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2006 Mazda3 AC Compressor Clutch Kit

5.9K views 7 replies 3 participants last post by  Adi_  
#1 ·
My Mazda3 S (2.3L) has a bad AC compressor clutch coil. Compressor is inoperative because the coil is open. I purchased a new AC compressor clutch kit from Amazon for my vehicle and found that the ID of the clutch bearing was too small. I initially thought they sent me the wrong part, but found that it was supposed to be for my vehicle as well as some Mazda5 vehicles. I measured the ID of the bearing that was too small and it was approx. 3.2 mm using a cheap digital micrometer.

I ordered another AC clutch kit from a different vendor and ID of the bearing was also in the 31.5mm range so I am returning it as well. I also double checked the ID of the bearing that is from my Mazda3 and it is in the 34.5mm range. I am trying to find a part number or vendor that sells an AC compressor clutch kit for my car.

I posted my issue with more details in another Mazda3 forum but did not get any replies. I would think other Mazda3 enthusiasts would have run into this issue but maybe not. I can supply more info if anyone is interested, but I am at the point of purchasing an AC compressor clutch kit with the incorrect bearing and trying to find a bearing for my vehicle and swapping it in. I hope it doesn't come to that...I just find it hard to believe that this part is so hard to find.

BTW - the vehicle has approx. 90K miles and my brother-in-law was the previous owner and he said the compressor was never replaced. I can pull the posts over from the other forum if anyone would like more information; I feel I have already researched this pretty thoroughly.

Thanks,
Mike
 
#3 ·
Institor - Thank you very much for the link to the parts catalogue. While I have looked at various sites etc. trying to find the correct part, I hadn't been to this site yet. It looks like they detail the clutch assembly. I haven't looked at it in detail yet, but I will post after I figure out if they distinguish my vehicle.

Mike
 
#4 · (Edited)
Apparently I forgot to press "Post reply" after typing a somewhat lengthy reply the other day. I'll try again:

I checked the catalogue and I am still not sure what to order for my particular Mazda3 (2.3L) AC clutch for the following reasons:

1) I actually had already found part numbers for OEM clutch kits. I'm not sure if they are still available though.

BR9R-61-L30A - This looks like the AC compressor clutch kit with coil.
BR9R-61-L20 - Looks like the AC compressor clutch pulley assy.


2) I am looking for a non-OEM AC clutch kit - After receiving 2 clutch kits that did not fit my compressor, I am hesitant to pay OEM prices and possibly get the wrong part.

I'll copy some excerpts from my post in the other Mazda forum so everyone can see where I am coming from:

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12 d ago

FYI - I forgot to mention that I did order another AC clutch kit from a different vendor and ID of the bearing was also in the 31.5mm range so I am returning it as well. I also double checked the ID of the bearing that is from my Mazda3 and it is in the 34.5mm range.

In my quest, I did find a reference in one of the groups (or in an ad for a replacement bearing) to the ID of the AC clutch bearing and being 32mm or so. I can't remember exact figure, but I got the impression that the AC clutch kits I am receiving for replacements are the correct ones for the '06 Mazda3.

I suspect that either:
1) They used 2 different vendor AC compressors for the 06 Mazda3 - the majority of which uses the 31.5mm bearing. I guess since I hear that shops usually want to replace the entire AC compressor when there is an issue that a compressor clutch kit could fix, this would be a mute issue for most cases.
2) The compressor in my Mazda3 was replaced at some point with an aftermarket compressor that was compatible, but used a different bearing/shaft diameter. While my brother-in-law was the original owner and said the compressor was never replaced, he is not technically inclined and might not have realized at some point when he had his car in the shop.

Anyway, I haven't been able to find anything to identifying the compressor in my 3. I contacted another vendor of AC clutch kits and their customer service department was receptive. The looked up my VIN and said the clutch kit that they had listed for the '06 Mazda3 was not for my car. I'm not sure how they determined that - but they said that their tech support would be emailing me today or so...

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12d ago

I got a reply from the vendor that was looking into my issue. They simply said that they do not have a replacement clutch kit for my vehicle. Now, their site says that they have a kit for an '06 Mazda3, so again it leads me to think there is something unique about my car that might be identifiable by the VIN, I did see a recommended reading post in this forum that asks about a Non-OEM replacement clutch kit. They specify - "This is an 03/06 model with the larger high-speed pulley (compressor CC4361450E based on dealer VIN lookup)." - so I think they are saying that the 03/06 models have a different compressor. This would agree with what I am seeing so I hope this leads me somewhere.

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12d ago

FY - I think I found a reference to the larger diameter bearing in my Mazda. This P/N is for the pulley, but at least it acknowledges that there is a different pulley, which I equate to shaft ID, I will probably be able to find a replacement AC compressor clutch kit now. My thanks to the post I mentioned in reply that led me to the P/N of my compressor (I hope....)
Pulley Assembly - Mazda (BP4S-61-L20)
2004-2010 Mazda

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6 d ago

Anyway, finding a part number for an AC compressor kit for my Mazda3 is becoming more confusing than it needs to be. I checked with one Mazda parts dealer and he said they only carry the entire compressor and he had no idea whether or not Mazda used different types of compressors for my year/model.

