Why is the clutch on my AC not working?

Why is the clutch on my AC not working?

There are many reasons why an AC clutch does not engage. It could be because of a blown fuse, a bad clutch coil, or an open on the wire to the clutch coil. It could also be of poor ground or a low-pressure lockout.

How is the compressor clutch relay turned on and off?

In some vehicles the compressor clutch relay is turned on and off by the low pressure switch and the evaporator temperature sensor. In a computer controlled system, the compressor clutch relay is grounded by the computer. If the fuse is good, disconnect the electrical connector from the compressor clutch coil.

What does it mean when your clutch is not turning?

Both the pulley and the clutch should be spinning. That means the clutch has properly engaged with the pulley. If only the pulley is turning, but the clutch disc isn’t, there’s a problem somewhere in the system.

Why is the clutch not engaged on my gas compressor?

But if the system is low on refrigerant, the clutch will never engage. Some DIYers then hotwire the low pressure switch to force the compressor clutch to engage while they recharge. BAD MOVE. At that point you’re running the compressor with little to no oil.

What to do if your air conditioner clutch does not engage?

If the clutch doesn’t engage, the air conditioning compressor can’t pump refrigerant. So start your diagnosis by determining if the compressor clutch works. Turn the air conditioning controls to MAX AC and start the engine. Then look at the front of the compressor clutch.

Why is the clutch not working on my Honda Accord?

In a few cases, the clutch does not engage due to a clogged refrigerant circuit. Set all air conditioning controls to the MAX before kicking off the engine. Check the front side of the clutch to examine its condition. Also, find out whether the clutch and the pulley are spinning.

Why does my car clutch not turn on?

Clutch sensor- default lockout Many modern-day cars are built with AC clutches that turn on and off using high and low-pressure switches and compressor oil levels through the fuse. There are three reasons why the compressor clutch does not engage, especially if the sensor detects them. These include low or excess refrigerant and insufficient oil.

Why is the pulley not engaging the clutch?

Turn the air conditioning controls to MAX AC and start the engine. Then look at the front of the compressor clutch. Both the pulley and the clutch should be spinning. That means the clutch has properly engaged with the pulley. If only the pulley is turning, but the clutch disc isn’t, there’s a problem somewhere in the system.

What to do if your AC compressor clutch is broken?

If you don’t see obvious signs that the compressor clutch is broken, you can jump it for further diagnosis. Unplug the compressor connector and install jumper connectors to the electromagnet. You will need a wire crimp tool because the connectors are small. Route the wires to the car battery.

What should the volts be on my a / C CLUTCH?

I disconnected the plug and measured volts at the plug with the engine running and the dash button “on”. The black wire measured a solid 14.2 millivolts, while the green wire’s reading fluctuated wildly… between 300mv and 1.3v (the best that I could tell, anyway, as it was fluctuating rapidly).

What to do when Clutch won’t engage?

So you need to use a paper clip to bypass the relay switch and force the clutch to engage. You can then recharge the freon and re install the relay switch and it will sense more pressure and the clutch will engage by itself. Loading…

What should you do if your AC clutch is not engaging?

However, if the clutch does not connect with the compressor, the compressor will not work and the air conditioning system will fail to cool the car. Try checking if the clutch is in good condition by applying these steps: Turn the AC controls to maximum air conditioning.

How is the clutch connected to the AC unit?

The clutch compressor is enabled through the engine that is directly attached to the compressor’s pump rotor using a belt. However, most car AC systems now use an electromagnetic clutch piece that engages the compressor to spin the air conditioning unit.

Why is my a / C CLUTCH not working on my Dakota?

When it is intermittent, it is probably more wiring or sensor related. Those intermittent problems are always nice to solve. Don’t read too much into it, I just replaced an A/C compressor on a 4.7l dakota last week that took a couple trips of the customer running over here when it was acting up so I could actually see the problem.