to preserve the rest of the car. I can't remember what the part was called though.
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Plus, it will be fall weather soon...put it off until next year!
We don't where the OP is but fall weather doesn't start until late November in the south.
Nah, it's more like October (unless you're way down along the Gulf coast)
Haha, I'm in Southern California. The weather has been in the 80s and 90s lately. I mean, it does seem as simple as "I'll just have the AC Compressor and a couple tubes replaced and call it done for under $1000" but will it really be that straightforward? Especially in the long-run? I can barely do my own car work...
First, you think 80s and 90s in Southern California is hot? That's nothing; 80s and 90s on the East Coast (with high humidity) is hot! Quit being a wuss.
Second, you already replaced the entire door on that car, which (IMO) is much more impressive a repair than fixing the AC would be.
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Plus, it will be fall weather soon...put it off until next year!
We don't where the OP is but fall weather doesn't start until late November in the south.
Nah, it's more like October (unless you're way down along the Gulf coast)
Haha, I'm in Southern California. The weather has been in the 80s and 90s lately. I mean, it does seem as simple as "I'll just have the AC Compressor and a couple tubes replaced and call it done for under $1000" but will it really be that straightforward? Especially in the long-run? I can barely do my own car work...
First, you think 80s and 90s in Southern California is hot? That's nothing; 80s and 90s on the East Coast (with high humidity) is hot! Quit being a wuss.
Second, you already replaced the entire door on that car, which (IMO) is much more impressive a repair than fixing the AC would be.
I'm not comparing regions here... I'm talking 'heat' relative to where I live - on average, it has been hotter than normal even in the summer time and per El Nino. One thing too: once you move to a different region you get somewhat acclimated to the weather (e.g. my cousin moved to SoCal for his residency and current employment from Dallas and I'm pretty sure he's not looking forward to the weather back there when he moves back. Of course, his love for his hometown overrides all that anyway). I've been in Houston and Taiwan as well, so I know about "humidity." Another example, most Southern Californians, when they visit Northern California, think it's "too cold" and vice-versa. I'm from Northern California and grew up in that weather, so it's not "cold" to me. East Coast weather is cold (during winter)! Everything is relative to where you live. That said, the *car* is the oven here and what is unbearable...not the weather.
As far as replacing the car door, it wasn't all that difficult compared to how I perceive replacing an AC compressor and all the valves/tubes would be... I took a look under the hood and getting to the compressor seems like a pain because everything is so tight in there. And I don't have jack stands...
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For an infant/baby it isn't just that the interior of the car is hot, it's also that they are in a car seat. Those car seats retain heat remarkably well, an interior temp where adults or non-car seat kids are merely warm and a bit uncomfortable could have an baby drenched in sweat. And infants can't adjust to extreme temps as well as older kids and adults (which is one of the reasons why leaving young kids in hot cars can lead to such disaster in short amounts of time). Remember, those of us that grew up w/out AC in the cars our parents drove also weren't likely in car seats (I was a baby/young kid in the late 70's and early 80's and car seats were not a "thing"), so just having the windows cranked down was likely good enough. Plus just because we lived through it at the time, doesn't mean it was necessarily a good idea (like how cars used to not have seat belts, or it used to be no one wore bike helmets. Sure *we* all survived but how many others didn't?).
These days I would not have a car that was used to regularly transport young kids w/out working AC. Just not worth chancing it, IMO.
THAT SAID...as long as you aren't going to put the kid in this old car, then really it comes down to if you have the time/inclination to get it fixed and deal with any future issues. At some point it just isn't worth the aggravation, but that point is different with everyone. Only you can decide what you're willing to put up with.
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For an infant/baby it isn't just that the interior of the car is hot, it's also that they are in a car seat. Those car seats retain heat remarkably well, an interior temp where adults or non-car seat kids are merely warm and a bit uncomfortable could have an baby drenched in sweat. And infants can't adjust to extreme temps as well as older kids and adults (which is one of the reasons why leaving young kids in hot cars can lead to such disaster in short amounts of time). Remember, those of us that grew up w/out AC in the cars our parents drove also weren't likely in car seats (I was a baby/young kid in the late 70's and early 80's and car seats were not a "thing"), so just having the windows cranked down was likely good enough. Plus just because we lived through it at the time, doesn't mean it was necessarily a good idea (like how cars used to not have seat belts, or it used to be no one wore bike helmets. Sure *we* all survived but how many others didn't?).
