Common questions about Dometic Compressor for Harrier / Harrier Lite / Harrier Plus Roof-Top Air Conditioner (10-01-KFA102Z220)
How do I know the compressor is what failed?
The usual signs are fan-only operation with no cold air, or the breaker dropping out the moment the compressor tries to start. Those same symptoms can come from a gas leak or a failed capacitor, though, so have a refrigeration tech diagnose it before you commit to a compressor swap.
Can I fit it myself?
No. Anything that opens a refrigerant circuit is work for an ARCtick-licensed technician in Australia, and the R32 charge has to be recovered and replaced properly. Get the part, then book the tech. Plenty of mobile fridgies will come to the van rather than the other way round.
Is a compressor swap worth it, or should I replace the whole unit?
Depends on the age of the rooftop. On a unit only a few years old with a clean coil and a good fan motor, a compressor swap makes sense. On a tired one that has done years of corrugations and salt air, you are putting a new heart in an old body. Get it assessed first.