Each week, The Pulse provides insight into the buying, sourcing and brand-loyalty habits of counter personnel and professional technicians. This week, using data from IMR’s 2007 Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS), we look at the trends concerning AC compressor replacement. CCAMS provides an in-depth look at vehicle parts and services consumption at various consumer levels.
AC compressors are not exactly a simple component to replace, so it comes as no surprise that the majority (87 percent) of those who responded to IMR’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey said they have the work done professionally. Only 13 percent of respondents said they replace AC compressors themselves.
When looking at when AC compressors most commonly need replaced, the survey shows that replacements start to spike for vehicles 7 to 9 years old, with a peak in the ages of 10 to 12 years. The incidence of this repair then falls off for vehicles older than 12 years. Perhaps consumers owning these older vehicles are less likely to invest the money necessary to affect this repair. Air conditioning was slightly less common in these older vehicles as well.
For more information on IMR and its research capabilities, visit IMR at www.AutomotiveResearch.com or call 800-654-1079.