The compressor is usually located towards the front of your engine, just inside the grill of your car. The clutch can burn or the bearing can fail. In a few cases, the clutch does not engage due to a clogged refrigerant circuit. Open the hood and look at the serpentine belt to locate the AC compressor. Facts and Fallacies! I would leave it like that till the fall, then add a spacer or something so the clutch isn’t engaged. Are Cars Designed to Fail At A Certain Point? 3 Air Gap If you have any problem with the AC compressor then they will not engage. The coil can open on occasion and once the wire breaks internally, its done until the clutch is replaced. I think the car stalled because the A/C seized up. You … What does the second wire do? If your AC isn’t working, there’s a good chance that a faulty compressor could be the culprit. If the power and ground checks out in the relay socket, test the relay by swapping in a similarly sized relay. Part 1 of 1: Test the clutch. If the air gap is too wide, you may be able to correct it by using a different spacing washer. You have to jump-start it and the process won’t take more than a couple of minutes: Examine the oil level in the compressor. 6.Refrigerant Leaks. Figured the worst that could happen it I could finish off the dying clutch coil. The compressor drive hub is usually found at the front of the pulley and is attached directly to the compressor driveshaft. The pulley moves freely, because the clutch is disengaged with the engine off. How to test the compressor clutch relay. How do you check AC compressor clutch to see if its bad. When I got home I was checking things under the hood and the refrigerant pressure was fine (pressure according to chart observed in gauges). Now, listen for the clutch and the compressor and check if they engage. Touch the other wire to the positive side. Route the wires directly to the vehicle battery. Step 1: Check the clutch. Voltage Test: Remove the plug from the clutch coil and activate the A/C system by placing the selector on cold. Tips – When you are going to manually engage the compressor, make sure that the system has enough oil. Tips – You should route the jumper wire to avoid it getting tangled or interfering with other moving components. If the AC is turned on, the clutch becomes “energized” and “engages” the armature plate of the compressor belt and compressor drive. So it’s worth maybe $2.5K? I ran a #12 wire to the battery, I figured I was pretty safe with a 10 amp fuse. A delay can cause serious damage to the air conditioning system and the engine. Unplug the wire feed at the AC compressor connection. Easy. Step 4: Inspect the clutch located at the front of the AC compressor and make sure the clutch rotates freely. My AC isnt working, the clutch wont engage. Turns out there are 2 switches in the … So replacing compressor, which any garage I spoke to would do – they don’t want to replace parts on the compressor like coil… not worth their time? You can also check the leads to the compressor which can be the magnetic clutch and also the operation. I think the car stalled because the A/C seized up. In this video, I show you how to tell if a car's AC compressor clutch is engaging. Before I do, is there anything else you want him to know? The clutch wire felt broken along its length. (5) the ECU can tell the compressor clutch to disengage. Touch the test light to each of the three AC clutch wires. b) No current - Open circuit. Keep it safely away from all other components. Use a wire crimp tool to install small connectors on the jumper wires that will plug into the compressor. It consists of guidelines and diagrams for various types of wiring techniques along with other products like lights, home windows, and so on. Compressor: The air conditioning compressor, driven by a belt or electric motor, circulates refrigerant in the system. In these instances, replace the compressor assembly. Look into This! so I looked for fuses and what not but that wasnt the problem. I read somewhere that a guy bought a used compressor and just used the clutch but that was one guy. Knowing how to manually engage AC compressor clutch will help you skip a visit to the mechanic. The AC clutch is the same basic design as an electric PTO clutch. I made sure to check the other lead from the coil that is tied to the body of the compressor, that was in good condition mechanically. Mechanic's Assistant: Okay, I'll connect you to the mechanic to walk you through that for your Chevy. a) Overcurrent - Short circuit within field coil or in compressor circuit. The car is a 2010 honda civic with 150K miles and has banged up bumper. Sometimes, when the clutch is worn, the disc is too thin and may not engage properly. Is Spoon Engine A Real Thing? Examine the A/C clutch with a flashlight. They don't want to sell clutches, just complete compressor units. Before starting the next step of diagnosis, you should know that a low-pressure switch can create problems with the compressor clutch’s relay in some car models. You have to make sure that the compressor has enough oil to function properly. This is most of the time located on the side or top of the compressor and is typically 2, sometimes 3, wire harness. Start by turning the engine on. The compressor