Archived A/C Clutch keeps blowing fuses???

[FireHouseBBQ]

Hello I need some help with this Fuse problem. I have a 2001 qc 24v well last night the A/C stopped so this morning I checked the fuses in the engine compartment and sure enough the fuse for the A/C cluth it was a 10a was blown. I repleced it with the spare and blew again. Any thoughts or help on this?? It is getting hot in Fla.



Thanks,

Craig

 

[B.G. Smith]

Could be a short circuit in the wiring but is probably the clutch coil. Unplug the A/C clutch at the compressor, put in a new fuse, turn on A/C, if fuse still blows, then it's the wiring, if not then it's the clutch coil. bg

 

[FireHouseBBQ]

Well I did what you said and it looks to be the a/c clutch. Any idea on the cost to fix this. Better to take it to someone else rather Dodge that will Rape me on it? I think you need an evaporator also? When the clutch goes?



Craig

 

[B.G. Smith]

I don't know the cost of a clutch coil or if you can get just a coil without buying the whole clutch. The coil failure should have no effect on the other parts of the system. Any good automotive A/C shop should be able to handle the job. It should be less than a two hour labor job. bg

 

[FireHouseBBQ]

Thanks B. G that sounds better. But how would I know if it was just the coil and not the clutch or the compressor?





Craig

 

[B.G. Smith]

The clutch consists of the pulley which has a flat face on the outer side and is mounted on a bearing on the compressor, the plate which is mounted to the compressor shaft and the coil which is mounted behind the pulley. When voltage is applied to the coil it creates a magnetic field which pulls the plate against the flat face of the pulley and causes the compressor to turn. It is unlikely (but not impossible) that failure of the electric coil would cause any damage to the other parts of the clutch or the compressor. Reach up (or down if you have long arms) and turn the plate on the compressor, it will be hard but not impossible to turn. If the engine runs you can see the pulley turning. These are all the clutch assembly except the coil which you can not see until the plate and pulley are removed. bg

 

[FireHouseBBQ]

Well sounds like you have worked on these before. I found a compressor and clutch for $350 just for the part but will find someone to put it all on. I was in the middle of selling thins truck when this went out. I did not want to spend alot of money to fix it but looks like I might have to.



Thanks for all the info BG





Craig