How to tell which AC compressor you have?

Stock

My compressor started leaking last week and it's just now starting to get hot here in the desert, I'm looking to pick up a new one but I don't know which manufacturers unit is on my wagon... Majestic lists Sanden and Matsushita and I don't know which one I need.

Please help. :oops:

noahrexion

There should be a little sticker/imprint above the drivers side headlight on the body colored upper radiator support frame thingamagigger. It will say like "Sanden 938374" or something of the like. I believe the majority are Sanden.

bam-bam

Sanden:



The sanden compressor is commonly called the the "small pulley" - that's the most obvious difference IF you're seeing the two together

Matsushita:



"large pulley compressor" The other big visual cue for me is the arrangement of the lines. On the Matsushita They're further apart and the rear port is angled away from the engine.
On the Sanden they're right together like eyeballs and level with the top of the compressor.

Note that the two units won't interchange UNLESS you also change the mounting bracket and both lines.

As far as one or the other being more common... I don't know. I understand that they were all dealer-installed kits. Probably luck of the draw depending upon availability:

my '90 DX= sanden
'90 DX parts car= matsushita (build dates 2 mos. apart)
her '91 DX matsushita

Stock

Can this be added to the AC FAQ?

Also, great info, but you posted the same picture twice.

bam-bam

D'oh! edited. My feet were frozen from going out to take those pics.

oilspot

theres a sanden sticker on the car right above the compressor. PO said he had the compressor replaced a few years ago when I picked that wagon up. But then again he also told me that he had the rear drive axle too .

Stock

oilspot wrote:

theres a sanden sticker on the car right above the compressor. PO said he had the compressor replaced a few years ago when I picked that wagon up. But then again he also told me that he had the rear drive axle too .

Yeah, it's a Sanden and I've got a buddy that just K swapped his EG that says he'll give me what he believes to be a Sanden for free, so I hope that pans out in my favor.

klum

i went to the pick and pull and took a compressor off a 1990 civic dx sedan it had the mounting b racket with tensioner and it had a sanden compressor looks just like the one pictured, just a heads up for ppl like me who think u need a wagon comperssor lol..

unfortunetly i gotta get the lines as well
ill poast a wite up