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A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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doesntcool
Novice
Apr 23, 2023, 12:35 PM
Post #1 of 12
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A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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I read through this thread:
https://autoforums.carjunky.com/...are_jumped_P209475-2
My issue appears to be similar though it's a different vehicle with a different history.
Background:
This is a 2016 Subaru Forester. The a/c was out when I purchased it. I had firestone try to diag. They gave it a charge the compressor clutch engaged for 5 or so seconds. Turns off. They said to replace the whole system at $2,100. I figured this was a bit lazy and not zoomed in enough on actual issue. Don't have those funds.
My paps employs a handy man and prior home a/c guy who took a look while on jobsite. Said it was the compressor and the high-pressure line was warped and needs to be replaced as well. Ordered parts. Guy installed the compressor and new line. Same result. It blew cold for about 5 seconds.
I took it into Meineke and they charged $300 to run a vacuum and charge. Said it was the compressor. They were able to get it to run by jumping the relay circuit. He said it shouldn't be draining the engine or sound like that "clicking noise". Guy had the pressure at something ridic like 500psi on the HP side. I feel like that was a bad move and he may have compounded whatever was originally going on.
Talked again to handy man who said to check the a/c compressor relay and the battery terminals. Cleaned terminals and swapped the horn and a/c relay. horn beeped. Same result.
I've checked for error codes a few times now. Last time just now. Nothing shows up.
So this seems like insanity. I want a proper diagnosis. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I drive all day for my job in this vehicle and it's gonna get hot soon enough. Should I start looking for PCM wiring diagrams and testing stuff one at a time? I've dropped close to $700 between everything without much progress. I need to either save and get the whole damned thing replaced or go macguyver and turtling away with the zooming in on my own.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Apr 23, 2023, 1:08 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 23, 2023, 1:17 PM
Post #2 of 12
(1051 views)
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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OK, you need to stop with the handymen and the shops that have no idea what they are doing.
AC repair is a very specialized trade. Everybody thinks they know how to repair AC and almost no one actually does. I see you are in Texas. There should be some capable AC people in that area.
500PSI will shut the system down immediately and you're lucky it does.
There is a sequence to diagnosing this. You first have to start with the exact weighed amount of charge and then see what you have. If it still jumps to 500 PSI you have a big problem. You either have a total blockage in the high side of the system or your cooling fan is not working at all. DO NOT jump out relays to make it run. It's shutting down to prevent it from blowing up.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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doesntcool
Novice
Apr 23, 2023, 1:44 PM
Post #3 of 12
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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Meineke looked up the refrigerant type and amount then placed it in. So it must be one of the two you mentioned. Yeah, the guy didn't seem phased that it was pegging the right end of the gauge. I thought something was about to explode and asked him to shut off whatever he was doing.
I didn't jump it out. The mechanic thought he was a genius doing it. Glad I didn't go back. Okay so I'd like to check the cooling fan on my own. Where is this located? It's blowing fine in the cabin at all settings. I'm guessing you're referring to something else?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 23, 2023, 1:47 PM
Post #4 of 12
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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Meineke is definitely NOT the place for AC work.
Don't look for the cheapest shop, look for the one that does lots of AC work.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Apr 23, 2023, 2:40 PM
Post #5 of 12
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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500 PSI is crazy!
It's a bit of a jump but we'll assume that meineke got close to the correct charge in it. If your system has a full charge and the clutch won't stay engaged then basically you have one of two problems. Either you have a bad clutch assembly or something is causing the system to kick out. The easiest thing to do would be to check power (and ground) at the compressor and when it kicks out see if you still have power at the clutch. If it does, then you have a bad clutch, and since you're in Texas in a nutshell it would be best to change out the whole compressor assembly, not just a clutch.
If you're losing power when it kicks out then this is where scan tool would really come in handy to narrow down what the problem is, from a bad relay to too much pressure, to a bad switch, etc.
Also you definitely want to make sure you're cooling fans are kicking on when the AC is on, this is critical.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 23, 2023, 3:12 PM
Post #6 of 12
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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I think it's safe to assume that at 500PSI, it's high pressure shutdown.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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doesntcool
Novice
Apr 23, 2023, 4:10 PM
Post #7 of 12
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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This is good stuff. Okay. I'll check it if I can ever get it to come back on. It was coming on for 5-10 seconds occasionally. Hasn't done that at all today watching it hood up for a while.
I'm in Texas, but it's cool today. So this is dual fan system. Neither fan is engaging. How can I test these fans? I was looking for the two green connectors under the dash. See a bit of connectors. None of them are green. Did they change this for 2016 Sub For?
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doesntcool
Novice
Apr 23, 2023, 4:38 PM
Post #8 of 12
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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Holy Sh!t this might almost be fixed. I just put the can I had of 134a in to 35psi running and followed the instructions. It's blowing cold with recycle, high fan, on defrost. Clutch stays engaged. Clutch turns off outside of defrost. So this might be down to a simple electrical issue at this point?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 23, 2023, 4:46 PM
Post #9 of 12
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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That's not necessarily good news. Assuming they charged it to the correct weight, this means you have a serious leak somewhere.
I can't stress enough. If you keep experimenting with this system you are going to do more damage than you can pay for. You can't imagine how much more expensive this can get.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 23, 2023, 4:46 PM
Post #10 of 12
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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Watching, Texas noted + expected need for A/C hence should be several pro shops so far not indicated?
Quick high pressure a real failure could clog up condenser such that it doesn't remove heat there nor condense - shut down to prevent a literal blow out.
What you can do it find the right shop but look for dumb stuff like excessive bugs - dirt on condenser and note fan(s) are running right away.
No air thru grille or enough would shut a good system down.
Lots of electro-mechanical things happen to make it work observations of all of it at what temperature it really is critical.
It's its own sub-trade to auto repair no fooling around wrong moves make for disasters,
Tom
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doesntcool
Novice
Apr 23, 2023, 5:15 PM
Post #11 of 12
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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Noted. Might still be a major issue. What I recall is Meineke boss woman asked if he removed the refrigerant and he said yes. She said to put it back in. No clue if he put it all in or not. There was definitely a major leak at the high pressure line coming out of the compressor initially. That was fixed. Then we got a new o-ring on the low pressure side and it was holding for 10mins. So if it's leaking, it's not huge. Could still be slow leaking.
I drive about 8K a month for my job. Bugs all over the front grille. I'm gonna clean that and look for the condener to clean, get the can, and see what results over the next few days. If this is still leaking and with issues, I'm hands off and going to fork out for a master mech at a shop that specializes in a/c.
This isn't quite as risky as my day job, but I get it. I'm risking a lot.
Update: Cleaned. No change. Found this:
Link deleted ......... not allowed
Gonna get a volt meter hooked up to the relay pins and see if this is the issue.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Apr 23, 2023, 6:41 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 24, 2023, 12:19 AM
Post #12 of 12
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Re: A/C compressor clutch won't stay engaged more than 5 seconds
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This was missing the 2 post before I posted. DON'T GO ADDING refrigerant on your own with those cans!
I'm out computer too screwed right now for keeping up with this just know if that worked for a few minutes, or survived even taking in more it leaked out. That's the reason most quit working STILL then all this messing with it (blindfolded) is just making sure its read dead the chances of a small problem are slipping away,
Tom
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