2004 Honda Accord Broken Air Conditioner

My AC quit blowing cold air this past summer. General (good but not a/c specialist I don't think) said the condenser had a hole in it and replaced it. Never worked again, although for the first 5 or 6 times I drove it, particularly after I had taken it back for him to look at, it blew cold for varying periods of time, but never more than 30 minutes.

Now it doesn't work at all. Plus, when I'm stopped at a light, for instance, you can feel the drain on the engline, which sort of surges on and then off. He says "the readings" on both sides are exactly what they're supposed to be.

Anything else anyone can think of to try - or do I have to save for a new compressor all winter?