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Who's Compressor

Grizzly_Bear on Mon May 17, 2010 1:40 PM User is offline

Year: 1998
Make: Honda
Model: CRV
Engine Size: 2.0
Refrigerant Type: R134
Country of Origin: United States

After 230,000 miles the compressor clutch gave up the ghost on my wife's 1998 CRV (shorted). The compressor has be noisy for a few years and it is real possibility that the compressor failed and took out the clutch, I was just going to replace everything (compressor, accumulator, expansion valve, evaporator, condenser, and the rubber hoses) and be done with it. I just don't trust flushing on things other than open tubes and don't want crap floating around the system to trash the new compressor.

The original diagnosis of the problem came for a repair shop as I didn't have time to look at it. They quoted $900 to replace just the compressor with an aftermarket unit ($1200 for a Honda unit). If they replaced anything else, the price when up. Since I can buy the parts to replace the entire system and the tools to do the work (vacuum pump and gauge set) for less than the price of the compressor repair, I am going to DIY the system.

I have been shopping around for parts and I have a bunch of options. Since the compressor is the heart of the system (and the most expensive) I would like to know who's TRS090 compressor is the best and will hold up the longest(all new, not remanufactured). I can get Spectra Premium compressor for just over $200, a Four Seasons,for about $250 or a Sanden for $263. The warrantee period is a paltry 1 year or 12,000 miles on the Sanden and Spectra or 2 years / 24,000 miles on the Four Seasons. Is the Sanden really that much better than the Spectra even though the warrantee is the same? If so, why? Why not the Four Seasons for double the coverage for a little less cost? Is there anything wrong with Spectra or Four Seasons parts?

The remaining parts (accumulator, expansion valve, evaporator, and condenser) are likely to be Spectra Premium with the hoses being Four Seasons. Is there anything wrong with this selection?

If there is anything else that you feel would be helpful, please let me know.

Thanks....

Edited: Mon May 17, 2010 at 1:53 PM by Grizzly_Bear

Karl Hofmann on Tue May 18, 2010 1:18 PM User is offlineView users profile

The Sanden compressor will be a new compressor... They made your original and they are the only manufacturer of the TRS090... Four Seasons sell repainted second hand compressors.... They can supply a two year guarantee because in the likely event of a compressor failure, they will simply paint up another compressor and send it off to you.... YOU have to bear the cost of flushing and fitting for a second time. Cant comment on the other company but I would guess that they do the same as Four Seasons.... If you want to do the job right, then fit new Sanden or a good quality re manufactured unit...

The owner of THIS site, I'm sure would be delighted to provide you with everything that you need from tools to all of the components on your shopping list. The advise and back up that his business provide with the parts is free and of the highest quality from guys who know car aircon inside out......

Now lets hear no more of you buying cheap second hand junk.....

Just done a quick search, It would appear that the Spectra is a Chink rip off.... Quality may be good, but it may be crap. How many times do you want to fit your compressor and all associated components?

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Never knock on deaths door... Ring the doorbell and run away, death really hates that!

Edited: Tue May 18, 2010 at 1:32 PM by Karl Hofmann

Cussboy on Tue May 18, 2010 2:26 PM User is offline

Buy a quality-rebuilt compressor from this board sponsor ackits.com

HVargas on Tue May 18, 2010 5:49 PM User is offlineView users profile

I would definitely select the new Sanden over any of those other compressors. The Sanden is an overall great compressor and is the OE unit for that vehicle. There were 2 different model Sandens that year and by looking at the picture you should be able to see the difference and select the one for your vehicle.
20-04993
20-90003
As far as the rest of the parts go, they can be found here.
Condenser - 639804PL
Receiver Drier - 37-18038
Expansion Valve - 31-12112
Evaporator - 27-33251
With the hoses you have a few options. Backflush, rebuild or replace. Flushing is a very effective method if done right. It will clean the hoses of any oil and debris and make them like new. Secondly you can just have them rebuild so that they have all new rubber in them. Or you can purchase them all new. This would be the least cost effective method. The same apply's to the evaporator. This can easily be flushed instead of being replaced. If you would like to replace it though we do have the unit available. If it were my vehicle I would purchase the compressor, condenser, receiver drier, expansion valve all new, and flush the hoses and evaporator.

As far as the tools go for this job. You will need a vacuum pump, leak testing kit for after installation, a can tap, gauge's and a basic service manual which is all included in our DIY Starter Kit

If you have any other questions, feel free to give us a call, 1-800-648-4475.

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When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: Arizona Mobile Air


Edited: Tue May 18, 2010 at 5:49 PM by HVargas

Grizzly_Bear on Tue May 18, 2010 8:32 PM User is offline

Thanks for the help. I just wanted to make sure that I was getting the right parts (quality) as I don't really want to go though this all over again (maybe in another 230,000 miles).

I have been in contact with Rob Sanchez via email tracking down the parts for this project. I just sent him some pictures of the compressor. Both units look really close to me but I think the -04993 might look a bit closer (that is the one Sanden calls for on their website). The current (OEM) compressor is a KEIHIN HS-090L. I also found out that KEIHIN and Sanden signed a technology sharing agreement in the 90's for AC compressors. Who actually made this one...could be either.

I am going to go with a new evaporator. I have to take the existing one out to get to the expansion valve (according to the service manual) and they are not that much. I suppose I could save a few bucks by flushing but doing new will save me some time. I guess that I will make the call on the hoses once I get them apart. If it looks really bad, they are going to be replaced...otherwise they will be flushed.

With the new condenser and evaporator, do I need to run some flush though them to clean out any manufacturing crud?

Rob quoted o-rings and Nylog. Do I coat the o-rings with the Nylog instead of compressor oil or is the Nylog simply a thread sealer?

I am sure I'll be back for more questions...

TRB on Tue May 18, 2010 9:35 PM User is offlineView users profile

Coat the o-rings with Nylog.

You can also put in it your coffee like Chick does but I don't suggest doing that!

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When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

Chick on Wed May 19, 2010 7:41 AM User is offlineView users profile

Use the Nylog on all the O rings, and a drop on the threads and they will never seize up...Wouldn't put a system together without it ...But Tim, I use it to baste the penguins, not in my coffee....


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Chick
Email: Chick

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Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose

TRB on Wed May 19, 2010 10:51 AM User is offlineView users profile

Quote
Originally posted by: Chick
Use the Nylog on all the O rings, and a drop on the threads and they will never seize up...Wouldn't put a system together without it ...But Tim, I use it to baste the penguins, not in my coffee....

So you were just stocking up all this time! Telling us you were out to save them.

-------------------------
When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

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