A/C clutch not engaging....

[fkovalski]

I checked both fuses and they are OK. Is there a way to check the A/C clutch relay in the fuse box?



Any other ideas/ opinions are appreciated as to why the AC clutch is not working.





.

 

[DPKetchum]

See if any OTHER relays look the same and swap to test. May need some ac gauges to see what the ac charge is. If too low a saftey switch keeps it from coming on so compresser dosen't get ruined. Maybe ac compresser clutch is bad,Theres some ideas. Maybe it got TOO COLD where you are and FROZE!

 

[bighammer]

If you have a leak and the pressure gets to low, I don't think it can kick on.

 

[LRutigliano]

How cold is it outside? If ambient temp is below +40F, the AC clutch will not engage. You may not have a problem.



Below 40F, there is no need for AC, therefore, its locked out. If it were allowed to turn on, the clutch would just cycle excessively and wear out.



On newer vehicles like ours, this is programmed into the software.



Hope this helps,

Louis

 

[Southbound]

AC clutch

I recently had issues with my ac clutch which basically turned out to be a bad compressor. Apparently the clutch locked up and burned the compressor up. The service manager told me this was not a common problem but as my luck would have it ... ... . it happened to me. Good luck with finding root cause.



Southbound

 

[fkovalski]

Thanks for the replies.



Ambient temp is not the issue. I tried the AC a couple of months back when it was warm at the lower altitudes and it was not working then.



As far as the relays... there are others in the fuse block. I will check them, but I would he hesitant to swap to try unless I knew positivly that they are identical.



The AC was recharged after I had the truck for about 6 months. It was low on freon (or whatever enviro friendly substance is now used) but it still worked , albeit not cold.



Guess it is a trip to the dealer

 

[JApol]

The A/C compressor is also working when you have the defrost on. It works to cool the air, letting the water condense out and then using the engine heat to warm it up so you have warm DRY air blowing on the windows to eliminate fogging.

 

[DPKetchum]

If the relays look the same and have same numbers on them swap and see. Techs do it all day long to troubleshoot. Many of the ones right next to each other are identical. Have been for years now.

 

[fkovalski]

Well, I tried changing the relays. There are at tleast 3 identical ones to swap for testing. That did not help. it is something more than fuse/ relay issue.

 

[RodMorris]

I managed to disturb the wiring to mine driving through a corn field back in June. For a while, when the AC would quit working I could crawl underneath and wiggle the wires until the clutch locked up and it would be fine for a while.



I finally got tired of that, cut out the wiring connector at the AC compressor, and connected the wires right together.



It works fine, but somebody will have to cut the wires if the compressor ever needs replaced!

 

[fkovalski]

UPDATE:



Well, it ws the wiring underneath. I usually disconnect the plug for the compressor to make the oil filter removal easier. I forgot to re-connect that plug on my last oil change.

 

[rbattelle]

Well, it ws the wiring underneath. I usually disconnect the plug for the compressor to make the oil filter removal easier. I forgot to re-connect that plug on my last oil change.

Gotta admit, that's kind of funny. Glad to hear it was nothing.



Reminds me of the time I re-installed a transmission and forgot the input shaft.



Ryan

 

[fkovalski]

. . Glad to hear it was nothing...

Nothing... 'cept for the shop time to figure it out. I'll never forget to connect it now!



Hopefully this will help other for 2 reasons:

1. to connect it in the first place...

2. learn vicariously from my experience to not do what I did.