🔧 Ridgeline - A/C Compressor Replacement

Replacing the A/C compressor on your Ridgeline involves removing the drive belt, swapping the compressor, replacing the sealing O-rings, then vacuuming and recharging the A/C system. The critical part is handling refrigerant legally/safely and charging the exact factory-specified amount by weight.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Refrigerant must be recovered with proper equipment; venting refrigerant is illegal and dangerous.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and gloves; liquid refrigerant can cause severe frostbite.
• ⚠️ Work on a cool engine; keep hands/tools clear of the radiator fans.
• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable before unplugging the compressor connector.
• ⚠️ Cap/plug open A/C lines immediately to keep moisture out.

---

🔧 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
• Metric socket set (8mm-19mm)
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Serpentine belt tool (specialty)
• Metric combination wrench set (10mm-19mm)
• Torque wrench (3/8" drive, 10-80 Nm range)
• Trim clip removal tool
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Line/flare-nut wrench set (10mm-17mm)
• A/C line caps/plugs kit (specialty)
• A/C manifold gauge set (R-134a)
• A/C manifold gauge set (R-1234yf)
• Refrigerant recovery machine (specialty)
• Vacuum pump (specialty)
• Refrigerant charging scale (specialty)
• UV leak light (specialty)

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• A/C compressor - Qty: 1
• A/C compressor clutch/pulley (if not included with compressor) - Qty: 1
• A/C line O-ring set (HNBR, correct for your refrigerant) - Qty: 1 set
• Refrigerant (match under-hood label: R-134a or R-1234yf) - Qty: 1 system charge
• A/C compressor oil (match refrigerant type) - Qty: 1
• Serpentine drive belt (recommended if worn/cracked) - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Plan for refrigerant recovery and recharge: you need to pull a deep vacuum and charge by exact weight.
• Open the hood and read the under-hood A/C label for refrigerant type and charge amount (this is the only correct number to use).
• Disconnect the battery negative cable using a 10mm socket.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Recover the refrigerant

• Connect the correct A/C manifold gauge set (R-134a) or A/C manifold gauge set (R-1234yf) to the high/low service ports.
• Use a refrigerant recovery machine (specialty) to recover the refrigerant fully.
• Do not vent refrigerant to air.

Step 2: Raise the front and remove the lower covers

• Lift the front with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and support it on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove any lower splash shields/under-covers using a trim clip removal tool, 10mm socket, and flat-blade screwdriver as needed.

Step 3: Remove the serpentine drive belt

• Relieve belt tension using a serpentine belt tool (specialty) (or a 1/2" drive breaker bar if the tensioner accepts it).
• Slip the belt off the A/C compressor pulley and then remove the belt from the remaining pulleys.
• Take a photo of belt routing first.

Step 4: Disconnect the compressor electrical connector

• Unplug the compressor connector by releasing the lock tab using a flat-blade screwdriver (gentle pressure).

Step 5: Disconnect the A/C lines from the compressor

• Place rags under the compressor area (a small amount of oil may seep out).
• Remove the A/C line retaining bolts using a metric socket (commonly 10mm socket).
• If a fitting uses a hex nut, use a line/flare-nut wrench (this helps prevent rounding).
• Immediately cap/plug the open lines and compressor ports using an A/C line caps/plugs kit (specialty).

Step 6: Remove the A/C compressor

• Support the compressor with one hand while removing the mounting bolts using a metric socket and ratchet.
• Remove the compressor from below.
• When installing the new compressor mounting bolts, use a torque wrench and tighten to the exact Honda specification for your Ridgeline (do not guess torque on aluminum brackets).

Step 7: Set oil amount in the new compressor

• Drain the old compressor oil into a clean measuring container (measure what comes out).
• Adjust the new compressor oil to match what was removed (unless Honda service procedure for your Ridgeline specifies otherwise).
• Use the correct oil type for the refrigerant shown on your under-hood label (oil type must match).

Step 8: Replace O-rings and reinstall A/C lines

• Remove old O-rings from the A/C line ends.
• Install new O-rings from the A/C line O-ring set and lightly lubricate them with the correct A/C oil.
• Reinstall the A/C lines and start bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Tighten line bolts with a torque wrench to the exact Honda specification for your Ridgeline.

Step 9: Reinstall the belt and under-covers

• Route the belt correctly and apply tension using a serpentine belt tool (specialty).
• Reinstall under-covers using a trim clip removal tool and 10mm socket.

Step 10: Evacuate (vacuum) the system

• Connect the correct A/C manifold gauge set (R-134a) or A/C manifold gauge set (R-1234yf).
• Use a vacuum pump (specialty) to pull vacuum.
• Close valves and verify it holds vacuum (a loss indicates a leak).

Step 11: Recharge by weight

• Place refrigerant on a refrigerant charging scale (specialty).
• Charge the exact amount listed on the under-hood A/C label (do not charge by pressure).
• Start the engine and turn A/C on MAX; verify compressor engagement and stable pressures.

---

✅ After Repair

• Reconnect the battery negative cable using a 10mm socket.
• With the engine running, confirm cold air at the vents and that the radiator fans cycle normally.
• Check for leaks at the compressor fittings using a UV leak light (specialty) (if dye is present) and visually inspect for oil residue.
• If the old compressor failed catastrophically (metal debris), the system may need additional component replacement and flushing per Honda procedure before the new compressor will survive.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $450-$1,200 (parts only, assuming you already have A/C service equipment)

You Save: $500-$1,500 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2.5-4.0 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.