My neighbors think I'm insane

So I'm pretty sure my neighbors all think I'm crazy. My AC went out on my golf back in March on a return trip to Charleston. The past couple of years, my AC got kinda weak during the summer months, so I would top it off with more freon; good as new! Well, that plan didn't work this year. It was getting pretty hot and since Kelly didn’t enjoy being all sweaty when she got to work, I got to drive it all the time.

I quickly discover that my cooling fan isn't working. The dealership wants $600 for it, a local import parts place wants $200. I spend the $200. After replacing that, I still have AC troubles. I give up and take it to Tune Up Clinic so they can see what's up. They tell me it's the compressor. Dealership wants $1000 for it, local parts place wants $400. I spend the $400. Now, I generally do all my own repairs, but I decided this time I would leave it to the pros to install. They install it, charge it back up with freon, and return to me.

Ah, happy days. (well for two days at least) AC stops working again. I take it back and they find a line that looks to be leaking. Dealership wants $150 for it, Internet parts place wants $100 for it. I spend $100. Again, I let TUC do the repairs so I don’t have to worry with it.

Ah, happy days. (for one day at least) I failed to get to TUC before they closed on Saturday, so they locked it up in their shop until Monday morning. By the time I got it, the AC worked for one day. Back to TUC. This time they tell me the evaporator is bad. No problem I think, let’s just replace the evaporator. "Well, the evaporator will cost about $200 but the labor will be another $800." Whoa. At this point I have spent $1000 getting the AC fixed with parts and labor and decide enough is enough. Famous last words?

Long story-short, I do the work myself (twice actually), and it takes about 10 hours and you basically take the entire inside of the car apart. My neighbors would walk by me in the garage and wonder what the hell I was doing. To quote one: "That's what mechanics are for." I think they are actually surprised now when they go to their cars and don't see me with my car apart. Another neighbor even asked me "This for fun, or is something broken?" Believe it or not, there are better things I would like to be doing instead taking my entire car apart.

Not my car, but this is basically what the interior looks like when you're halfway through:





Then this past weekend, I had to replace the cooling fan I already replaced because it was defective. Front of car off all over again.

Ah, happy days. AC is nice and cold now. Parts replaced?:
1. Cooling fan (x2)
2. Upper AC hose
3. AC Compressor
4. AC Evaporator
5. Heater Core
6. Misc AC specialty fuses

Well, I like to do as much as I can myself to gain knowledge and to save money. This is one of those times where I accomplished both, but never really want to do it again. Now on to my foglights, cruise control, rear brakes, center console light, side molding, blown subwoofer, coolant hose leak and seat adjusters. . .