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Air conditioning compressor clutch

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:05 am
by 93Bonneville
Last summer towards the end of it anyways, the AC in our car died. Well summer is back, and I would like to mess with it. There is still pressure in the system, and it seems like a decent bit at that. But the clutch will not engage.

I jumped the low pressure switch on the drier, and nothing. So I wonder what wire I need to jump right on the compressor to the battery to get it to go.

Also, I would just put refrigerant in, but it will not take any in. I connected it to the right charging adapter, and squeezed the trigger, and it just dose not seem to be going into the system, hence me wanting to jump it...

Any help would be appreciated...

Re: Air conditioning compressor clutch

Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 8:17 pm
by 96 SSEi
Hi, have you checked all fuses and the Ac relay? What pressure are you reading on the AC filler gauge when the engine is off? The compressor has a two wire connector right on the top to the right of the serpentine belt. You can try to jump it but it may not start if the refregerant is low.

Re: Air conditioning compressor clutch

Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 8:40 pm
by PossessedPower
is this a shop thing?

Re: Air conditioning compressor clutch

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:12 pm
by 96 SSEi
Are you talking abount the filler gauge? You can get one from Canadian Tire or a auto parts store.

Re: Air conditioning compressor clutch

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 5:39 pm
by 93Bonneville
I predict the relay is fine. I do not know how to test it anyways...
Fuses are good.

I just want to jump the AC clutch to MAKE it run, so I can put some refrigerant in it and then it will run. The clutch did not engage even with jumping the low pressure switch, and there is some charge in it, so I just want to jump the clutch and put some more in.

I tried two hoses/gauges I had. Both when connected and the triggers pulled would not push refrigerant into the car, I made sure its on and all. So that is why I assume I need to get the compressor forced running to add more.

Unless your supposed to be able to put refrigerant in the system with the car/compressor off...

Re: Air conditioning compressor clutch

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 9:36 pm
by gmman
i don't have 93 FSM, i have 95 FSM. according to the 95, even if you jump the pressure cycling switch, the electrical path to the compressor goes thru the powertrain control module and the A/C compressor control relay. the compressor control relay is fed thru a 15 amp fuse in the relay center.

if you want to place 12 V directly on the clutch, pull the compressor control relay and find pin 87 (usually the relay has a wiring diagram printed on the case). jump battery positive to the socket for relay pin 87.

generally speaking, the A/C system should accept freon without the engine running up to the point that pressure in the system equals pressure in the can. since you cannot detect any freon flow from the container to the system, you could assume that it has enough freon to function. this may leave you with the prospect of a faulty PCM or compressor relay. the only way to tell what system pressure is would be gauges. harbor freight has frequent sales on R 134 gauges for less that $50.

Re: Air conditioning compressor clutch

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 9:49 pm
by 93Bonneville
I think that it may be a relay or something.

The AC was working good, then just stopped. So I will check some fuses, and maybe jump that wire and check it out, then report back.