Intermittent A/C Problem

I’d find out it there’s a blend door that’s supposed to open when the AC is turned on and note if that problem happens when the AC turns on with the defrost settings as well.

 

I had my dash all apart for days with the wiring diagram trying to narrow mine down. My blower stays on. Everything staying on except the compressor. Hot/cold control valve staying 'cold'.
You're newer '10 vs 01 and may have more control, but mine has a high pressure /low pressure switch and evap temperature sensor with terminal plugs hidden behind the glove box that input the AC controller that is part of the switch assy which also has a modular plug any of which can cause intermittent problems.
I tested the pressure switch and the temperature sensor.
I bypassed the pressure switch and installed a resistor in place of the sensor and cleaned the modular plugs. .No luck.
Pulled the controller to clean the modular plug and check voltages at the pins...Problem cleared!
Put glove box together but driving around with dash center apart for awhile, 2 days working fine. Looking like a bad connection at the control module.

 

If you haven't already I'd document high side and low side pressure when you can get it running. Confirm normal ranges.
Then check the electrical connection at the compressor and wire in a 12v light to that compressor wire so you can determine when it's energized from the cab.
Then trouble shoot from there.

 

I had a problem with mine, and it was the A/C switch in the dash. It would go out intermittently, I finally got a used from Speedway Salvage (like a Pick n Pull) from a RAV 4, and it fixed it! Also, it only cost $2.

 

I had disconnected the battery about a week ago to install fog lights and hadn’t tried using the AC until about a week after. I read on other threads that the AC resets itself for awhile after disconnecting the battery, and i’m hoping this was the case. It seemed to start working again on it’s own after restarting the car and letting it run for awhile. Hopefully that’s all it was!