Removing and installing air conditioner compressor, Sanden — AUDI
Removing and installing air conditioner compressor, Sanden on Audi: 11 steps. What to remove, in what order, and what to check after.
Taking out the Sanden air conditioning compressor on the platform codes listed below. Because the refrigerant circuit is opened, the system has to be emptied with a service station before anything is undone. Underneath, the noise insulation comes off; the alternator may need removing for room, then the poly V-belt with its tensioning damper and the vane pump pulley. With the magnetic clutch connector unplugged and the refrigerant lines unscrewed, the compressor mounting is the awkward bit. The upper bolt is only loosened and backed off as far as it will go, because it leaves with the compressor through a cut-out in the bracket, then the lower bolt is loosened and the unit lifted out. Recover the gas first and cap the lines, and the rest follows.
🧭 Before you start
Extract the refrigerant, clear the noise insulation, belt drive and vane pump pulley, and remove the alternator if access demands it. Unplug the clutch, disconnect the lines, back off the upper bolt through its cut-out, loosen the lower one and lift the compressor from the retainer.
Fits: VW Caddy IV (SA, 2015–2020)
Don't miss
- Extract refrigerant with a service station before opening the circuit.
- Unplug the magnetic clutch connector before unscrewing the lines.
- Do not try to remove the upper bolt; it comes out with the compressor via the bracket cut-out.
- As general practice, cap the open refrigerant ports straight away to keep moisture out.
Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.
📋 Procedure
- Extract refrigerant, e.g. with air conditioner service stationVAS 6007A before opening refrigerant circuit. Observe notes .
- Remove noise insulation below engine General body repairs, exterior66Noise insulation; Assembly overview - noise insulation.
- If necessary, remove alternator 27.
- Remove poly V-belt and belt tensioning damper 13.
- Remove belt pulley of vane pump 48
- Detach connector (arrow) of magnetic clutch from air conditioner compressor.
- Unscrew refrigerant lines from air conditioner compressor.
- Loosen upper securing bolt (arrow) of air conditioner compressor.
- Undo bolt in (direction of arrow) as far as possible. [Note: When the air conditioner compressor is taken out, the bolt is guided through the cut out (1) in the compressor bracket.]
- Loosen lower securing bolt (arrow) of air conditioner compressor.
- Remove air conditioner compressor from retainer.
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TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
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The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.