These days I would not have a car that was used to regularly transport young kids w/out working AC. Just not worth chancing it, IMO.
THAT SAID...as long as you aren't going to put the kid in this old car, then really it comes down to if you have the time/inclination to get it fixed and deal with any future issues. At some point it just isn't worth the aggravation, but that point is different with everyone. Only you can decide what you're willing to put up with.
Babies' sweat glands aren't fully developed so it *can* be very dangerous if their temps aren't moderated. Take for example my wife's friend, whose Korean mother insisted "NO AC!" in their house during the summer (old Korean wives tale) - additionally, her mother swaddled the baby and wrapped her in a blanket before putting her to sleep. The baby ended up with a high fever that night and they had to rush her back to the hospital...this was within the first week of birth. Doc said the baby needs to stay cool due to undeveloped sweat glands...
That said, you bring up some salient points. Especially about car seats and how much heat they can retain. Makes a lot of sense, and definitely makes me not want to install a base in the car until I get the AC fixed. And yea, just because we were "OK" if our parents put us through something (esp if there were no other means) doesn't mean we should do the same thing with our kids.
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People are different. What others think right might not be right for you. This is not a competition to see who is the baddest penny pincher here. You need to strike the right balance for yourself. The fact you are driving this POS means you are already frugal. No question about it. But do not go overboard on this. You still need to live your life. The most important question is whether you are fine with delaying your FIRE a bit for this. If yes, go ahead.
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Wait, so far all the votes are to replace the whole car because the A/C compressor stopped working? WTF? A radiator and an A/C compressor are not major items. It's not like your transmission or head gasket blew. Fix the compressor. Keep driving the car.
Yes, yes it is a big deal, especially on something as old as the OP's car. I went through this myself. First my heater broke, then the A/C, then the check engine light came on, which means I can't renew the registration because it will fail emissions. Fixing an A/C system can easily run over $800, potentially up in to the $2000 range if it turns out that the compressor failed due to other problems. For example on my car, a 1997 Ford Escort, they bury the condensor & heater core so deeply in the dash that the book labor rate for replacing the heater core & condenser is 9.5 hours. At a shop rate of $120/hour, that's $1140. That's without touching the compressor, refilling the lines with refrigerant, or talking about the parts cost.
I went through all the math and it simply wasn't worth it. Even if I did the repairs and could get the car to pass emissions for a couple hundred more I'd still have a car from 1997 that has NONE of the modern safety features and construction of a modern car. It just wasn't worth it. Right now my Ford is sitting out on the street while I decide what to do with it and I have a 2010 Prius that I picked up for $9500. Sure, $9500 is a lot more than the $2500 that I might have been able to fix my Ford for, but there was still no guarantee that it wouldn't need another thousand or two in repairs after that. It leaks every kind of fluid it has, motor mounts shot, and who knows what else.
OP should look in to buying a new car. Even if he/she doesn't want to splurge and get an expensive car like I did, you can still find a car that's 10-15 years newer than that Camry in the $3-6k range.
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Considering the circumstances, spending $5000 or so of cash on a tidy 10 year old secondhand car isn't a bad move. Especially if you get something that's better on fuel than the Camry.
Buying a fuel efficient 10 year old secondhand car when an older one starts to become uneconomic to maintain isn't antimustachian. Buying a brand new SUV every three years on credit is.
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Since you are having a baby then you need to get another car. I am sure you can find something good in the $3k-$5k range but since you are having a baby do not take chances.
This made me LOL. OMG, there's chance that your baby could experience the natural climate! DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!!!!!!
I agree!
In europe there's not such crap like this ... even 20+ years ago I dont even recall many cars having AC. Our family didn't have any cars with AC and we were a upper class family.
Just open the windows and its fine. You get used to it. And yes I had little brothers in the car and thousands of other families as well. just live with it. Sure, coming from the beach it would be unbearable to get in the car since it felt like an oven ...
We just opened the windows and let the air out while we cleaned our feet brushing the sand off and stuff like that.
And I lived in a country where summer temps reaches 110-125 F several times! and the common temperature during the a normal summer day usually is 90-100 F
Now that I live in the US, what I can say is everyone is a complainty pants ... "oh my god the AC doesnt work you need to fix your car" ... or "oh my god the house is at 79 F it feels so hot in here"
No shit, if you keep always using the AC you dont let your body get used to it. When I actually get home and the house is at 80 or so F I actually think "oh it feels nice and cool in here" when compared to the outside.
