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AC Compressor


An AC Compressor is a belt driven accessory on the front of your engine. It pumps refridgerent through the air conditioning system to create cool air which in turn gets blown through the interior cabin. The AC Compressor itself works very hot under the hood of your car as it pumps refridgerent under extreme preasures.

AC compressor's consists of 2 main parts when considering a replacement. There's the compressor itself and then the Clutch and pulley assembly. The pulley will spin freely of the clutch when the compressor is not engaged. When the clutch engages it will turn the pump and start circulating the refidgerent.

Diagnose

Theres a few obvious things that can tell you if your compressors up for replacement. Remember there are a lot of parts that make up the air conditioning system in a car. We always recommend having the entire system checked by a mechanic. Below are just a few things you can check your self before taking it to the mechanic. These are compressor specific issues on this page.

If you blow a belt this could be the sign of a seized AC Compressor. When the pump locks up with the clutch engaged, your pulley won't be able to spin, thus destroying the belt. When you blow a belt, make sure the pulley on the front of your compressor is still able to spin. If you replace the belt and turn the AC on only to blow another belt, then the pump itself is seized and unable to turn when the clutch engages. Theres no fix for a seized compressor other then replacement.

Lubrication is the key to a long AC Compressor life. If a cars AC system is leaking freon then its also leaking the oil out of the system. The compressor needs oil to work properly. It's pretty hard to tell if your AC system is leaking. In most cases you won't realize a problem with the system untill you turn on the AC and theres no cool air coming out. This makes catching a leak pretty unlikely.  Have the system checked for leaks. If its low you can re fill it yourself using a recharge kit found at the local parts store. While your there make sure to ask them what kind of oil your AC system needs, they carry freon cans with oil in them.

As stated above, your system may just be low on freon. The recharge kits they sell in the store are a good way to re fill your system but keep in mind, if your car was made before 1994, you may have R12 freon in it still. If thats the case you need to have some one professionally empty the system and convert it to R134. A low ac system is the leading reason for air compressor problems so be sure to have the system checked before replacing parts.

Buying a Replacement

Used - We offer a large selection of used AC Compressors for late model foreign cars. Buying used auto parts can save you hundreds over dealership or reman cost. The benefit to buying a used compressor is not only cost. Your buying a used OEM part not a remanufactured part. Also used compressors come complete with the clutch and pulley assembly which many other's don't. Our used compressors come with a 6 Month Guarantee with extended lifetime guarantees availible.

Remanufactured - A remanufactured unit is essentially a used compressor that's been cleaned up and rebuilt with aftermarket (non oem) internal parts. Some companies can do a really good job at this and some others can't. It's important to know who your buying the compressor from. Make sure it has some kind of warranty or guarantee. Most remanufactured units do not include the clutch and pulley assembly, so if you need that be sure you factor in cost of the extra parts and labor to install.

New OEM - New OEM unit's from the dealership can be really nice, BUT cost can be over twice what a remanufactured unit is and some times over 5 times more then a used compressor. Most dealerships do not guarantee parts. Generally, once its on the car, its yours now. Buying new OEM from a dealership is really only an option when the car is under warranty or has to be serviced at a dealership for whatever reason. Otherwise buying a Used part is a better option, you'll get the same OEM quality with a guarantee for a fraction of the price.



We sell quality used AC Compressors for the following makes, Acura, Audi, BMW, Daewoo, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Saab, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo, and Volkswago VW. We also sell them for some of these models, Integra, CL, TL, RL, RSX, A4, S4, A6, A8, 323i, 325i, M3, M5, 525i, 745i, Laganza, Lanos, Civic, Accord, CRV, Accent, Elantra, I30, M45, Trooper, XJ6, XJ8, C220, E350, E320, S500, CLK230, Sephia, Spectra, Discovery, ES300, ES350, 900, 9-5, 9-3, Legacy, Impreza, Forester, V70, S70, C70, 850, 940, Jetta, Passat, Golf, GTI.
 
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