🔧 Traverse - A/C Compressor Replacement

Replacing the A/C compressor on your Traverse involves safely removing the refrigerant, removing the drive belt and A/C lines, swapping the compressor, then vacuuming and recharging the system by weight. The critical part is handling refrigerant legally/safely and keeping dirt/moisture out of the A/C lines.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Refrigerant must be recovered with proper equipment—venting to air is illegal and dangerous.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and gloves; refrigerant can cause frostbite and eye injury.
• ⚠️ Keep A/C lines capped/plugged immediately—moisture ruins A/C components.
• ⚠️ Support your Traverse on jack stands on level ground; never rely on a jack.
• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable before unplugging the compressor connector.

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🔧 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
• Breaker bar 1/2"
• Torque wrench 3/8"
• Torque wrench 1/2"
• Socket set 8mm-18mm
• Ratchet 3/8"
• Ratchet 1/2"
• Extension set 3/8"
• Serpentine belt tool 3/8" drive
• Trim clip removal tool
• Flat screwdriver
• Line caps and plugs kit (specialty)
• A/C manifold gauge set (specialty)
• Vacuum pump (specialty)
• Refrigerant scale (specialty)
• Refrigerant recovery machine (specialty)
• Electronic leak detector (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• A/C compressor - Qty: 1
• A/C compressor manifold O-ring seals - Qty: 1 set
• A/C system refrigerant - Qty: 1 (charge amount per underhood label)
• A/C compressor oil - Qty: 1 (type/amount per underhood label/service info)
• Serpentine belt - Qty: 1 (optional, if worn/cracked)

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Have a shop recover the refrigerant first if you don’t have a recovery machine.
• Open the hood and confirm the refrigerant type and factory charge weight on the underhood A/C label.
• Disconnect the negative battery cable using a 10mm socket.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Recover the refrigerant

• Connect your A/C manifold gauge set (specialty) to the high and low service ports.
• Use a refrigerant recovery machine (specialty) to fully recover the refrigerant.
• Never vent refrigerant to the air.

Step 2: Raise and support the front of the vehicle

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the front.
• Set the Traverse down on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the right-front wheel using a breaker bar 1/2" and the correct socket from your socket set 8mm-18mm.

Step 3: Remove the right-front splash shields for access

• Remove clips/screws using a trim clip removal tool and socket set 8mm-18mm.
• Set the liner and any lower splash shield aside.

Step 4: Remove the serpentine belt from the A/C compressor

• Use a serpentine belt tool 3/8" drive to rotate the belt tensioner and slip the belt off the A/C compressor pulley.
• Take a photo of belt routing first.

Step 5: Disconnect the compressor electrical connector

• Unplug the compressor connector by releasing the lock tab using a flat screwdriver (gently).

Step 6: Disconnect the A/C lines at the compressor

• Remove the compressor line retaining bolt using a ratchet 3/8" and the correct socket from your socket set 8mm-18mm.
• Pull the manifold block straight off the compressor.
• Immediately cap the open lines and compressor ports using a line caps and plugs kit (specialty).
• Remove and discard the old O-rings.

Step 7: Remove the A/C compressor

• Support the compressor by hand.
• Remove the compressor mounting bolts using a ratchet 3/8", extension set 3/8", and the correct socket from your socket set 8mm-18mm.
• Lower the compressor out through the wheel well area.

Step 8: Prepare the new compressor (oil balancing)

• Pour the shipping oil out of the new compressor into a clean measuring container.
• Compare it to what came out of the old compressor (if you can drain any).
• Add the correct oil type and amount for your Traverse (per the underhood label/service information) into the new compressor before installation.
• Wrong oil/amount can destroy the new compressor.

Step 9: Install the new compressor

• Position the new compressor and start all mounting bolts by hand.
• Tighten the compressor mounting bolts using a torque wrench 3/8" to Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Install new O-rings and reconnect the A/C lines

• Install new O-rings from your A/C compressor manifold O-ring seals.
• Lightly coat the O-rings with the correct A/C compressor oil before assembly.
• Reconnect the line manifold block and install the retaining bolt using a ratchet 3/8" and correct socket.
• Tighten using a torque wrench 3/8" to Torque to 10 Nm (89 in-lbs).

Step 11: Reconnect electrical connector and reinstall belt

• Reconnect the compressor electrical connector until it clicks (no tools needed).
• Route the belt correctly and use the serpentine belt tool 3/8" drive to move the tensioner and reinstall the belt.

Step 12: Reinstall splash shields and wheel

• Reinstall the fender liner/splash shields using a trim clip removal tool and socket set 8mm-18mm.
• Reinstall the wheel using a breaker bar 1/2" and correct socket.
• Lower the vehicle, then torque wheel lug nuts using a torque wrench 1/2" to Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Evacuate (vacuum) the A/C system

• Reconnect the A/C manifold gauge set (specialty).
• Connect the vacuum pump (specialty) and pull vacuum for 30–45 minutes.
• Close valves and verify it holds vacuum for 10–15 minutes (no leak).

Step 14: Recharge by weight

• Use a refrigerant scale (specialty) and charge the system with the exact amount listed on the underhood A/C label.
• Reconnect the negative battery cable using a 10mm socket.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and set HVAC to MAX A/C, recirculation ON, blower HIGH.
• Confirm the compressor runs and the air gets cold at the vents.
• Check for leaks at the compressor/manifold area using an electronic leak detector (specialty).
• Watch manifold gauge readings for abnormal high/low pressures (sign of air in system or restriction).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $1,000-$1,800 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $350-$900 (parts only)

You Save: $650-$900 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.

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🎯 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.