Diagnosing a compressor leak

[Cusser]

Cusser:
Even with the goofy two pulley clutch a replacement Denso compressor is around $300 Condenser is under 100 bucks. New parts are appropriate, unless the vehicle is a nasty wreck with 300,000 miles - then why fix it at all.

Last compressor I bought was also about $300 in fall 2014, brand-new from this site's sponsor (a Sanden 708 for my 1988 Mazda truck). So seems reasonable.

[Tim]

Fix it right, or fix it again & again.

Cusser:
Even with the goofy two pulley clutch a replacement Denso compressor is around $300 Condenser is under 100 bucks. New parts are appropriate, unless the vehicle is a nasty wreck with 300,000 miles - then why fix it at all.

Aftermarket compressor $210.00
Cond $90.00

[atikovi]

Sniffer hitting on the lowest point on the belly at the joint plus at both service ports if I get the tip right at the opening. Not sure if thats normal even if I blew some compressed air around it beforehand.

[atikovi]

Removed the compressor. It's a Valeo model.



Is a gasket kit available for this model? Or would a Denso kit work?