AC Clutch Failure - How to fix! (blinking light, squealing)

I had this kinda thing happen last year with my HONDA accord the AC KICKED out at 98k miles and took it to the Honda stealer and said the whole system needed to be replaced at $1500 bills, after reading thru this thread ive learned quite a bit and think I was hosed for an unnecessary full replacement when just the clutch was done.

 

I dig that shops need to make money but shouldn't do it by fleecing people. If it wasnt raining out id be tempted to take the clutch hub off now.. if its in 2 pieces it would probably answer my question

 

Trusted AC shop also wanted to replace everything for mine, around $1050. The reasoning I believe is that there are no readily available aftermarket clutches. Just the randoms you see on Amazon and Ebay. The clutch from Toyota is the same price as just buying the compressor and clutch as one unit, so I guess the shops just want to knock the whole thing out.

 

Yeah thats true, i can see why shops wouldnt source parts from Ebay or Amazon..

 

Had the same blinking light issue, but my problem wasn't the hub. It was the magnetic coil. It would not snap shut when power was applied to it. It was easy to take off the hub, pulley and coil with snap ring pliers and that clutch tool. But it was a pain in the ass to get the snap ring back on to hold the magnetic coil onto the compressor. I basically had to make a tool using a piece of pipe and a C clamp to push it back into place. But it works perfectly. Bought that kit on eBay, but didn't replace the bearing on the pulley, just the hub (even though it was fine) and coil. For $80 fixed my AC. I never even went
to the dealer knowing they'd try and rip me off. Thanks TW for all these insightful hints and tips.

 

How did you know the magnetic coil wasn't working?

 

Shop manual has the testing procedure. See attachment. Also when you push the AC button you should hear the clutch hub snap closed onto the pulley and engage. When I pushed the button, nothing. But I would hear the rpms change like you mentioned. Whether it's the clutch hub or the magnetic coil, you won't know if the compressor is seized, because it doesn't run when one or both of those other two parts are at fault. The belt is just spinning the pulley but nothing is engaging.
You can also test the coil with an ohm meter. If I remember it should be 3-5 ohms.
But if you are seeing the black oozing, it's probably just the hub. I tried that first since it's pretty easy, from underneath. But it didn't fix it, so I tested the magnetic coil. It looked fine but didn't pass either test. So I replaced it a few weeks ago. My trucks a 2012, bought it used earlier this year at a lower price since it had no ac. AC now works, it was 93 degrees here in ATL last weekend. Glad I fixed it before then. Compressor was fine.

 

Thank you! Ill have to give this a shot if the hub doesn't resolve this. Did you have to remove the compressor to replace the whole clutch?

 

No. The compressor stays connected, which would be the goal since you don't have to disconnect any pressurized refrigerant lines. I don't think discharging an AC system is really a DIY type of job.

 

Yea definitely not something i would mess with. One thing i noticed in my case is when pushing the ac button the clutch hub would spin full speed, but the center of the hub would spin slower, then stop (while the outer rint of the hub spins full speed with the pulley) . Serpentine belt never squeals and pulley never stops i am guessing this means the hub is in 2 pieces (like in OPs original post).. now i guess i wont know if the hub failed just due to wear or because the compressor seized up until i change this on Sunday

 

heres another clutch I found at even a better price https://www.ebay.com/itm/05-09-Toyo...-/181735059098?txnId=1471943164008&rmvSB=true

 

how come it was so hard to put the snap ring back on the magnet, i posted up a video how to on a Tacoma clutch assembly how to where the vid guy snap ringed the magnet and pulley back on with snap ring pliers in minutes.

 

Thanks!

 

He may not have had those little pliers. If i need to do my clutch im definitely buying those.

 

im thinking that its hard to see in the recessed hole to see exactly what your doing since the compressor is still in the truck, when the guy in the video removed that clip I noticed he hadn't really completely removed the clip when he pulled the old magnet out you can hear the clip go flying, i seen where a guy used a little mirror to help see better in the hole when he replaced the clip, most the the vids suggest using new clips and hardware which comes with the full assembly kit.

 

harbor freight

 

Yeah, like just pry it the hell out of there since its all going in the garbage anyway. Installing will be easier by feel i imagine

 

I can see doing this eventually on my truck, I looked at my compressor on the 4 cylinder seems like the fan blade would be a pain to work around, the v6 compressor looks a little more offset towards the drivers tire where it wont be in the way which is good, getting a comfortable work space in there looks like 75% of the battle.

 

Yeah I am hoping that just jackstanding the front would give me enough room, it's been crazy at home so i havent had a chance to even mess with it after work - one thing i need to try is just turning that center bolt with the engine off - if it spins that would mean the compressor isn't seized, right? Do these compressors always seize when they die?

 

from what im reading the compressor is usually always fine, its the clutch/pulley bearings/magnet assembly that gives out and needs replacement. you can still drive the truck just don't use the AC(obviously) or with the AC OFF don't use the defrost or defrost/floor settings cause these will cycle start the AC compressor. if you got time just get the skid plate off till the part comes and you can also look around under there a little more, pull on the whole assemble to see if its loose. in your case you definetly have either a bad clutch(easiest fix) or the whole assembly needs replacement bad bearings or magnet could be a DIY. the weather wont be good till maybe next week,