HIDALGO – A Rio Grande Valley mechanic warns car repairs aren't always as easy as simply replacing a part.

Take an air compressor for example. The part should be installed with other equipment, says Francisco Hamelius, master mechanic at Pueblo Tires.

"Replacing the compressor is not just replacing the compressor," he said. "You've gotta see if the lines inside are contaminated. If they're contaminated, you've gotta replace the parts that get clogged or they get contaminated also."

Daisy Flores bought a compressor and installed the part at home. The repair to fix her air conditioning system didn't last.

"It worked for a couple of hours," said Flores. "Then the following day we were going out and it was just hot. It didn't work anymore."

CHANNEL 5 NEWS contacted Compressors A/C of Hidalgo, Texas, who sold Flores the compressor, to ask why Flores didn't qualify for a warranty exchange.

The vendor said Flores' husband admitted he didn't install a proper filter with the installation. It voided the warranty.

Hamelius said the lesson extends beyond just compressor repairs.

"It's the same thing when you don't do service on the transmissions. You don't change the oils or anything like that. I mean that's what happens," he said.

He recommends visiting a professional mechanic and seeking several opinions before attempting repairs like these.