The same way in the winter time, I think a 60-64 F house feels nice in the winter but during summer even at 74 F which is where my wife sometimes puts the AC at, I get cold. Its all relative ...
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My 20-year-old car never had air conditioning in the first place. My baby and I were both fine. Problem solved.
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In europe there's not such crap like this ... even 20+ years ago I dont even recall many cars having AC. Our family didn't have any cars with AC and we were a upper class family.
It'll get to 45C this week in Phoenix and that's not unusual. There's a record breaking heat wave in Europe right now and the temps are 40C. So, yeah, there's a huge difference between the usual temps in the southern/southwestern US and Europe. They are on different latitudes, after all.
http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2015/06/30/intense-heat-wave-spreading-through-europe-temperatures-rising-above-40-c/
Sometimes this board is laughable. It's like everyone expects that things are exactly the same everywhere else. "So what if you live in the Sonoran desert? If you sweat when biking into work, you're out of shape!"
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In europe there's not such crap like this ... even 20+ years ago I dont even recall many cars having AC. Our family didn't have any cars with AC and we were a upper class family.
It'll get to 45C this week in Phoenix and that's not unusual. There's a record breaking heat wave in Europe right now and the temps are 40C. So, yeah, there's a huge difference between the usual temps in the southern/southwestern US and Europe. They are on different latitudes, after all.
http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2015/06/30/intense-heat-wave-spreading-through-europe-temperatures-rising-above-40-c/
Sometimes this board is laughable. It's like everyone expects that things are exactly the same everywhere else. "So what if you live in the Sonoran desert? If you sweat when biking into work, you're out of shape!"
really? Record breaking 40C ahah.. we get that every single summer so nothing from being record breaking. That temp in england might be a record in north of France and England.
Im talking south of Portugal and south of Spain... where the temps there are much higher especially because of influences of the proximity to the Sahara desert and also the Granada desert.
By the way heres a picture from a couple weeks ago in the south of Spain close to the border of Portugal:
(http://s3.postimg.org/k85p2lpib/unnamed.jpg)
53 C by the way is around 127 F and this was at 6-7 PM !!!!
Today its already 11 PM and its still 93 F at this time
Temps in the mid 40's Celsius are not unusual around.
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Yes, yes it will be. Then if something else minor breaks, you can get that fixed too. It blows my mind that people (upthread) somehow think that getting a different car will automatically come without anything that can break. Cars break. Yes, even those newer ones. Find a good mechanic if you can't do it yourself. You know the car drives fine. Your kid will not care if the quarter panels are different colors. It sounds like s/he won't even ride in this one much if at all.
THANK YOU! I was shaking my head in wild disbelief when people recommended that you just replace the whole car! What guarantees can the previous posters provide that the new old car will not come with its own host of problems?
Yes, OP, please fix the damn compressor, the condenser, hosing, recharge it (get an independent mechanic to do it if you're that uncomfortable/short changed on time) and try it out for a while. Yes, handling freon (R-12 if it's an older car) or more typically R-134a is dangerous, so educate yourself on how to do it safely.
If your car develops problems, fix it yourself. If it develops some other problems, fix that as well. That is the way it is with car ownership on the cheap. Your baby will thank you for the nice financial cushion you have built up along with being a role model in autonomy in doing so when s/he grows up.
Geez, it's a Camry for crying out loud. It will likely outlive your career.
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Keep in mind though that whatever is preventing your AC from working could need to be fixed if it is necessary for otherwise cooling your engine. I had something with my AC go last year and I had no choice but to fix it to preserve the rest of the car. I can't remember what the part was called though.
There is absolutely no part that needs to be saved to "preserve the rest of the car" if your AC doesn't blow cold air. Nor is the AC lines and engine coolant lines in any way related. It's like saying gas in your digestive system is bad, because it could rupture your arteries due to pressure buildup.
The AC uses a R-134a (or R-12 if it's an older car) refrigerant to go through a conventional airconditioning cycle, not dissimilar from your household AC. Here's the schematic of that:
http://www.sladeautoelectrical.co.uk/images/aircon_diag.jpg
The engine is mostly water cooled with antifreeze and other additives added. Here's a sketch of that:
http://www.autocorner.ca/images/cool/coolant_flow%201.jpg
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The A/C issues aren't the problem; they're symptoms of the problem: a 20 year old car that will, statistically, have a bunch of other things let go in the near future. Maybe you'll get lucky and they won't but the odds are likely* against you.
