My AC works great for a while but will stop intermittently. Took it to the shop while it wasn’t working but it suddenly started while they were trying to diagnose and wouldn’t stop again. I brought it home and it stopped again. I replaced the clutch relay and it worked for an hour or so and quit. Then started back 5 miles later. Any ideas?
Intermittent AC clutch
- Thread starter stormnorm
- Start date
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Hamfisted
Full Access Members
Do you have a HVAC gauge set ? What are your Low / High pressures ?
SafariGoneWrong
Well-Known Member
If you're confident system pressures are correct with the compressor turning, I'd check the high and low pressure cut-out switches. The high pressure switch (at least on my '06) is up by the windshield fluid fill on the liquid line. Remove the connector and jump the two wires in the pigtail and see if the compressor kicks on. The low pressure cutout switch pigtail is harder to get to, aft of the battery on the vapor line at the expansion valve. Same procedure. The switches do go bad, last year had to replace a combination of high and low pressure switches on my Passat and Bronco.
I’ve tried that on the low pressure switch when it stopped working before, but the clutch didn’t kick in. I’ll try it on the high side when it stops again. Can the switches be replaced without losing the Freon? It does act like something electrical because it cools great when the clutch is running.
SafariGoneWrong
Well-Known Member
They should be threaded onto a schrader valve, no (minimal) refrigerant is lost. I've never seen otherwise.
Thank you very much for your help. I may just replace both of them in case that’s the issue. However, it would be interesting to jump the high pressure switch to see if the clutch kicks in. I’ll try that when it stops again. I bought it new in 2005 and have almost 300,000 miles so it’s about time to have a few issues.
I almost have my moneys worth lol
I almost have my moneys worth lol
Prcyfnl
New Member
Exactly was happening to my 2005 expedition, I replaced the fun clutch and my A/C is working back again since two weeks ago, hopefully it solved the problem
Is there a way to test the clutch? I did the tap test to make sure it wasn’t a gap issue but it wouldn’t kick in. It’s working fine right now but you never know when it will quit and for how long. Is the clutch easy to replace? I’m not really wanting to just replace parts but it may be worth it if the cost is reasonable and not extremely labor intensive.
