Dear members.. I need advise on the purchase of the new or rebuild compressor for my 2004 TSX.
I started notice the sea of complains on the compressor failure on the TSX few years back, now mileage of my TSX is approaching 10,000km and i am so worry about turning the A/C on, it like ticking money bomb. so I am seriously thinking to have shop replace A/C compressor and some components as "preventative measure". I see OE clutch-less compressor goes for $500 and $160 for clutch, i felt they are a bit pricy for a component rarely uses in a 11 years car. are they reliable compare to aftermarket? also what intrigue me is the 2003-2007 Honda accord uses Denso compressor, anyone know if that would works? reason i am asking, is Denso is selling compressor with clutch for Accord at much reasonable price..
thanks for any suggestion or information..

 

I had done some readying, and looks like our type of compressor will send contaminants both way to upstream and down stream. as there are too many failure in the OE compressor, so i went searching for Denso compressor, no such luck with Denso N.A. but the Denso EU seems to have one for EU Accord..
http://www.denso-am.eu/catalogue2.asp?CID=112162082
and they also have one for cr-v.
http://www.denso-am.eu/catalogue2.asp?CID=112162083
I don't know if it's just the clutch different or what, but they seems to use the same compressor "10S17C".

 

Is your mileage only 10K klicks or did you drop a zero? 100K would be more likely for a 04 TSX.

If your TSX compressor has made this many years, I think it's a good bet to continue. I don't know how many 04 TSX's had AC compressor problems, but I would bet it's less than 10%. That still gives 9/10 odds of no problems!

However, if you're determined to perform preventive replacement, then a used compressor from a later model TSX will be lowest cost option IMO. Check ebay for options.

Next lowest cost would be a new aftermarket compressor. Check ebay and rockauto for options.

In all cases, you run a slight but noticeable risk of creating a problem where none currently exists, such as an error by mechanic in installation or charging. No free lunch in this world!

good luck

 

thanks, mmm, maybe you are right.. i think i will leave it alone... if the thing broke then turn it to a winter only car..
the A/C compressor was use less than 10 times a year, and less then 15 minutes each time, probably that is of the reason that my compressor made this far.. from reading the forum, i thought it was high number of unit failing. oh yes, sorry, my TSX has about 90K km. only.. thanks!

 

I changed the a/c compressor and got it installed for about $400 last year in Nyc.!
Do not buy the OEM denso compressor because it will fail sooner or later. There is a recall for it and only covers certain amounts during the first six years of the car and other Hondas are also affected.
I bought a refurbished 4seasons a/c compressor for $160...I year warranty.
I got the a/c kit with the filter plus a new accessory belt for $40.
Labor was $200....vacuumed the system...installation ...took about 2.5 hours. (They did not open the inside of the car panels ...the old compressor didn't send particles to the system because just got stocked not exploded internally.
It has been a 15 months and stilk working like new.

Dealer wanted $3000 plus for the job!...just the recalled OEM compressor that Honda still sells is almost $500.

 

thanks for the advise. i will definitely use local garage shop when i decided to work on the AC compressor..
btw; the DENSO is not the OE compressor on the TSX, DENSO is popular and is OE on varies of other Acura and Honda that is know for reliable AC services, hence i want to find a Denso application on the TSX... in fact, the OE compressor in TSX is KEIHIN HS110R, I dont know which 4 Seasons Kit you bought, but over at the Rockauto they list 2 compressor from 4 Seasons; both 2 compressor are KEIHIN HS110R based.
there were so many failure on the CRV that some company actually came out with a denso kit for CRV, too bad so much for TSX.. i guess the volume of the CRV is so great that justify making a kit for such... but TSX is a such small # vs CRV..
In my area, i actually see more tsx than 2003-2007 Accord now, but probably not worth for me to deal with this... as we rarely have days that is hot enough to run AC constantly; only time is the traveling on HWY where opening windows mean noisy. if its a long travel we will be using MDX.
thanks!