Aircon compressors - are they all the same?

[Disco Matt]

Following on from the aircon thread I've been looking for a spare compressor that I can nab the idler pulley/bearing from for mine, as the original makes an appalling whining noise. One thing though - did any other vehicles share the same compressor as mine? It would obviously make life easier if this part is identical to that on other vehicles as I can widen my ebay searches a bit.

Part needs to fit a 1996 300 TDI.

[DoubleTop]

I'm not sure on your exact question, but I can say that the comressor from a 200lr doesn't fit in the same way as the 300lr does.

DT.

[Disco Matt]

Thanks - I guessed that the compressor body might be slightly different but was wondering if the actual pulley/bearing assembly is the same as that on another. It just seems likely as LR ordered the compressors from an outside supplier who would probably have adapted an existing design.

[Rossko]

It just seems likely as LR ordered the compressors from an outside supplier who would probably have adapted an existing design.

Works both ways - LR are probably just as likely to order from a competing manufacturer for different models.
Interested to find out though ; I've got a shrieking pulley/clutch on a 93 RRC that I really ought to fix ...

[clbarclay]

If you look on the aircon pump you should find a sticker with the manufacturer and model information on it.

Even if 2 pumps are the same extenally, that doesn't mean they are the insdie. Like a lot of components, aircon pumps tend to be made indipendant manufacturers (such as Sanden) who design and build pumps to suit a car manufacturers specification, to make it cost effective they produce series of pumps with common designs and a range of options to taylor them to applications. So even if pump from another car can be bolt on, the displacement or ports etc. may be different.

[Disco Matt]

It just seems likely as LR ordered the compressors from an outside supplier who would probably have adapted an existing design.

Works both ways - LR are probably just as likely to order from a competing manufacturer for different models.
Interested to find out though ; I've got a shrieking pulley/clutch on a 93 RRC that I really ought to fix ...

Same problem here - I've been running with the drive belt removed for about a year now.