AC Compressor woes

[Chris M]

So i was driving on the interstate @75 and turned on the ac and the compressor blew up. there are little circular disks and oil all over my skid pan. this is the 4th time in 5 years. everything had been replaced last time. the car has 210k. anyone else have recurring ac failures? or is it just mine? at this point i wonder if it is worth repairing.

[Northern_B6]

My compressor failed last year too.

I'm considering removing the damn thing instead of fixing it up. Where I live A/C is really only needed 30/365 days a year.

[tHatOne guY]

So i was driving on the interstate @75 and turned on the ac and the compressor blew up. there are little circular disks and oil all over my skid pan. this is the 4th time in 5 years. everything had been replaced last time. the car has 210k. anyone else have recurring ac failures? or is it just mine? at this point i wonder if it is worth repairing.

Wow, compressors that fail that often points to a poor installation/preparation. Concerning A/C work, only replacing the failed component commonly leads to repeat failures.

Did you have a shop do the work? OE parts?

I just had my compressor clutch assembly come apart this summer. Compressor itself was OK but the entire clutch, gone. 125K miles.

[jacobsen]

Wow

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[diagnosticator]

Wow, compressors that fail that often points to a poor installation/preparation. Concerning A/C work, only replacing the failed component commonly leads to repeat failures.

Did you have a shop do the work? OE parts?

I just had my compressor clutch assembly come apart this summer. Compressor itself was OK but the entire clutch, gone. 125K miles.

You must be referring to the compressor drive coupling between the belt sprocket and the compressor drive shaft. Our A4s don't use a compressor drive clutch, since the compressor is driven by the engine 100 percent of the time.

[Chris M]

It was done at the most reputable shop in town. It was all replaced. But has been 50k on this last one. Bit over 2 years.

[tHatOne guY]

You must be referring to the compressor drive coupling between the belt sprocket and the compressor drive shaft. Our A4s don't use a compressor drive clutch, since the compressor is driven by the engine 100 percent of the time.

You are correct, I wasn't sure exactly what to call the coupling at the time of the post. Figured it would be easier to refer to it as the clutch however technically incorrect.

[tHatOne guY]

It was done at the most reputable shop in town. It was all replaced. But has been 50k on this last one. Bit over 2 years.

After looking at the pic closer I can see 2 things... It is an OE compressor, Denso -so that's good. Also it looks like some road debris hit it, no? The damage looks like it goes into the compressor and the bolts look sheared/damaged even one the compressor mounting bolts is missing.

Was your belly pan in place?

[Chris M]

Yea. Had the belly pan on. Blew up from the inside for sure