I have a 2002 grand caravan. The mechanic said my compressor locked-up. $1400 to replace. Okay, I will need some help. I am very handy with tool... how difficult is it to switch out AC Compressor.

 

well few things to be carefull. system is under extreme pressures. plus if you get liquid refrigerant on your hands it cause frost burns. other than that you going to need to find out why it siezed by looking at the orfices, got a screen to collect any metals and such. you going to need the right tools like a vaccum pump to take out the air. no mention that its ilegal to dump refrigerant into the air. if you choose to do it right it last long time, done wrong it fail in short time. me refrigeration mechanic but not on cars.

 

There is an issue with the '02 that leads to the cause of the compressor failing. There is a kit that comes with a new compressor, a discharge line, a suction line if you have rear air and a filter / drier. The kit is around the same price of just a compressor so I would recommend you go that route. I posted the part number on another thread not too long ago.

 

REMOVAL - COMPRESSOR - 2.4/3.3/3.8L ENGINES

1. Recover the refrigerant from the refrigerant system.
2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
3. Remove the nut that secures the suction line fitting to the top of the compressor.
4. Disconnect the suction line fitting from the compressor suction port.
5. Remove the seal from the suction line fitting and discard.
6. Install plugs in, or tape over the opened suction line fitting and the compressor suction port.
7. Remove the nut that secures the discharge line fitting to the top of the compressor.
8. Disconnect the discharge line fitting from the compressor discharge port.
9. Remove the seal from the discharge line fitting and discard.
10. Install plugs in, or tape over the opened discharge line fitting and the compressor discharge port.
11. Raise and support the vehicle.
12. Remove the serpentine accessory drive belt from the front of the engine.
13. Disconnect the engine wire harness connector for the compressor clutch coil from the coil pigtail wire connector on the top of the compressor.
14. On models with the 3.3L and 3.8L engines, disengage the retainer on the engine wire harness compressor clutch coil take out from the bracket on the top of the compressor.
15. On models with the 2.4L engine, remove the four screws that secure the compressor to the mounting bracket on the engine.
16. On models with the 3.3L and 3.8L engines, remove the three screws and one nut that secure the compressor to the engine.
17. Remove the compressor from the engine compartment. NOTE: If a replacement compressor is being installed, be certain to drain and measure the refrigerant oil contained in the removed compressor. This will determine how much oil the replacement compressor must contain before it is installed.

 

I was under the van this morning (just looking). On the 3.8 engine, the AC compressor is right on the bottom. Right now i don't see how to remove the hoses.
I see the bolts on compressor. Thats looks straight forward.

 

you reach over the compressor with a short wrench. I do the whole thing from underneith.