I feel your pain on the car A/CI have been so GD broke that last couple of month due to auto repairs that I am just sick that I can't go out and buy my parts. It just erks the sh*t out of me. I am usually able to buy parts every friday but after a couple of Import AC units going bad I am still paying off the credit card I had to put some of that on. I would usually do those repairs on my own but at 50 years old I am damn tired of working on cars in 92 degree heat. F that!
I had to put a new compressor and dryer in my truck awhile back. I bought the parts online and did the work myself, so I got out fairly cheap, but it was a pain in the ass doing the work.
I was driving "Miss BangBang's" car the other day and noticed her compressor is making some pretty bad noises, so I'll be having to replace it pretty soon I guess.