Help!!! A/C compressor clutch not engaging

Last night the A/C was working fine, this morning would not engage the compressor clutch, the 10amp fuse is ok but replace it anyway with no luck.

Since the compressor is not engaging, the air is not cold, has to be electrical but all the control lights are ok, no blinking lights or anything abnormal, the blower is fine at all speeds, just ambient temperature air being blown, any clues of where to start?............

I'm trying to get a copy of the electrical schematic, but no luck yet finding it, any help of where to start or a copy of the schematic would be greatly appreciated

If the temp control is turned to heat it works well, just no cold air and no weird noises lately either.........seems like the signal is not getting to the compressor to activate the clutch.

Thanks

 

If your free-on is low it won't engage the clutch. If wiring looks fine that's where I would go next. The parts stores sell those charge it yourself kits.

 

The anal retentive tech in me says get it evacuated and charged with the proper charge/checked for leaks. Could be electrical but I doubt it, I've seen more compressors "stop working" from lack of charge than any other issue.

 

Ok, first move would be get the dials and check for pressure, ok will do now and see what happens.

Any more info would be great

Thanks

 

Just a thought: Try to jump the freon sensor to make the truck think freon is full. See if it engages then. Don't run it too long like that tho.

Someone might chime in to where to look for this sensor.

 

I had a go around in my 1st gen tundra. 2 local garages and 1 Toy dealer said I need a new compressor. Tons of diagnosing same reluctant verdict. I replaced the compressor my self no dice. I finally figured out when I had my dash apart previously I hadn,t reconected the a/c button plug all the way! Check the simple shit first! On a seperate note: I have a perfectly good A/C compressor out of a 4.0L Tundra for sale cheap!

 

You can also manually engage the clutch. Just for trouble shooting purposes.

 

is the compressor getting power and ground?

 

First diagnostic is from a local auto a/c shop, according to the guy, the evaporator is shot, had some oil on the drain line tip and he charged some gas in the circuit and tested for gas out of the drain line with a sensor, bells rang on the sensor when it was near the drain line.

Quotation was for $1,130.00

The guy wants $395.00 for the evaporator (OEM), I called my local dealer and the dealer quoted list price was $260.00, and with my discounts was $130.00 I bet he can get it for less since he has a shop, this guy wants to rip me $265.00 on that item alone, for the expansion valve wanted $125.00, I still have to quote that from my friend at the dealer, but someone told me it would be around $60.00, also wanted $10.00 for an Oring kit , $15.00 for the oil and $65.00 for charging the system.
The cherry was that he wanted $520.00 for labor!!!!!!!!!

Next step would be getting another quotation from another tech that I don't know, just to make sure the diagnostic was right, and then a third one from a recommended tech that gives good prices to my father in law.

At last, my neighbor that works with mini-splits told me that if I get the parts, he will install them for free, just make sure first that we have the correct diagnostic hence the 3 quotations first.

Probably will get the parts from my dealer that have always gave me good prices on OEM parts.

Will let you know what happens.............

Since it's friday, 'till monday project is at halt, any more suggestions will be greatly appreciated......

Thanks

 

I assume that he charged you around a hundred dollars to check out the system. That is the going rate in my area. If you are going to get another diagnostic I would use the dealer. Than you can buy all the parts including oil and Freon and have that neighbor put them on.

 

Thanks, I'll get to the dealer too and see what they say, no charge for that quotation, I think he included the cost of the quotation in the labor part.........

 

Kind of strange the evaporator went. Usually if something is going to go it's the condenser due to road debris. I had a brand new RSX in 04 that took a rock to the condenser the 3rd day I had it. Evaporator is behind the dash though, tougher to change than the condenser. If you're patient installing A/C parts generally isn't that hard but most people don't have a vacuum pump or manifold set to properly evacuate them and charge them afterwards. Before I bought my own setup I used to do all the work and bring the vehicle to a place doing free A/C checks. If it passed I would have them charge it.

 

i was under the impression that any fault the system detects and automatically shuts off would result in a blinking a/c light. like push the button, it says na, I don't want to run, and gives you a blinking light as it shuts down. that's my understanding and im not stating this as fact.

a leak in the evaporator is hard for me to comprehend. if the coil itself is leaking I don't know why that would require a new txv.

and with your neighbor, be careful. I can install refrigeration systems, and do it well, but troubleshooting and repairing an automotive one is a bit different. make sure he has a vacuum pump, r134 manifold, and nitrogen. if hes gunna repair your system without those three things at least then he needs a stern "no thanks."

 

My neighbor has all the gear needed to do the job and works in mini-split systems, just don't work on cars, but if I rip the dash apart and get all the parts, he'll do it for me so it's going to be that route, just need to be sure that the evaporator is the offending item hence all the diagnostics that will be done next week.

I was thinking about charging it myself with a pep boys kit of gas and oil without the sealants, just to see if the gas escapes quickly or if it stays in for a while, what you guys think....