looks like a small motor with a large wheel on the end. Sadly at over 400 mega ohms the clutch coil has failed. Mechanic's Assistant: Okay, I'll connect you to the mechanic to walk you through that for your Chevy. Sadly at over 400 mega ohms the clutch coil has failed. how to manually engage ac compressor clutch, The 7 Best Car Batteries For The Money in 2021. Measure the current draw when the clutch is engaged. Check for power AND ground to the compressor. If a short or open is found in the field coil, it must be replaced. so I looked for fuses and what not but that wasnt the problem. How do you check AC compressor clutch to see if its bad. Knowing when your AC compressor is running or not is critical to diagnosing the AC system, but also for charging the system. The electromagnet does not rotate like the clutch does. The compressor is engaged by the compressor clutch, made up of a powerful electromagnet and a drive plate. Add oil if the level is below the normal point. The clutch is driven by a drive/serpentine belt, which engages the compressor when you switch on the AC. I was playing with the headlights switch and I started to feel nice cold air then I stop to visually check and sure enough the compressor was working. If the magnet is good, the compressor clutch will click into place when the magnet powers up. You will need a test light or power probe for this part of the testing. The system’s computer keeps the relay grounded but it can go on and off due to the bad switch. Turn off the engine so that the moving parts … Changing the compressor clutch could be the only solution in this case. What Is Shift Lock Release And How To Use It? The middle wire should read "hot." The next section tells you how to manually engage AC compressor clutch at home. How Long Do CVT Transmissions Last? Now look at the pulley of the air conditioner compressor. Now you have to open the hood and examine the AC compressor. To check AC compressor clutch air gap, simply insert a feeler gauge between the clutch plate and pulley with the engine off. What’s your thoughts on grinding down the clutch plate so it’s always engaged to the pulley / always turns the compressor? Before checking to see if a clutch needs to be replaced, see if it is engaging and disengaging properly. With the vehicle running, step on the clutch pedal and put the vehicle into gear. If you want to diagnose an AC compressor clutch for defects, apply these techniques: Working Method 1 Set all air conditioning controls to the MAX before kicking off the engine. The clutch wire felt broken along its length. It is responsible for keeping the refrigerant flowing and thereby ensuring smooth performance. SOURCE: 2002 Dodge Durango makes a noise when the ac is It's the clutch or compressor or the idle pulley for the belt for the AC to check it have someone start it with the hood open and use a broom handle pressed to your ear and put the end of the broom near the ac compressor and turn it on and see if you here it there then shut it off and check near the idler pulley to see if it's there. How to manually engage AC compressor clutch when the system is low on antifreeze? The freon has to flow thru the system to work, and the cooling fan draws air thru the condenser to get rid of the heat from inside the car. Also, find out whether the clutch and the pulley are spinning. For an AC compressor to work, it needs a clutch, bearing, and an electrical connector. July 5, 2016, 11:25pm #2. Knowing when your AC compressor is running or not is critical to diagnosing the AC system, but also for charging the system. The Answer. Is the clutch facing burned up with a wide air gap? Touch the probes to the clutch coil terminals. Bad for the car to start with compressor on? Just adding refrigerant will solve this problem. You will need to find the signal wire connector that attaches to the compressor clutch. The transmission should shift into gear without any grinding or … The process is a bit different for older cars that are not compatible with the R134a type. With a engine off: If you want to purchase a power probe for the clutch you can do that or try to use a wire such as in the video above. If the clutch coil shorts out, the positive wire may begin to heat when it touches the positive battery post. If your car’s AC compressor clutch won’t engage and low side and high side pressures are within specifications, test compressor clutch coil. Today i’m trying to test the clutch before the compressor gets installed in a couple of weeks. White Smoke From Exhaust: Main Causes and How to Fix. With the vehicle running, step on the clutch pedal and put the vehicle into gear. When you turn your air conditioning on, the A/C compressor clutch is the first part to move. If only the pulley is rotating, the compressor clutch is having an issue, which could be stemming from several sources – a blown fuse, bad clutch oil, low-pressure lockout, or an open wire in the oil. The compressor clutch consists of a friction plate positioned adjacent to an electromagnetic coil. Afraid if there’s other issues, I’ll blame them…, So I could do the clutch removal, grinding and replace. (4) bad compressor clutch. The AC compressor will not have power and the AC system will not function. It is controlled by a