lindajane - I finally got around to reading through this post and edited the name of the place out until we figure out exactly what is going on. In reading through your stuff it sounds to me like your push button unit is working the way they work when they fail or are on the way out. Can you press the defroast button and the compressor comes on? If you can then the refrigerant part of the a/c system is operating which will verify that the fella in SF did the right thing. Also, while under there check the site glass in the top of the dryer located in front of the passenger side wheelwell. If the compressor is running is it clear or cloudy? There is nothing wrong with a used compressor but you are correct, the way he did it was not right. On the other hand, if you indicated to him you did not want to spend anymore $$ than absolutely necessary then he probably figured he was doing you a favor. I have people come to me all the time wanting to nickel and dime a/c repairs and in my opinion, it is not worth it. Like the earlier posters indicated, this is an unnecessarily complicated system. You need to find someone that knows how to properly troubleshoot and repair it. I would put my money on a bad push button control unit $$.

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Jim