Car AC Stopped Blowing Cold Air — A Passenger Showed Me How to Fix It With a 250 Rupee Relay
Assalam-o-Alaikum, I’m Mohsin.
I drive for InDrive and Yango. Every day, I am on the roads of this city for 8 to 10 hours. Sometimes more. I pick up passengers from Saddar, I-8, G-10, Faizabad, Tench Bhata. You name it.
This is a story about how a passenger saved me from spending 8000 rupees on an AC repair. And how a tiny 250 rupee part made everything cold again.
The Moment It Happened — June, 2 PM, Srinagar Highway
It was June. 2 bajay din mein. I was on Srinagar Highway — you might know it as Kashmir Highway. It is the big road that runs east to west through Islamabad, connecting the airport to Murree Road.
I was coming from Faizabad Interchange and heading towards G-10 Sector. That stretch near Shakarparian — long, open, no shade. Just concrete and sun.
I had a passenger in the back. A regular guy, going to G-11 Markaz. AC was running fine. Thandi hawa. Comfortable.
And then — khatam.
The fan was still blowing. Full speed. But the air was… normal. Then warm. Then garam.
I turned the AC off and on. Nothing. I turned the temperature dial. Nothing.
Passenger said from the back: “Bhai, garam hai.”
I felt embarrassed. And worried. Because:
- This passenger is going to give me a low rating.
- AC repair in Pakistan is expensive.
- I didn’t have 8000 rupees for a new compressor.
I opened all four windows. Drove the rest of the way with hot air and noise. Dropped him at G-11/1 near the Metro Bus station.
That night, I told myself: Mohsin, you have to fix this. But cheaply. Very cheaply.
My First Mistake — The Mechanic in I-8 Who Wanted 8000 Rupees
Next morning, I drove from my place in I-14 towards I-8 Markaz.
Here is the route I took: I got on Srinagar Highway from Peshawar Morr Interchange — that big intersection near Sectors E-8 and E-9. Took the south exit towards Rawalpindi and IJP Road, then turned into I-8 from the G-9 Intersection side. You know that area — behind the main market, near the car accessories shops.
There is a mechanic there. Older guy, grey beard. I had used him before.
He opened the hood. Checked for two minutes. Pressed something. Listened.
Then he said: “Compressor kharab hai. Change karna pare ga. 8000 rupees lagain gay.”
I was like: “Bhai, itna mehnga? Koi aur option?”
He said: “Nahi. Compressor hi hai. Agar relay hota to 250 rupees ka hota. Tumhara relay theek hai.”
I didn’t know enough to argue. But 8000 rupees? That is almost a week of driving income.
I paid him 100 rupees for the “check.” And left.
I was stuck. AC still not working. No money for the repair.
The Passenger Who Changed Everything
Three days later. I was driving from Rawalpindi Saddar back to Islamabad.
A passenger got in near Committee Chowk. You know Committee Chowk? It is that massive roundabout in Rawalpindi on Murree Road. Connects Saddar, Commercial Market, Faizabad, and Liaquat Bagh. Always busy. Metro Bus station is right there.
Older guy. Maybe 50. Small bag. Sat in the front.
5 minutes into the drive, he noticed I was sweating. He looked at the AC dials.
He said: “Bhai, AC kaam nahi kar rahi?”
I said: “Nahi. Mechanic bola compressor kharab hai. 8000 rupees lagain gay.”
He laughed. Not a mean laugh. A “I know something you don’t” laugh.
He said: “Compressor nahi. Relay hai. Mujhe bhi yehi masla hua tha.”
I asked: “Relay? Woh kya hai?”
He explained.
He said: “AC relay ek small part hai. Fuse box mein hota hai. Jab woh kharaab ho jata hai, AC compressor ko signal nahi milta. Compressor theek hai. Relay change karo. 250 rupee ka part hai.”
He told me he had the same problem on Murree Road a few months ago. A mechanic near Rajah Bazaar in Saddar fixed it for 300 rupees total — 250 for the relay, 50 for fitting.
I asked: “Saddar mein kahan exactly?”
He said: “Near Rajah Bazaar. Behind the main road. Small auto electrician shop. Usko AC relays ka pata hai.”
I dropped him off at F-10 Markaz near Faisal Mosque. Thanked him. Saved everything in my phone.
Now I had hope.
Where to Find a 250 Rupee AC Relay in Rawalpindi and Islamabad
The passenger was right. I went looking. Here is exactly what I found.
Rawalpindi Locations
Saddar (Near Rajah Bazaar)
Behind the main road. Small auto electrician shop. The guy knows his stuff.
I went there. Showed him my old relay. He looked at it for 2 seconds.
He said: “Yeh relay hai. 250 ka. Laga lo.”
I asked: “Sure hai bhai?”
He said: “Pakka. 250 lagao. Kam na karay to wapas la ana.”
I bought it. It worked.
Committee Chowk
Any auto parts shop on the main road, near the Metro Bus station.