The problem is not the problem. The problem is the attitude about the problem.
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I went through all the math and it simply wasn't worth it. Even if I did the repairs and could get the car to pass emissions for a couple hundred more I'd still have a car from 1997 that has NONE of the modern safety features and construction of a modern car. It just wasn't worth it. Right now my Ford is sitting out on the street while I decide what to do with it and I have a 2010 Prius that I picked up for $9500. Sure, $9500 is a lot more than the $2500 that I might have been able to fix my Ford for, but there was still no guarantee that it wouldn't need another thousand or two in repairs after that. It leaks every kind of fluid it has, motor mounts shot, and who knows what else.
OP should look in to buying a new car. Even if he/she doesn't want to splurge and get an expensive car like I did, you can still find a car that's 10-15 years newer than that Camry in the $3-6k range.
Yes, there is no guarantee that it wouldn't need another thousand or two in repairs. It is not a Toyota!
I don't know what you consider safety features, but NHTSA's data can be perused to figure out if safety really is an expensive illusion.
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811572.pdf
If OP were to go with a 10 year old car (say, a 2004 model), I would consider the safety improvements statistically insignificant over a 1993-5 era car. See figures 4-3 and 4-4 on that paper. Remember that part of the reason newer cars are considered "safer" is because of stricter testing starting about 2011. You can always review safety ratings from the NHTSA database.
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By the way heres a picture from a couple weeks ago in the south of Spain close to the border of Portugal:
(http://s3.postimg.org/k85p2lpib/unnamed.jpg)
53 C by the way is around 127 F and this was at 6-7 PM !!!!
Today its already 11 PM and its still 93 F at this time
Temps in the mid 40's Celsius are not unusual around.
Where was this? A high of 127F would've broken all records in Spain and Portugal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_weather_records
I'm thinking that thermometer was broken or placed incorrectly.
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No it wasnt broken because it was like this all over town ... give or take 1 degree or so between different thermometers.
Dont forget that usually those records misstate temperatures because there is also micro climates and heat can be felt more in some regions that have no official weather station.
For example, in PA they always say the past few days the weather has been around 83-85 or so ... but in one of the days my thermometers and weather station in my backyard were stating 92'ish degrees F
Also they may not measure the island effect temperature from all the concrete and pavement and the heat radiating from it... i dunno what are the methodologies used in official weather stations in order to keep measurements standard around the whole world and keep the measurements as most accurate possible..
This is interesting from the wikkipedia page:
The standard measuring conditions for temperature are in the air, 1.5 meters above the ground, and shielded from direct sunlight (hence the term, x degrees "in the shade").[2] The following lists include all officially confirmed claims measured by those methods.
Temperatures measured directly on the ground may exceed air temperatures by 30 to 50 °C.[2] A ground temperature of 84 °C (183.2 °F) has been recorded in Port Sudan, Sudan.[3] A ground temperature of 93.9 °C (201 °F) was recorded in Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California, USA on 15 July 1972; this may be the highest natural ground surface temperature ever recorded.[4] The theoretical maximum possible ground surface temperature has been estimated to be between 90 and 100 °C for dry, darkish soils of low thermal conductivity.[5]
Many weather records are measured under specific conditions—such as surface temperature and wind speed—to keep consistency among measurements around the Earth. Each of these records is understood to be the record value officially observed, as these records may have been exceeded before modern weather instrumentation was invented, or in remote areas without an official weather station. This list does not include remotely sensed observations such as satellite measurements, since those values are not considered official records.[1]
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If it were me, I'd fix the AC and keep on truckin'. I've done it once before, and it's not a huge deal as long as you take the time to do it right. It was actually one of my first repairs. I didn't know about Rock Auto at the time, so I bought the compressor from Autozone, but I still saved myself $400 vs having a mechanic do it.
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I'd replace the car, personally. If that's what you think is best, then don't let a bunch of overzealous tightwads shame you into keeping a car that you're ready to replace. She served you well - now retire her at your leisure.
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I would probably replace the car when possible. I would look into what the cost of repairing the A/C is, since that will greatly cut down on the value of the car if it isn't fixed. Might be best to fix the A/C first anyway, but I agree heading toward a new-to-you car is probably the right direction.