clutch system wherein its shaft is connected and disconnected to the rotating shaft of the flywheel by an electromagnetic switch. OK, with a/c on and engine running there is power to the switch on the accumulator. Compressor Clutch. In this step, you have to detach the connector cable from clutch oil. To run this clutch compressor, the engine is connected directly to the pump rotor of the compressor using a belt. You'll hear a distinctive click when the compressor is energized as the drive plate is pulled into place. Is there an easy way to tell whether the A/C clutch failed, or the compressor? My AC isnt working, the clutch wont engage. When you are sure that there is a problem with the clutch, the next part is to engage it. I cut past the break and exposed the wire to do a repeat test. The AC clutch is on the front of the compressor where the belt rides. The other cause of AC compressor failure is refrigerant leaks. Step 1: Check the clutch. Is the clutch coil getting current to it when you turn the AC on? If they are bad, they should be replaced with a new compressor. Release the clutch by removing the positive wire. The Compressor is not meant to run all the time. If this happens, quickly remove the wire and replace the compressor. Rather, you will see friction of the belts. Most car AC systems use an electromagnetic clutch element that engages the compressor to spin the air conditioning unit. Turn the AC settings to the "on" position. If the A/C clutch does not activate, test the control circuit for an open/high resistance. Start the engine and let it warm up. Hathcoat is an accredited technical instructor through Kent State University and certified in automotive service excellence. I jumped across the plug and compressor clutch engaged. Any downside? Unplug the single wire connector on the front side of the compressor. I don’t want to break something else (hence me not thinking I could do the coil replace successfully!). He owns a car repair shop at downtown Osaka, and he put all that experience to good use in his sharing posts. If they are bad, they should be replaced with a new compressor. Test compressor clutch coil. So, in case there is any problem with the compressor, the entire air conditioning system will also be affected. 2. how to manually engage ac compressor clutch. The AC compressor clutch is the first thing that moves every time you turn on your AC. In almost every instance when the clutch fails, it becomes burnt and discolored. I have placed a question mark by the ground lead in the diagram. OK, with a/c on and engine running there is power to the switch on the accumulator. The computer can turn it on when needed, then off when it has done its job. Compressor Clutch. If the magnet is defective, replace the compressor. Cracked or splitting belts can cause further damage to your AC compressor. Tsukasa Azuma is an awesome car blogger of Car From Japan. Want to Discharge Car AC at Home? Check for 12 volt power at the places noted. AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR CLUTCH. I have just refilled my C202 AC……….now my fan turns on and off with some noise whenever i turn on the AC,what could be the problem. I have an open coil. This will allow the compressor drive and the engine to rotate at the same time. (too much load on the engine?). Refer to this relay diagram to determine which pins in the socket should have battery voltage when the key is in the RUN position and which should have ground when the high and low pressures are within limits.. This is important because the pins on the compressor connector are small, so select connectors that will fit in the compressor plug and not short out by touching each other. Connect one of the wires, it doesn't matter which one, to the negative side of the battery. Connect a test lamp between the ignition circuit terminal 85 and the control circuit terminal 86. Moreover, because of being passionate to learn about the recent happenings in auto industry, he doesn’t only provide great car maintenance tips, he also always updates latest trends in among car brands and share them in his own interesting viewpoint. You can also check the high and low-pressure switch of it. Today when I was coming back home from work the AC worked. The flexible, rubber isolators that allow the clutch disc to move in and out will melt from the intense heat, and the metal plates will appear rusty. Plus, you should also know how to examine the clutch to find out if it is faulty or not. How To Reset Check Engine Light: Follow These 4 Easy Ways! Ran it this way for a few minutes, but it did not cool. If the circuit tests normal, test or replace the A/C clutch. The transmission should … I hear the clutch is part of the compressor unit and is not servicable. Using the 20 volt setting on the DVOM, check for battery voltage at the harness connector. Most importantly, a bad ac compressor can prove to be dangerous. Examine the A/C clutch with a flashlight. Ran it this way for a few minutes, but it did not cool. Compare the reading to factory specifications. It is an ominous sign when the clutch engages but the compressor does not spin. The compressor drive hub is usually found at the front of the pulley and is attached directly to the compressor driveshaft. A bad AC