Aftermarket A/C Compressor

[Scott S]

Which you should do every single time the system is opened for more than a few seconds. The desiccant is vital to moisture removal.

But I get your point all the same.

And the thing is the system was working fine, blowing ice Cold Air, the clutch was rattling, and that's why I had the car jacked up, and as I move the Jack quickly, it was still in the up position, and it hit the expansion valve, and broke right off..

Stupid mistake

 

[Scott S]

I basically can get a salvage yard unit with a 6-month warranty, for $100, versus spending $250, and if it doesn't work, I just ate $250, or if it goes bad 30 days later.. I just ate that money..

 

[Capt W]

Back up one second please. This Nippondenso system is very close to that in my 2005 Caravan (which uses a 10S17 compressor). How did you damage the expansion valve with a jack? The expansion valve should be firewall-mounted and is connected to the evaporator. Looks like this:

I don't even think there's a Schrader valve on the compressor itself. Did you by chance rupture a hose fitting?

Please take a pic. The good news is there's probably an easy fix. And the clutches on these are very easy to replace to fix that problem.

 

[Scott S]

Back up one second please. This Nippondenso system is very close to that in my 2005 Caravan (which uses a 10S17 compressor). How did you damage the expansion valve with a jack? The expansion valve should be firewall-mounted and is connected to the evaporator. Looks like this:

View attachment 166410



I don't even think there's a Schrader valve on the compressor itself. Did you by chance rupture a hose fitting?

Please take a pic. The good news is there's probably an easy fix. And the clutches on these are very easy to replace to fix that problem.

It's not a hose fitting, that I know, because the high side and low side is up top..

 

[Capt W]

So what broke? Here's a 10S20 compressor pic. Can you identify anything from this?

 

[Scott S]

For the life of me I cannot find it, but it look like a bleed screw..

 

[Timmastertech]

For the life of me I cannot find it, but it look like a bleed screw..

Likely the pressure relief valve/pop off valve. For what its worth, I only sell/install OES/OEM a/c compressors. I will not install a GPD, 4 Seasons, UAC, Omega or any other chinese new unless there are no other options. Under no conditions will I sell a reman unless its the only way the OE services it.

 

[Scott S]

Likely the pressure relief valve/pop off valve. For what its worth, I only sell/install OES/OEM a/c compressors. I will not install a GPD, 4 Seasons, UAC, Omega or any other chinese new unless there are no other options. Under no conditions will I sell a reman unless its the only way the OE services it.

I've heard a lot of people say that..
Unfortunately, just way out of my price range. For that I would just probably just go to a salvage yard.. at least I get a warranty. No I don't even get a warranty.. unless I do the whole nine yards, basically if I buy a new compressor if it don't work, I'm stuck with it..

 

[JHZR2]

I wasn't thinking about a Chinese one.. I was thinking about a salvage yard one, my point is, I'm not going to get no warranty in that compressor, unless I change out that receiver dryer.

A salvage yard unit is a craps shoot. And the reman can’t really be any worse, likely better if any bearings or seals were replaced. Maybe the calculus changes a bit if you find a bona fide low mileage vehicle to pull from, but that’s a big if.

 

[Scott S]

A salvage yard unit is a craps shoot. And the reman can’t really be any worse, likely better if any bearings or seals were replaced. Maybe the calculus changes a bit if you find a bona fide low mileage vehicle to pull from, but that’s a big if.

Yeah I found one with only 23,000 miles, but it's been sitting on a shelf since 2013.. LOL

 

[zzyzzx]

Aftermarket compressors aren't always made in China. I've put an aftermarket Korea made on in my 1995 Escort and 1999 Alero. I forget the brand but suspect UAC.

 

[kschachn]

Likely the pressure relief valve/pop off valve. For what its worth, I only sell/install OES/OEM a/c compressors. I will not install a GPD, 4 Seasons, UAC, Omega or any other chinese new unless there are no other options. Under no conditions will I sell a reman unless its the only way the OE services it.