Having said that, you are not in an emergency with the car, going without A/C isn't that bad, and you need to slowly and carefully consider your car situation and head toward where you want to be. You don't mention your financial situation, and that is what should dictate your decision right now. I currently am driving a 2005 vehicle with 160k miles and rust eating at the body. Oh, and the A/C is broken just like yours, there is dye coming from under the compressor so that will probably need to be replaced to make it work. I have enough money in the bank to pay cash for a nice used vehicle, but I don't. I could certainly repair the A/C, but it's just not a priority. My kids hate the lack of A/C, and I tell them to suck it up. It's a good experience for them. Your new baby wouldn't be able to "suck it up", but it wouldn't be damaging unless driving a long distance with the windows up.
What is my point? The point is growing your badassity muscle is worth it! Who the hell cares what your vehicle looks like! Who the hell cares if you sweat a bit and get sticky! You replaced a door on your car, that is sweet. You handled lack of A/C for a summer, that is awesome. You are showing yourself that comfort isn't the priority, and being badass isn't a bug, it's a feature. So when you have the money pulled together, and when you know the right way to go (read the car post by MMM), then make that move in a deliberate way and be happy with the new vehicle with A/C. Nothing wrong with that. But don't "suffer" through your current badassity, revel in it!
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When Europe has a heat wave, tens of thousands of people die. So I'm not looking to adopt European attitudes towards air conditioning.
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I have had no AC in my 2008 Mazda 3 for about 5 years now.
AND I live in SoCal where its always hot!
My Advice? Drive it till you cant anymore and in the mean time just tint the windows.
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I would probably replace the car when possible. I would look into what the cost of repairing the A/C is, since that will greatly cut down on the value of the car if it isn't fixed. Might be best to fix the A/C first anyway, but I agree heading toward a new-to-you car is probably the right direction.
Having said that, you are not in an emergency with the car, going without A/C isn't that bad, and you need to slowly and carefully consider your car situation and head toward where you want to be. You don't mention your financial situation, and that is what should dictate your decision right now. I currently am driving a 2005 vehicle with 160k miles and rust eating at the body. Oh, and the A/C is broken just like yours, there is dye coming from under the compressor so that will probably need to be replaced to make it work. I have enough money in the bank to pay cash for a nice used vehicle, but I don't. I could certainly repair the A/C, but it's just not a priority. My kids hate the lack of A/C, and I tell them to suck it up. It's a good experience for them. Your new baby wouldn't be able to "suck it up", but it wouldn't be damaging unless driving a long distance with the windows up.
What is my point? The point is growing your badassity muscle is worth it! Who the hell cares what your vehicle looks like! Who the hell cares if you sweat a bit and get sticky! You replaced a door on your car, that is sweet. You handled lack of A/C for a summer, that is awesome. You are showing yourself that comfort isn't the priority, and being badass isn't a bug, it's a feature. So when you have the money pulled together, and when you know the right way to go (read the car post by MMM), then make that move in a deliberate way and be happy with the new vehicle with A/C. Nothing wrong with that. But don't "suffer" through your current badassity, revel in it!
Haha thanks for the encouragement. As far as finances and affording a used car, that's not really an issue. I could probably go out and get one on a whim. Besides wanting to be frugal, I have no experience buying a new or used car, so that's the other hurdle that would hold me back from actually doing it. But my first excuse is not having to spend more money lol. I think this situation is one where I'll end up 'complaining' about it but not doing anything because in reality it's not that bad. Of course, who knows how I'll change once the baby arrives. I think it'll still be OK. I do want to avoid driving him around in this car though, especially since we have a fully functional car otherwise. Plus, I'd have to buy another car seat base for my car, which is more $$$...lol!
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I have had no AC in my 2008 Mazda 3 for about 5 years now.
AND I live in SoCal where its always hot!
My Advice? Drive it till you cant anymore and in the mean time just tint the windows.
It's not legal to have tinted windows in CA. Which is sad.
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I have had no AC in my 2008 Mazda 3 for about 5 years now.
AND I live in SoCal where its always hot!
My Advice? Drive it till you cant anymore and in the mean time just tint the windows.
It's not legal to have tinted windows in CA. Which is sad.
You can tint the rear windows and there is something called "Llumar Air 80" which is basically transparent and CA legal for front windows. http://northamerica.llumar.com/choose-a-product/automotive-window-films/clear-window-films
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Ugh. Reading this thread is taking me back to last summer when I was home on maternity leave with my new, tiny baby. Every tired cell in my body is screaming at you to "replace the car"!!! My reasons are a little more gut-instinct than the thoughtful views other posters have shared so far, but here goes anyway.
