# Air conditioner compressor replacement

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-conditioner-compressor-replacement/73289>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** prius, toyota\
**Created:** [June 29, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-conditioner-compressor-replacement/73289 "2012-06-29T19:02:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Krunchy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Krunchy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Krunchy)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-conditioner-compressor-replacement/73289/1 "2012-06-29T19:02:00Z")

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I have a 2001 Prius. The compressor for the air conditioning went out a few years ago. My dealer says it will cost $700 to replace the compressor. Will it work to get a rebuilt or generic compressor to fix my air conditioning or do I have to use the Toyota part?

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-conditioner-compressor-replacement/73289/2 "2012-06-29T19:13:12Z")

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A rebuilt will work fine.  
A generic…you’re much better off to get a rebuilt. Or an aftermarket “direct fit” unit, which I suspect might be what you mean when you use the word “generic”.

The only application I know of for a true generic would be for someone adding AC to their custom hot rod.

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**Author:** ![art1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@art1966](https://community.cartalk.com/u/art1966)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-conditioner-compressor-replacement/73289/3 "2012-06-29T20:05:21Z")

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Recent discussions on this forum taught me that on (at least some) hybrid engines the A/C compressor runs off the HV propulsion battery. I infer that rebuilt or other generic might not be common. Advance Auto Parts does not show one at all, and Autozone shows one for $418; no indication if it’s rebuilt or aftermarket new. [http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/2001-Toyota-Prius/A-C-Compressor/\_/N-jevnaZ91sgi?filterByKeyWord=compressor&fromString=search](http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/2001-Toyota-Prius/A-C-Compressor/_/N-jevnaZ91sgi?filterByKeyWord=compressor&fromString=search). At that price just for the part, $700 does not sound so bad for an installed OEM part.

My own one-data-point experience with rebuilts was that I would have been better off with OEM.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-conditioner-compressor-replacement/73289/4 "2012-06-29T20:15:28Z")

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I agree with @art1966 . Rockauto has rebuilts for around $400, makes $700 for the whole job sound OK. You might be getting a rebuilt at the dealer too, but I’d use them for the repair.

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**Author:** ![Big\_Marc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Big\_Marc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Big_Marc)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-conditioner-compressor-replacement/73289/5 "2012-06-29T21:45:47Z")

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Prius i would use the dealer too