If you can’t find your AC compressor, check your owner’s manual or look up the make and model of your vehicle online to identify its location. Park the vehicle on level ground and make sure the parking brake is engaged. You could potentially shock yourself if the engine is active while you’re removing the compressor.
You should be able to see the protective covering of the compressor in the engine above the tire well.
Keep the bolts together in a plastic bag so you don’t lose any of them.
Don’t remove the nut from the pulley. Loosen it just enough to loosen the belt.
Allow the wire to hang loosely from the vehicle so you can reconnect it later. You may need to press on a plastic tab at the connection point to separate the wire.
The pressure lines will remain sealed until you open them, but the freon must be captured in order to prevent it from being released when you remove the compressor.
The high-pressure valve will be larger than the low-pressure valve. The pressure valves on the compressor are sealed until you open them with the valve of the reclaimer machine. You can find reclaimer machines at auto repair shops. Reclaimer machines can cost between $400-$1,000.
The freon will be stored in an internal tank on the reclaimer machine so you can refill your compressor later.
Keep the bolts organized together so you don’t lose them and can easily replace them later.
You may need to use a wrench to loosen the cap so you can remove it by hand.
Adding new oil to a compressor that still contains oil can cause an overflow, which may damage the compressor or cause it to malfunction when you reinstall it.
For example, your AC compressor may require R134a refrigerant oil rather than PAG 46 oil. Putting the wrong oil in your compressor will damage it. If you don’t have the owner’s manual, look up the make and model of your vehicle online to find information about your AC compressor.
Pour the oil slowly to reduce the chances of spilling it. Don’t add any extra oil, even if the compressor doesn’t seem full.
Wiggle the compressor with your hands to make sure there isn’t any movement.
The valves on the compressor will remain sealed until the reclaimer machine’s valves open them.
The freon stored in the tank will be transferred to the compressor to charge it.
Gently tug on the pressure lines to make sure they’re connected.
You may hear a “click” or a “snap” when the wires are connected.
The belt shouldn’t be so tight that it stretches. Make sure the belt isn’t loose and wobbly or it may slide off while the vehicle is in motion.
If the air conditioning is able to blow cold air, then the compressor is functioning properly.
