Replacement AC compressor for 2006 Tacoma?

I need a new AC compressor for my 06 Tacoma TRD and I’m wondering if anyone out there knows of a better model or improved model from Toyota that I should get installed. After 200,000 miles I guess I got my money’s worth out of it. Anyone else replace theirs recently?

Thanks

 

OP, 200k mi. is a good run.

The original compressor placed on your 2nd gen is Delphi.
For some time only Denso was available as an aftermarket alternative.
A Denso compressor is a Delphi compressor with the labels swapped.
I bought a Denso aftermarket and noticed the label slightly crooked so I peeled it off to find, surprise, a Delphi label underneath.

Reliability of the few other aftermarket brands now available are an unknown to me.

You might want to check out some of the auto AC specialty forums on the web and ask what off brands have proven themselves. Someone from this site too with extensive AC experience may also know. For me it would be the Delphi/Denso.

Whatever you do, make sure you do an oil balance between the old compressor and the new. Accommodate for leaks and new components if they are replaced. You want an adequate amount as close to the original fill as can be determined, but not too much. Excess oil can make for a short life of your new compressor.

I would not go cheap because a compressor that fails catastrophically will send metal particles throughout the system and potentially be a very expensive nightmare.

 

Thanks Taco. Great information! I won’t be doing the work myself so it is good to know of a reputable brand to go with since I’m likely not going to the dealership.

 

My AC compressor went out @ 70k miles after a really hot day stuck in traffic. Your compressor was a saint.

compressor, tensioner & clutch was $1,500 at the dealership. Some AC shops wanted 2k to fix it. Don’t wait to fix it - dealers get a lot of AC problems in the summer & you’ll have to wait in line once the hot season comes

 

Thanks Kolter45. I’m in SoCal so I’m sure I’ll get quoted more than $1500 at a dealership here, but we will see. I should note that I live near the coast so I don’t need to use it as much, although the previous owner lived near Lancaster CA in the high desert so I’m sure they used it all the time! Truck had 133,000 on it when I bought it so it still went 70,000 miles further. Got to love Toyota reliability

 

I just replaced my wife’s washer fluid motor on her 08 Corolla with a denso 1. She got 210k out of it!!! That motor replacement has been great so far. I was super pissed when my ac went out. Had smoke come out the vents & everything. The dealership can be expensive but I know a guy & I don’t have to make appointments. So some of my perks are convenience based & what not. I would def try buying the denso/delphi part & that way it gives you a slight monetary break. If could be your tensioner & clutch too & once the dealership got into mine they saw both needed to be replaced. Major blow to my funds last July

 

If you're handy at all, watch a few how-to vids on compressor replacement. For the money you save, you can buy a vacuum pump at Harbor Freight, use it once and be hundreds of dollars ahead. Just a thought.
We replaced the compressor and condenser on my son's car a few years ago. I got the vacuum pump and a gage set at HF and just used the gages the other day topping off my daughters A/C charge.