compressor clutch needs immediate fixing. The flexible, rubber isolators that allow the clutch disc to move in and out will melt from the intense heat, and the metal plates will appear rusty. When I got home I was checking things under the hood and the refrigerant pressure was fine (pressure according to chart observed in gauges). Step 4: Inspect the clutch located at the front of the AC compressor and make sure the clutch rotates freely. Compressed refrigerant moves through tubes and hoses to the drier and condenser. Check your belts to ensure there is proper tension and the belts are not damaged. Touch the light to all three wires once more. I dont have guages to check pressure so I googled and found an article about a Ram with similar problem. It is bolted into place on the front of the compressor. Unplug the compressor connector. If your air conditioning isn't working properly, you may need to replace the A/C compressor clutch to fix the problem. When the coolant level in the system goes down, the low-pressure switch does not allow the compressor to rotate. Using low-quality oil could be a reason for failing AC compressor clutch but it could happen even if you use synthetic oil and high-quality coolant. Part 1 of 1: Test the clutch. A Open the hood and look at the air conditioning compressor. Is there an easy way to tell whether the A/C clutch failed, or the compressor? Test for AC Compressor Clutch Function. You might see that under heavy acceleration, for example. Using a DVOM set to the ohms scale, disconnect the electrical connector to the clutch coil. An air conditioning compressor creates cool air by circulating refrigerant through your AC unit. Go on to check the fuse if you cannot read the voltage readings. Remove the AC relay and in the relay socket, place a small jumper wire between pins 50 and 52 (check underneath the relay to identify the pins). When you turn your air conditioning on, the A/C compressor clutch is the first part to move. Because of the way an AC system works, the engagement of the compressor is cycled based on … If the compressor is working, a mechanic would check the low and high gauge pressure. AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR CLUTCH. Nope just how to check the clutch electrically This could also happen if the two, small connectors are touching each other. Checking a Car’s AC Compressor Turn off your vehicle. In almost every instance when the clutch fails, it becomes burnt and discolored. Install jumper connectors onto the compressor electromagnet. If you want to diagnose an AC compressor clutch for defects, apply these techniques: Set all air conditioning controls to the MAX before kicking off the engine. The A/C compressor is the heart of the system, and without a good compressor, the unit will not function. Think of it as a switch that is responsible for engaging and disengaging the AC compressor pulley from its compressor drive. Is there anything else I should try before I bring it to a shop? To check for coil resistance, set your meter to the ohms scale and connect both leads to the clutch coil terminals. Although I do not recommend doing this unless you HAVE too, you could damage the compressor … AC compressor intermittent operation causing weakened or intermittent cooling performance. Turns out there are 2 switches in the … Cracked or splitting belts can cause further damage to your AC compressor. If you tap any part of your A/C compresser weather its the casing or even the clutch pully, that does damage to the yoke inside the compressor, I dont mean to be a dick or aything but just being a mechanic doesnt mean anything, I do A/C work, Im 608 & 609 cert. Touch the test light to the wires on the clutch relay. The car ac compressor is majorly the heart of the air conditioning system. Be certain and use the right sized connectors to conduct this test. If your car is compatible with R134a type of refrigerant, attaching a can to the system will override the low-pressure switch and restore the normal function of the compressor clutch. If the AC clutch fails to energize then it would mean that you have a problem with power, ground, thermal protector switch, or the magnetic clutch. Check for a tight fit of the field coil retaining snap ring. Jack Hathcoat has been a technical writer since 1974. As above, check the pressures in the system, and then see if the compressor clutch gets +12v when you engage the switch in the dash. Remove the relay from the socket. Low level of refrigerant. 000569, Member of Tokyo Chamber of Commerce Boueki - 201650, How To Manually Engage AC Compressor Clutch: The Easiest Methods, 11 Signs Your Car Is NOT Shifting Correctly, 9 Ways You Are Unconsciously Wasting Money on Car, 6 Commons Symptoms of Bad Spark Plug Wires, Reason for Car Making Humming Noise When Accelerating, Things To Avoid While Driving An Automatic, Best Tire Pressure Monitoring System Reviews. I’d leave the AC siwtch on all the time. Before checking to see if a clutch needs to be replaced, see if it is engaging and disengaging properly. Use a digital voltmeter to measure the ground and voltage of the battery at the detached connector cable. Check the front side of the clutch to examine its condition. 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