A/C Issues

My A/C has never worked, purchased the truck a year and a half ago.

With every vehicle I've driven I can feel and hear the load on the motor when the A/C is engaged. I feel absolutely nothing when I press the A/C button with climate fan running, I don't hear anything either. The light on the A/C button does illuminate. I suspect there must be some sort of clutch that is not engaging or there is a fuse or relay somewhere that has gone bad. The fuse box under the hood reveals nothing A/C related. I didn't bother to check under the dash, should I?

Is there a fuse/relay?

Is there indeed a clutch that could go out?

I assume if it's a clutch issue I'm better off replacing the whole compressor?

If I need a compressor swap, I don't want to get involved with opening the closed refrigerant system, so I'd go to a shop. Anyone know approximately how many hours a swap takes, by the book? Do I also need to have all the refrigerant replaced too?

Did I forget to ask anything else relevant?

 

yes there is a fuse. more than likely what has happened is that the freon level is low. There is a low pressure switch that opens when there isnt enough R134 in the system. If this is the case the leak needs to be located. Usually if the leak is large enough oil from the system will attract dirt and it is pretty easy to find. Then there are the small, minute leaks that are difficult if not impossible to find. The most common small leaks are at the test ports on the lines. There should be caps on them, if not, you are going to have to replace them. Sometimes that is all it takes is the cap missing. Second most common is the compressor itself, where the shaft seal is.

If you take it to a shop they are going to want to replace everything because they dont want a come back. With labor rates what they are lots of people dont want to spend lots of time or money to locate the leak, thats probably what happened to your truck from the previous owner.

 

That's really good advice, thank you!! And I totally get how shops work. Just replace it all to make sure it doesn't come back. I service things in my line of work and I do the same blanket "replace it all" position. You just don't know who you're dealing with and you don't want to work for free, or a come back.

 

mine cracked at the pipe where it goes into the cooler. got a new cooler and had it vacuum/serviced and it worked great

 

When mine stopped working I went to Oreillys and borrowed their set of gaiges. Took me 10 minutes in their parking lot to read the instructions and figure out that mine was down to 10psi. I would do this first - then you'll have some idea of what you're working with. If its totally out of pressure, take it to a shop. If its just low, fill it back up and see how long it runs.

 

anybody have a weird noise/rattle inside their cab on passenger side while accelerating and goes away when stopped or coasting
after having A/C on for awhile on the highway, then turning it off on city streets
this just started happening
only makes noise when I accelerate
does not make noise if A/C has not been on
...
gonna cost 1/2 hour labour to take mechanic for friggn ride because he has never encountered an issue I am describing