artbesch

During a 45 minute hwy trip my A/C stopped working. It was hotter than normal here on this day so I thought the system may have overheated for some reason. Hoped that after ending the trip and the car cooled that it may start working again. No luck and after many days still nothing. Before trying to recharge the system I tried testing the relay by swapping. Clutch will not engage. Fans are running OK when Max is turned on. Tried tapping the clutch but it won't start spinning on it's own. This may be a stupid question but will the clutch not engage if the system needs Freon? Or am I looking at a clutch issue? Thanks in advance for any assistance.

mac25

If you can try disconnecting the ac compressor wiring and see if voltage is getting there.

If there is proper voltage/amperage

then the compressor itself should be the issue.




If there is no voltage

then something upstream is cutting voltage flow. ... fuse, relay, dead wire.

ezone

Compressor operation is disabled if the system has no freon. That's certainly not the only possible reason for the compressor to not operate though.

If it had lost (all of the) freon the radiator fans would not run when you turn the AC on. You say they run so the system must have enough pressure to enable compressor operation.

Most likely causes:
You've lost the relay (you swapped so that's probably not it), or you've lost the clutch field coil (ohm test it), or the clutch gap is excessive due to wear of the plate and pulley.

Wiring isn't a usual problem but of course check that out as well.