It's been implied from what I am finding that there is a "standard pulley" and a "high speed pulley" for Mazda3. I'm still not sure if they mean the turbo model when they mention the "high speed". I know the turbo pulley has 6 grooves vs. 5 and mine has 5. I also found a reference to Mazdaspeed which I think is the turbo but not sure....

I found a dealer on line in Georgia that has what looks like excerpts from a Mazda parts catalogue posted. That was helpful but not conclusive as to what is what. Even if there is a "standard" and "high speed" pulley for my vehicle I don't know yet which one I have. I can only presume I have the less common one.

They parts guy at the dealer in Georgia put me on hold when I called and it sounded like he was busy - I didn't want to waste his time since so I'll call him back later and see if he has any input. I suspect an old timer parts guy might know this info off the top of his head.

I also contacted a local Mazda parts dealer and he said they only carry the entire compressor and he had no idea whether or not Mazda used different types of compressors for my year/model.


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(now continuing current post in this forum)

I don't know if it's evident from the above, but I'm thinking that there could be 3 different compressors (or clutch/pulleys) used on the 2006 Mazda3. One would be for the turbo - which I do not have. And there might be 2 different ones for the 2.3L Mazda3. I get that impression from the references to a "standard" and "high speed" pulley w/o turbo. Unless there is one size for the 2.0L and a different for the 2.3L. All I know, is that I've been spending too much time looking the correct part. I suspect an old timer "parts guy" could know the answer off the top of his head. I sometimes forget how old this Mazda3 is and that a lot of the users of the forums are working on the newer cars.

This is why I am considering a bearing swap between a new non-OEM clutch kit and the correct bearing for my AC. I still have to get the diameter of my AC clutch pulley to make sure this can even be done, but I've been avoiding working on this until I have all the parts needed in hand (too hot and humid).

Another clue to my issue - I read in another post about someone that replaced the AC belt in his Mazda3 with one from Gates, He was having a problem with the replacement squealing and finally had to buy an OEM belt that did not squeal. I wonder if this could be related to different pulley diameters - I don't know....

Anyway - any help is appreciated....
Mike
 
#5 ·
Shure it's a mess, apparently they had different compressors depending on the date of production (check this image):
283815

283816

Sorry, i can only speculate on this matter (i've got no expertise in compressors, not to mention Mazda's (or Ford's?) peculliar approach to parts distribution). I can not find either of this kits on sale (OEM), apparantely 15 years nowadays is to much for car's manufacturers to support. I suspect it's more feasible (and cheaper) to change bearings.
 

Attachments

#6 ·
Institor - Thanks for the reply. At least I know I'm not missing something here (except the AC compressor clutch kit for my car :=) ). I might try to decode the dates etc. from the document you posted to see if I can come up with an assembly to purchase, but it does look like in my case I'll have to swap the bearings. At least this is documented here so that if someone else runs into this they won't have to spend as much time looking into it. If I come up with something that works I'll post some details, but it will probably take a week or so before I can verify whether or not the bearing swap works.

Mike
 
#7 ·
FYI - I realized that even if I change the bearing from a replacement AC clutch/pulley, the pulley might be the wrong diameter. With that in mind I did some more digging into AC belts for my vehicle. I found a post that makes sense for belt issues as well as my clutch kit issue. Rather than paraphrase, I'll just paste the post and give credit to the poster from the Mazda3 forum.
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From machr85 -
Apr 18, 2014

OK everyone i got an update on this topic that noone has talked about or mention, i called rockauto and spoke with a guy who knew what he was talking about, he said for ac belt you have 2 different numbers: 4050272S and the other 4050264S now here is the catch, 4050272S says From VIN # 040901 and 4050264S says To VIN # 040901, the from means from those last 6 digits of the vin and up, is what that belt is recommended, and the To means from those last 6 digits down, my vins last 6 were 404439 meaning i need the 4050272S, which by the way says with high speed pulley so i guess my model came with it, i have an 06 3 hatch 2.3 5speed. Hope this helps

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The above makes sense and would answer a lot of my questions/confusion regarding my 2006 Mazda3 w/2.3L
1) There are 2 different AC compressor pulley possibilities
2) The VIN will differentiate which to use
3) Based on my VIN it looks like I have the high speed pulley. The high speed pulley is not the same as Mazdaspeed
4) This explains post from other poster that had to buy an OEM AC belt to get one that wouldn't squeal/slip.

With that in mind I contacted another vendor to see if they have a clutch kit for my AC. At least I now know more of what I am talking about and can have a reasonable discussion to try to find my part.

I'll update after I hear back from vendor (or vendors).

Mike