Fixed my AC blinking light - new AC clutch

My ac light started blinking around November last year on my 09 V6 and for awhile would work intermittently. Around Feb it would just blink. Took it to an ac shop because I thought the charge was the problem, but they said the compressor and all related components needed to be replaced to the tune of $1050. Most things I've read on here also just say to go ahead and replace the compressor and everything.

Hours of research I eventually found how to test the magnetic clutch (among other things) and found that it was bad. To test you literally just unplug the positive wire at the ac clutch and connect a jumper wire to it. When you tap the jumper wire on the positive battery terminal the clutch should snap together - if it doesn't, then it's bad.

Spent $70 on a used clutch from ebay and 2 hours of my time and I now have working AC again. I also found that the old clutch was chipped/cracked somehow. This is the 2nd time my mag clutch has failed on my truck. The first time was under Toyota warranty at 40k miles and now it failed again at ~105k. The hardest part of the swap was dealing with the snap rings. Hope this helps someone, if you have any questions just ask.

Here is the thread I followed - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ac-clutch-failure-how-to-fix-blinking-light-squealing.448009/

 

Hi Chris24. I just finished installing a new mag clutch on my 2010 Tacoma Sport. I am in Canada but was able to get a part from the states for around $125 US, plus shipping. I agree with you entirely, those snap rings are definitely a PITA, especially the deeper one (last one removed, first one replaced). I bet I spent 2 hours on my back, looking through a mirror, to get that little bast*** in place but finally, it happened!!! My AC is now working.