A/C compressor locked up and did not shear the pulley plate as designed. Instead it squealed like hell and threw the belt. Here are some pics from the inside for the curious. This appears to be the original compressor, 2006 model with 169k miles. It was blowing cold until it locked.

 

This looks like compelling evidence for replacing the condenser coil with a failed compressor. The condenser is full of compressor metal from the inlet. It’s also good to see that it’s clean coming out so that contamination is not getting to the evap coils.

 

NISSENS 890306 A/C Compressor
NISSENS 94839 A/C Condenser

Nice cold air again!

 

Good pics. I just installed a new condenser, proper oil for that and charged it up. All has been well until today when we got temps over 80. Working great under it suddenly was not. I feel like it may have failed at shutdown/startup at my second of three stops on the way home. Seemed fine until I got back out to leave and there was nothing. If so, that may have helped prevent too much from getting into the new condenser. I have a second spare condenser if needed, but I hate to swap out the one I installed just a couple weeks ago!

Now I really wish I had flushed the entire system and put all new oil in when I did the new condenser. We have flush equipment at work, so it looks like I will have to see if they can take a look.

edit: Assuming mine is original too, bought at 105k miles and I am at 223k miles now.

 

That's a good picture of the sheared front plate. Bummer that it happened after all your work. At 223k miles it doesn't owe you anything! Bring your patience and trick socketry with you on your replacement.

The GPD compressor I bought failed within months. I had to pay a shop to re-replace it. Not sure what they used, but it's good for 2 years now.

The Nissen's compressor I put on my 06 over a year and a half ago is still good.

 

I have been reading a lot about the brands. Nissens is likely what I will go with but I did find Denso for $40 more. I am just a little hesitant to put a new Denso in. Need to talk to the shop and see what they recommend for flushing, etc.

I won’t pull the condenser connections until last minute. And I may actually just spend the $100 for a Nissens condenser if needed versus the chinesium one I have as a spare. The one I just put in tho sure is marked like a Nissens, sad about that if it has to go.

 

A small update on my end. I did order a Nissens and on a new one it was really easy removing the break away plate. Just be conscious of thread direction. I did so because I will be installing the compressor and condenser (also Nissens) at home this weekend. Then Monday at the shop at work I will flush the lines, front evap and swap in a replacement rear HVAC module with new heater core and evap. So by pulling the break away off I can still drive with the new compressor installed to the shop to finish it up.