Agree here. The one on my Sienna started to leak after 24 years (it's on the manifold, not the compressor which has been replaced). I found a replacement valve at NAPA and that solved the leak. Toyota did not sell the valve by itself separate from the manifold.

 

[Scott S]

Salvage yards around here only have stuff with a hundred plus thousand miles, I think I'm going to try my luck UAC I've been scrolling on here seems like a lot of people have installed them with success.. I think I would be better off with that versus the salvage yard. I read some horror stories on Four Seasons on here. I think I'll be fine..

 

[GMBoy]

I've used all of the aftermarket brands and they are all about the same. 4Seasons is NOT the brand it used to be back in the day. The quality is hit or miss but my experience is if you get it on and it works it tends to be fine. Never had to warranty one out yet. I have gotten one that they installed the wrong rear case and it meant it was unable to be mounted because the bolt holes wouldn't align. GPD actually has been pretty solid and TYC is very good for a new unit. These are all Chinese and its hard not to find china made in the auto parts world with this global economy. Even AC DELCO is mostly overseas junk so a brand name does not automatically mean quality or USA built anymore.

My opinion is grab one off rockauto you will be fine

 

[Scott S]

I've used all of the aftermarket brands and they are all about the same. 4Seasons is NOT the brand it used to be back in the day. The quality is hit or miss but my experience is if you get it on and it works it tends to be fine. Never had to warranty one out yet. I have gotten one that they installed the wrong rear case and it meant it was unable to be mounted because the bolt holes wouldn't align. GPD actually has been pretty solid and TYC is very good for a new unit. These are all Chinese and its hard not to find china made in the auto parts world with this global economy. Even AC DELCO is mostly overseas junk so a brand name does not automatically mean quality or USA built anymore.

My opinion is grab one off rockauto you will be fine

Thank you

 

[GMBoy]

Likely the pressure relief valve/pop off valve. For what its worth, I only sell/install OES/OEM a/c compressors. I will not install a GPD, 4 Seasons, UAC, Omega or any other chinese new unless there are no other options. Under no conditions will I sell a reman unless its the only way the OE services it.

I respect your opinion and understand your point of view but what about if a customer doesn't want to pay for the more expensive part? Do you turn them away? I always recommend options to my customers as in I recommend "Option A" and it costs X or you can go with the lesser "option B" with this cheaper part and here are the pro/cons. They decide and I do the work.

 

[Scott S]

I see something on Amazon about all RYC compressors I've heard of them years ago I believe.. but I don't see them on RockAuto, they probably have a higher turnover on RockAuto..

 

[Timmastertech]

I respect your opinion and understand your point of view but what about if a customer doesn't want to pay for the more expensive part? Do you turn them away? I always recommend options to my customers as in I recommend "Option A" and it costs X or you can go with the lesser "option B" with this cheaper part and here are the pro/cons. They decide and I do the work.

There are very few things that I allow a customer to choose as far as repairing the vehicle beyond fix it or no. The only 3 that come to mind are do you want conventional or beam wipers, washer fluid or de-icer and what brand of tires would you like. Will also try to accommodate a customer if they have a preference for oil brand as long as it meets the specs for the vehicle. Beyond that, its my name over the door, the car gets fixed my way because I am the one that has to stand behind it. The vehicle owner is free to say no and not authorize the repair but if I fix it it gets fixed my way.

 

[Cheetah-kins]

This isn't something that old, I just don't want to spend $400. on a factory compressor. The car is a 13

Personally I would absolutely buy the factory compressor if available, OEM is always best for AC parts, IME. Definitely stay away from remans, they are a total crap shoot, often with very poor results. Also if you decide to buy a *new* one from an aftermarket company, read the tech specs carefully as many times when reading the info page you'll discover it's actually a reman unit in the fine print.

 

[Chris142]

I have installed many aftermarket compressors in customers cars with no problems