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Hey hey, okay, long-time reader, first-time poster here. I am desperate and I don't know where else to turn, so I'm hoping you folks can help me out. I'm dumb, don't know car lingo, but I think you'll get the gist of it.

Recently bought a 2000 Civic EX and took it in to get a general inspection; mechanic informs me that, among other things, the A/C compressor and clutch have seized in some way as to be unfixable and there is no belt even attached to the pulley for the A/C.

They are saying I need a new compressor/clutch and belt or the car is in danger of overheating, etc. I just can't seem to put it together and have a simple question: is the A/C system (belts and all) critical to the operation of the engine? Does it *need* to be replaced ASAP?

Thank you thank you for anything.

 
Rep Power: 519

cough*BULLSHART*cough


Guess what happens to one of these cars that came from the factory without A/C.....nothing.

If you don't need the AC, then don't touch anything. Ignore everything they told you.

But if you want the AC to work for summer (or for the windshield defogger since it dries the air), then it would need fixed.

The AC uses its own belt. Nothing else is affected by that belt.

If it is going to overheat, it will overheat regardless of whether or not the AC works.

Find a more honest mechanic/shop too. Yours is....um..."challenged".