A/C Clutch change on vehicle...

[mwilson]

Phoning a friend or two here...

Can I unbolt the A/C compressor and swing it out with the fender liner removed and change the clutch??? It looks like I can but want to see if anyone else has done it before...

I think there is slack enough in the lines to allow it, looks much easier that dealing with the fan shroud and related items....

 

[MichaelOverfield]

Phoning a friend or two here...

Can I unbolt the A/C compressor and swing it out with the fender liner removed and change the clutch??? It looks like I can but want to see if anyone else has done it before...

I think there is slack enough in the lines to allow it, looks much easier that dealing with the fan shroud and related items....

I imagine it's possible. I haven't tried on my truck, but did manage to move the entire A/C compressor out of the way in my Saturn to enable complete engine removal. Amazingly it has the original freon charge from the factory, now 21 years later, 200000 miles, and still puts out cold air like new..

You'll want to have some wire ( tie off for support), and a plan to support the compressor while you work on the clutch. Be careful of the stress on the hose fittings as you move it.

 

[Bob4x4]

It will drop down but not up or to the side easily

 

[mwilson]

It will drop down but not up or to the side easily

Will the nose drop enough to change the clutch from underneath??? Really hate to break the seals open, it is a tight system and has been from day one..

 

[Bob4x4]

I think so

 

[mwilson]

Thanks Bob and Michael,

I ordered the new clutch today, will report if it's doable or not.....

Have found info on other forums, some take a ratchet strap and tie it to the frame after dropping it down to keep it still.

My super nice Dodge dealer scanned the truck for me to make sure it was indeed the clutch as I suspected. No power to clutch at first but the TIPM had tripped it out and there were several codes that he cleared with the Star...then we had a signal to it...

So we decided to leave it un-plugged which will save me another trip to the dealer for a reset. I'll plug the new one in after I change it and should be good to go. I wonder how many people change a clutch or complete compressor due to a clutch coil failure and find it still will not engage.....those codes have to be cleared and things reset before it will work again....

 

[BigPapa]

Mike, I did mine on the '95 on the truck. The 3rd Gen I'm sure is different. I had to bend a large pair of cheap snap ring pliers to remove the snap ring and used bolts to push the clutch face off.

 

[mwilson]

The '06 and '07 trucks use an HS-18?? Compressor which is different than everything else. I did find one company that offered a replacement clutch.....Mopar does not...

It will have to be dropped down as Bob says so I can access the front without the fan shroud being a nuisance...

Also ordered a knock-off clutch puller kit and a set of pliers made to hold the plate...three adjustable pins in it.

Clutch kit here....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0080YB8CW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Toolage here....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00061SH6W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KEFCPU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[mwilson]

I'm hoping I can do it on the truck as you did, the system was down 1oz this spring after 10 years of use. I don't want to open it up for sure....

 

[Bob4x4]

Thanks Bob and Michael,

I ordered the new clutch today, will report if it's doable or not.....

Have found info on other forums, some take a ratchet strap and tie it to the frame after dropping it down to keep it still.

My super nice Dodge dealer scanned the truck for me to make sure it was indeed the clutch as I suspected. No power to clutch at first but the TIPM had tripped it out and there were several codes that he cleared with the Star...then we had a signal to it...

So we decided to leave it un-plugged which will save me another trip to the dealer for a reset. I'll plug the new one in after I change it and should be good to go. I wonder how many people change a clutch or complete compressor due to a clutch coil failure and find it still will not engage.....those codes have to be cleared and things reset before it will work again....

Very common on the 06