Cadillac Repair: Air Conditioning, mail order catalog, hello bill

Question
Hello Bill,
My air conditioning on my 89 van isn't working, although the unit,(compressor, etc.) is there. I wonder if it would be cheaper to have it tested and repaired, or have a new one installed?
 By the way..can one still get those air conditioners that sit in between the seats or on the console like the old "Sears" brand ones? Would that type be cheaper?
 Thank you very much. Mike Eidson

Answer
Hi Mike, Being that you have an '89 vehicle your problem could be a bad switch, low freon, bad compressor or something else but without checking it out first you won't know if it is the compressor or not and that could be $300 saved if it is still good. I would take it in to the shop and have it looked at. Then you can decide if it is worth fixing or not. As for the a/c unit you might try calling around but there are 2 companies like JC WHITNEY whose catalog can be bought at bigger newsstands and Warshawskys (I'm not sure how its spelt) in Chicago mail order catalog that sells all sorts of differant things and they may still sell them. Hope that helps. Bill