Driven by a belt from the engine's crankshaft, the air conditioner compressor is the heart of the climate control circuit — it pressurises the refrigerant, forcing it through the condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator to absorb cabin heat and discharge it outside. Without a functioning compressor, the system cannot circulate refrigerant at all, and the air blown into the cabin will simply match ambient temperature regardless of the setting. The most common failure mode is internal seizure, which can suddenly snap or shred the drive belt and occasionally damage ancillary pulleys in the process, so a seized unit should be treated as urgent. Bearing wear tends to announce itself earlier with a rattling or squealing noise that worsens when the compressor clutch engages, giving a useful early warning. Because refrigerant volume and fitting geometry vary between platforms, matching the OE number is the only reliable way to ensure the correct displacement and port orientation without repiping the system. Airstal and ACR supply a large share of both factory-original and replacement compressors across European platforms, with catalogues covering Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Ford, Audi, and Peugeot applications. Replacement intervals are not fixed by mileage; most compressors are simply run until failure, though proactive replacement is advisable if noise has developed or a refrigerant leak has allowed the system to run dry.
Each listing on this page carries the TecDoc OE references mapped to specific vehicle variants. Cross-reference the number with your car's make, model, engine code, and build year using the vehicle selector. Compressor displacement and port orientation differ even between variants of the same model, so confirming via OE number — rather than a generic 'compatible' claim — is the only way to guarantee you won't need adaptor fittings or additional pipework at installation time.
OEM compressors are built by the vehicle manufacturer's nominated supplier and carry the factory OE reference. Quality aftermarket units from brands such as Airstal and ACR are manufactured to equivalent specifications and carry the same OE cross-references, making them a cost-effective alternative. Budget units may use lower-grade internal valves and shaft seals, which can shorten service life — particularly in higher-mileage vehicles where the system has already accumulated heat cycles and refrigerant contamination.
Yes, in most cases it is strongly advisable. When a compressor fails — especially if it seizes — metallic debris circulates in the refrigerant circuit and lodges inside the receiver-drier's filter matrix. Fitting a new compressor without replacing the drier risks those particles returning to contaminate the new unit, leading to premature failure. Most professional workshops also recommend replacing the expansion valve at the same time and flushing the system before recharging with fresh refrigerant.
The clearest warning is a rattling or grinding noise from the compressor area that intensifies when the air conditioning is switched on — this typically indicates bearing wear inside the unit. Other symptoms include the air conditioning blowing warm air despite being set to cool, visible refrigerant oil staining on fittings near the compressor, and in severe cases a seized compressor that causes the drive belt to squeal, slip, or snap. Any of these symptoms justifies inspection before the system is used again.
Showing 100 of 26,971 Air conditioner compressor OE numbers. Enter the OE on the main OE search to jump to any reference.
