AC Clutch

Rick Jay wrote:
yobie,

Do you have a gauge set for the A/C? Without one, you're kind of shooting in the dark. If you have one, what are you reading on the gauges? If you don't have one, buy the gauges. Not that expensive and well worth it, in my opinion. I can't imagine trying to do A/C work without a gauge set.

If the system is low on refrigerant, as you know, the low pressure switch won't allow the clutch to engage. However, I've always been able to get sufficient pressure in a low (evacuated) system just by connecting the tank of refrigerant to the low pressure side and opening up the valve on the gauge set to let the R-134 in. Within a minute or two, the compressor will kick in. It doesn't take much refrigerant to turn on the low pressure switch. In cooler weather, I'll put the tank in a tub of hot water if the tank is running low.

As mentioned above, you can also put it in through the high-side, but you have to be very careful NOT to leave it connected if the compressor kicks in. Otherwise the compressor will pump & pressurize your tank. I've never needed to do that as I mentioned above.

I wouldn't jumper the switch until I knew what I had for pressures in the system.

I can't speak about your system, but I think every vehicle I've worked on had a dedicated fuse for the compressor clutch. I could be mistaken, but I can't think of a situation where that wasn't the case. Are you sure there isn't a fuse in your system that's blown?

Good Luck,

~Rick

Thanks! I've checked every fuse and every relay. There is no dedicated fuse to to my knowledge to the clutch, which is very weird. I've read every manual from Holiday rambler and ford and they do not specify a fuse for the clutch. Either way I have gone trough all 100+ fuses and all are clean and working. Only thing I can think of is there is a possibility there is an inline fuse somewhere under the dash.

I did try charging on the low port hoping it would take enough to jumpstart the compressor. It didnt take any r134 even after 15 minutes.

Again I really appreciate all the advice. I do have a gauge, but might be worth buying a real one vs just a low port gauge.