🔧 NX200t - A/C Compressor Replacement

Replacing the A/C compressor on your NX200t involves safely recovering the refrigerant, removing the drive belt and A/C lines, swapping the compressor, then vacuuming and recharging the system. This is a precision job because moisture or dirt in the A/C system can quickly damage the new compressor.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 3-6 hours

Assumption: You have access to A/C recovery/evac/recharge equipment.

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Do not vent refrigerant to the air; recover it with approved equipment.
• ⚠️ Wear eye protection and gloves; refrigerant can cause frostbite.
• ⚠️ Work on a cool engine; the turbo and exhaust area gets very hot.
• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery terminal before unplugging the compressor.
• ⚠️ Keep all A/C openings capped; moisture ruins A/C components.
• ⚠️ Support the vehicle with jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 10mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-100 Nm range)
• 6" extension (3/8")
• Trim clip removal tool
• Flathead screwdriver
• Serpentine belt tool (specialty)
• Line/cap plug kit (specialty)
• A/C manifold gauge set (specialty)
• Refrigerant recovery machine (specialty)
• Vacuum pump (specialty)
• Refrigerant scale (specialty)

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• A/C compressor (NX200t) - Qty: 1
• A/C compressor clutchless control valve (if serviced separately, if applicable) - Qty: 1
• A/C line O-ring set - Qty: 1
• ND-OIL 8 A/C compressor oil (PAG) - Qty: 1
• Refrigerant (use under-hood label specification) - Qty: 1
• Serpentine drive belt (recommended while accessible) - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Recover the A/C refrigerant using a refrigerant recovery machine (specialty).
• Disconnect the battery using a 10mm socket on the negative terminal.
• Lay out line/cap plug kit (specialty) so you can cap lines immediately.
• Read the refrigerant type and charge amount from the under-hood A/C label (do not guess).

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Recover the refrigerant

• Connect the A/C manifold gauge set (specialty) to the high and low service ports.
• Use the refrigerant recovery machine (specialty) to fully recover the refrigerant per the machine prompts.
• Never loosen A/C lines under pressure.

Step 2: Raise the front and remove lower covers

• Lift the front with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and support with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the engine under cover/splash shield using a trim clip removal tool and 10mm socket.

Step 3: Remove the drive belt

• Relieve tension using a serpentine belt tool (specialty) on the belt tensioner.
• Slip the belt off the A/C compressor pulley and remove it from the front of the engine.
• Take a quick belt-routing photo first.

Step 4: Unplug the A/C compressor connector

• Release the electrical lock tab and unplug the compressor using a flathead screwdriver gently if needed.

Step 5: Remove the A/C refrigerant lines from the compressor

• Place rags under the compressor area.
• Remove the suction/discharge line flange bolt(s) using a 10mm socket.
• Immediately cap the open lines and compressor ports using a line/cap plug kit (specialty).
• Remove and discard old O-rings; do not reuse them.
• Torque to 9 Nm (80 in-lb) when reinstalling the A/C line flange bolt(s).

Step 6: Remove the compressor

• Remove the compressor mounting bolts using a 12mm socket and 14mm socket (varies by bracket location).
• Support the compressor with one hand while removing the last bolt.
• Lower and remove the compressor from below.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lb) when reinstalling the compressor mounting bolts.

Step 7: Prepare the new compressor (oil balancing)

• Drain the oil from the old compressor into a measuring container.
• Drain the shipping oil from the new compressor into a measuring container.
• Add ND-OIL 8 A/C compressor oil (PAG) to the new compressor so the amount installed matches what came out of the old compressor (unless the new compressor instructions specify otherwise).
• Rotate the compressor hub/pulley by hand several turns to distribute oil evenly.
• Keep ports capped until final install.

Step 8: Install the new compressor

• Position the compressor and hand-start all mounting bolts to avoid cross-threading.
• Tighten mounting bolts using a 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-100 Nm range).
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lb).

Step 9: Install new O-rings and reconnect A/C lines

• Install new O-rings on the A/C line block fittings.
• Lightly coat O-rings with clean ND-OIL 8 A/C compressor oil (PAG) before assembly.
• Reinstall the line block onto the compressor and tighten fastener(s) with a 10mm socket.
• Torque to 9 Nm (80 in-lb).

Step 10: Reinstall the drive belt and covers

• Route the belt correctly and apply tension using a serpentine belt tool (specialty).
• Reinstall the under cover using a trim clip removal tool and 10mm socket.
• Lower the vehicle safely from the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).

Step 11: Evacuate and recharge the A/C system

• Reconnect the battery using a 10mm socket.
• Connect the A/C manifold gauge set (specialty).
• Pull vacuum with a vacuum pump (specialty) for at least 30 minutes.
• Close valves and verify vacuum hold for 10 minutes (leak check).
• Recharge by weight using a refrigerant scale (specialty) to the exact amount shown on the under-hood A/C label.

---

✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and set HVAC to A/C ON, MAX COLD, and RECIRC.
• Verify the compressor engages and the air gets cold within a few minutes.
• Check for leaks at the compressor line connection (look for oil residue or bubbles if dye/solution is used).
• Listen for abnormal noises (grinding/knocking). Shut off immediately if present.
• If cooling is weak, recover and recharge again by weight; do not “top off” by pressure.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $1,200-$2,200 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $450-$1,200 (parts only)

You Save: $750-$1,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 3-5 hours.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.