1. Some babies come sturdy and tough and others come small and delicate. My baby came at 3 pounds 9 ounces and 6 weeks early. She couldn't control her body temperature for a while because she had no fat under her skin. We twisted ourselves into knots bending over backwards to make sure she was warm but not too warm. If I hadn't had AC in the car that summer we would have never left the house.
2. Once the baby comes all of the normal things in life are suddenly 10 times harder and stay that way for at least 6 months (in my case, over a year). The car breaks down today and you go out and replace it, easy-peasy. If the car breaks down once the baby is here that may be a monumental task.
3. Speaking as the mother, between the heat last summer, the lack of insulation and double-paned windows in our house, the HORMONES, and having this baby on me all the time, last summer was the HOTTEST I have ever been in my life. That was also true pre-baby at the end of the pregnancy. I just had no concept on how hot and uncomfortable the hormones make you until living it. Some days literally the only relief I would get was getting in the car and cranking up the AC while driving to some support group.
Yeah, it's nice to be tough and suck it up, blah blah blah.... that might work on a good night's sleep but when you have been woken up every three hours for week after week after week, you just don't have the mental capacity to deal with other $hit like being hot.
In our case my husband wanted to replace our 2-door sporty coupe with a 4-door something because he was banging the baby's head on the roof while putting her into her carseat in the back. He just managed to find the time to buy a new (used) car a few weeks ago.
While on a 2-week staycation.
Now that the baby is 14 months old.
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So I got some estimates from places in my area. On the high-end I was ballpark quoted $1000+ from a shop in my neighborhood. But a couple shops in 2-3 cities away from me quoted $550-600+ on the low-end. One shop was recommended by a coworker but is about 20 miles away vs another shop I found through Yelp that's only 10mi away. Both those shops seem honest and reasonable so I may just take it to the closer one. At this point, if it's going to cost around $600, I feel it's probably worth getting fixed. Especially if it'll help with selling the car in the future. Then again, not sure how much I'd end up getting for it at this rate haha. I'd like to avoid dealing with a new/used car purchase right now if I can...
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Just a quick update - I took it to the place further away earlier today and got everything fixed. It was $600 total - they replaced the compressor, drier, expansion valve, as well as flushed the system and converted it to r134a w/ new refrigerant. 6mo/6000mi warranty as well. Things are *much* better now to say the least...
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Great job!
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Wow, that's actually a pretty decent deal. When I did the same thing for my car, it cost probably $450 in parts alone. Of course, I got the parts at Autozone rather than Rock Auto, but still...
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A better solution than mine, which was going to be a thermoelectric cooler from Goodwill for the baby.
Probably best that we never had kids...
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Wow, that's actually a pretty decent deal. When I did the same thing for my car, it cost probably $450 in parts alone. Of course, I got the parts at Autozone rather than Rock Auto, but still...
Yea, that's almost exactly the pricing I got when checking for part costs at a nearby dealership. The mechanic I went to specializes in AC repair and they were busy the whole day. It's a bit of a drive, and it took them a few hours but it was well-worth it. I'm pretty happy with the result... hopefully the car will be good for a while. This was much cheaper than buying a used car. And I think the money spent was well-worth it vs the time and trouble I'd likely have spent going the DIY route. IMHO also worth paying for in terms of not being miserable every time I drive it around. The worst thing now is driving around with a mismatched fender and door... I might look into painting it myself eventually :)
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Glad it worked out and not too expensive!
I was going to recommend parking with windows down for the rest of summer and just enduring it until fall/winter when you sell it to somebody who is willing to buy a car that they know will need AC repaired next year.
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Yea the windows are fine. There's even a sunroof LOL. Problem is the interior of the car is dark leather, so it heats up fast and heats up a lot (prob over 100 degrees) and doesn't cool down much even with the windows and vents open. It really sucks. If the parking lot here at work were covered, it would be no problem. Oh well... I guess I can continue to designate it as my commuting car and "emergency" car. I may get a quote on the AC stuff though first just to see. If it's only $300-$600, I'd probably be OK with it.
Shit, this is my 3rd summer in the '95 Saturn with no AC. And I'm in Texas. Not that "Ooh, it gets into the 80s and sometimes low 90s here in SoCal!" - I've had a lucky summer. Typically 95-99F for a high this year. Rarely triple digits this year. I've measured 145F inside that car before. No sunroof.