One shopkeeper said: “Yeh 300 ka. Yeh 350 ka. Dono chalain gay.”
I asked: “Farq kya hai?”
He said: “Koi farq nahi. Bas price alag hai.”
I laughed. Bought the 300 one.
Tench Bhata
Small shops along the main road. Cheaper but you need to know exactly what you want.
Shopkeeper: “Yaar relay? 250 ka. Woh le lo.”
I asked: “Original hai?”
He said: “Chalta hai. Itnay mein itna hi mile ga.”
At least he was honest.
Islamabad Locations
I-8 Markaz (where I went first) — Behind the main market. 300-400 rupees. More expensive. Avoid.
G-10 Markaz — Near the fruit market. I found a small shop. 250-350 rupees. The mechanic there named Waseem — specializes in auto electrics.
F-10 Markaz — 350-450 rupees. Most expensive. Not worth it.
Bhara Kahu — Small shops on the main road. 250-350 rupees. Far but cheap if you live that side.
My advice: Go to Saddar near Rajah Bazaar. Best prices. Experienced shops.
What Does an AC Relay Look Like?
Before this, I didn’t know what a relay was.
It is a small plastic box. Matchbox size. Sometimes smaller. It has:
- 4 or 5 metal pins at the bottom (like a plug)
- A number written on top (like 12V or a part code)
- Different colors — black, grey, sometimes clear
In your car’s fuse box, there are many relays. Fuel pump. Headlight. AC. Starter.
The AC relay is usually labeled “AC” or “Air Conditioner” on the fuse box diagram.
For my car, I just took the old relay out and showed it to the shopkeeper. He gave me an identical one.
Do that. Take the old one with you. Match it exactly. Same shape. Same number of pins.
How to Replace the AC Relay Yourself (Step by Step)
I am not a mechanic. If I can do this, you can do this.
Total time: 10 minutes.
Step 1: Open the hood
Pull the lever inside your car. Go to the front. Open the hood. Prop it up.
Step 2: Find the fuse box
In most cars, it is on the driver’s side. Near the battery. Black plastic box. Open the lid.
Step 3: Find the AC relay
Look at the diagram inside the lid. Find “AC” or “Air Conditioner.”
On my car, it was clearly labeled. Small black square.
Step 4: Remove the old relay
Use your fingers. Pull it straight out. It might be tight. Wiggle it gently.
I was scared I would break something. I didn’t.
Step 5: Inspect the old relay
Look at the metal pins. Burnt? Black? Corroded?
On my old relay, the pins were slightly black. One pin was loose.
I thought: “Yahi hai problem.”
Step 6: Buy a new relay
Take the old relay to any auto parts shop (see the list above). Show it to the shopkeeper.
He will say: “Yeh le lo. 250 ka.”
Or: “Yeh 300 ka. Better quality.”
Your choice. I bought the 250 one.
Step 7: Install the new relay
Push it into the same slot. Make sure it sits firmly.
I pushed it. It clicked. Satisfying sound.
Step 8: Close everything
Close the fuse box lid. Close the hood.
Step 9: Test the AC
Start the car. Turn on the AC. Max cool. Max fan.
Wait 30 seconds.
Cold air.
I literally said: “Alhamdulillah. Kaam kar gayi.”
What If the Relay Is Not the Problem?
I don’t want to pretend that a relay fixes every AC problem. Sometimes it is something else.
Here is what to check:
Rule of thumb: Try the cheap fixes first. Relay (250). Fuse (50). Gas refill (600). Only after those fail, spend big money.
How to Prevent This Problem in the Future
I learned a few things.
Use your AC regularly. Even in winter. Run it once a week for 10 minutes. Keeps the relay healthy.
Keep a spare relay in your glove box. 250 rupees. If it fails again on the road, you can replace it yourself.
If your relay burns often, there is probably an electrical issue. Get it checked.
What I Learned — And Why You Should Not Trust Every Mechanic
That mechanic in I-8 was either:
- Wrong (he genuinely didn’t know it was a relay — scary for a mechanic)
- Trying to make 8000 rupees instead of 250
I don’t know which. But I know I almost spent money I didn’t have.
Now I always ask: “Bhai, relay check kiya? Fuse check kiya?”
If they say “compressor” without checking these first — I leave.
That passenger from Committee Chowk saved me 7750 rupees. Just by sitting in my car and sharing what he knew.
That is why I started this website. To share what I learn. Because not everyone has a knowledgeable passenger in their back seat.
But now, you have this article.
our Turn
Have you been overcharged by a mechanic? Did a passenger ever teach you something useful? Or did this guide help you fix your AC?
Contact me. WhatsApp or email. I read every message.
If I don’t know the answer, I will find it. And then I will write about it.
— Mohsin
Islamabad
P.S. — If you are a mechanic reading this and you are honest with your customers, thank you. This article is not about you. This article is about the ones who take advantage of drivers like me.