97 Ford Escort Belt Problem

[Eville Dad]

Repair shop told daughter (23 yrs old) the problem with her 97 Ford Escort was the belt which runs the AC had broken. They want to charge her $320 to replace the belt only, not to include the ac. To include the AC which requires a longer belt they want close to $900. Im getting all this info second hand from my daughter and concerned she doesnt understand all they are telling her but even $320 just to replace a belt seems outrageous.

I know nothing about the car any comments on replacing the AC belt and how much it should cost?

[Intuit]

Either they're taking advantage of a woman or the daughter advantage of her Dad. (scraping off the difference) If the '97 is similar to the mid-nineties models and most other vehicles on the road, the AC compressor is run by the serpentine belt which even she should be able to replace on her own using only a ratchet and a socket.

I can't imagine an instance where a serpentine belt breaking might damage other components in the vehicle; except maybe by some fluke hitting a vacuum line or plastic reservoir bottle.

Perhaps they want to replace the tensioner or maybe that price includes the tow to the shop (which shops often dick people on) but in any sense, a second opinion is needed. If she has a friend who knows a little something about cars and can go check it out, that would be stellar. (I'd take a video camera personally and be prepared to call in a police investigator to record possible fraud charges.)