Is it my commuter car? Sure. Does the toddler go in a car with AC? Yep.
Oh, and that 53C? The sensor is sitting in the sun. Official temperature measurements are in the shade in protected areas.
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When my son was born we were young & poor in the military living in TX. Our car or apartment had no AC & we were all fine. Uncomfortable, yes but no one died or got sick.
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My AC recently broke and for $1000, I decided to not fix it. (I rarely use it and am always cold.) The only trouble I've had, once, was on a recent warm, rainy and humid day, when the windows fogged up and the defrost seemed to not be working. Some say this is related to no AC. In any event, I decided to gamble that we won't have too many such days in MI. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem.
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My AC recently broke and for $1000, I decided to not fix it. (I rarely use it and am always cold.) The only trouble I've had, once, was on a recent warm, rainy and humid day, when the windows fogged up and the defrost seemed to not be working. Some say this is related to no AC. In any event, I decided to gamble that we won't have too many such days in MI. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem.
They were right--when you turn on the defroster, your car runs the A/C and the heater at the same time, effectively forming a dehumidifier for your car. That warm, dry air then gets blown against your windshield, drawing off the condensation.
Living in michigan? Yeah, you'll probably see your share of such weather every spring :)
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My AC recently broke and for $1000, I decided to not fix it. (I rarely use it and am always cold.) The only trouble I've had, once, was on a recent warm, rainy and humid day, when the windows fogged up and the defrost seemed to not be working. Some say this is related to no AC. In any event, I decided to gamble that we won't have too many such days in MI. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem.
The defrost is for thawing ice on your windows - it works by supplying heat. On a muggy day (I've lived in Minnesota and we have a few of those), your ac cools and to an extent dehumidifies, so that your window wouldn't fog up. Your defrost (regardless of whether your ac is functional or not) doesn't affect fogging up of windows on hot days.
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My AC recently broke and for $1000, I decided to not fix it. (I rarely use it and am always cold.) The only trouble I've had, once, was on a recent warm, rainy and humid day, when the windows fogged up and the defrost seemed to not be working. Some say this is related to no AC. In any event, I decided to gamble that we won't have too many such days in MI. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem.
If you really need it bad, run the defrost on heat. It should work. Might be bit uncomfortable, but better than wrecking your car. I used to keep a rag in the console as backup when I couldn't stand to run the heat.
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Hahaha - this thread brought back childhood memories from the 60's, driving to Montana from California every summer, no AC, but we did have a swamp cooler that you attached to the window:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_cooler
;)
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Yea the windows are fine. There's even a sunroof LOL. Problem is the interior of the car is dark leather, so it heats up fast and heats up a lot (prob over 100 degrees) and doesn't cool down much even with the windows and vents open. It really sucks. If the parking lot here at work were covered, it would be no problem. Oh well... I guess I can continue to designate it as my commuting car and "emergency" car. I may get a quote on the AC stuff though first just to see. If it's only $300-$600, I'd probably be OK with it.
Shit, this is my 3rd summer in the '95 Saturn with no AC. And I'm in Texas. Not that "Ooh, it gets into the 80s and sometimes low 90s here in SoCal!" - I've had a lucky summer. Typically 95-99F for a high this year. Rarely triple digits this year. I've measured 145F inside that car before. No sunroof.
Is it my commuter car? Sure. Does the toddler go in a car with AC? Yep.
Oh, and that 53C? The sensor is sitting in the sun. Official temperature measurements are in the shade in protected areas.
Haha... everyone's got different tolerances and limits. I'm not used to the hotter and more humid weather that it has been as of late (in fact, I'm pretty sure a majority of the population here isn't used to it because it's hardly like that). I start sweating like a freak when it starts heating up. If I were in your shoes, my entire head and body would be wet from sweat and I'd have to keep a beach towel in the car to dry off. Not something I really look forward to. To a lesser extent, this was what was happening before I got the A/C fixed. Oh and for some reason, leather interiors (which mine is) of older cars seem to retain even *more* heat in my experience. I remember when I'd drive around in my mom's old all black (and black leather interior) BMW. On not even a super-hot but sunny day, the interior of the car would get really hot - so much so that it felt like the seats were burning my skin whenever I wore shorts. Oh, and don't forget about avoiding touching the metal part of the seat belt buckle :O