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Compressor clutch not engaging


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ksimmons
New User

Jul 30, 2013, 11:40 AM

Post #1 of 9 (2898 views)
Compressor clutch not engaging Sign In

2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
4.0
190K miles

AC compressor clutch is not engaging.

Low side of AC is reading 150 PSI on an almost 100 degree day which seems normal for a full equalized static pressure. AC relay checks out okay as does low pressure switch and all fuses. Jumped the compressor directly to the battery with nothing. Connector to the compressor clutch is reading steady 13.9-14.0 volts with AC on. At this point thinking it is a bad clutch coil, but I'm able to get an ohm reading on the coil of 4.0-4.3 which is normal range. Is there some other component that could be bad that is preventing the clutch from working? Thanks.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 30, 2013, 11:57 AM

Post #2 of 9 (2888 views)
Re: Compressor clutch not engaging Sign In

If you have power and ground at the clutch, then you have a bad clutch.



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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.



Tom Greenleaf
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Jul 30, 2013, 1:28 PM

Post #3 of 9 (2869 views)
Re: Compressor clutch not engaging Sign In

Check the clutch air gap. .020 is pretty standard and with your miles it probably would be too large now to engage. Careful, but if you can tap on outer hub with A/C on/requested and it engages it needs to be adjusted to less gap.

You have the right ohms and voltage so next it check that gap.

BTW - the static pressure only means it isn't empty if compressor isn't engaged. Your reading only means it was about 110-115F underhood when taken not that it's a correct charge,


T



Hammer Time
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Jul 30, 2013, 1:39 PM

Post #4 of 9 (2864 views)
Re: Compressor clutch not engaging Sign In

It could be air gap but if it is, it means the plate and pulley are worn down and the clutch is pretty much shot anyway.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.



Tom Greenleaf
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Jul 30, 2013, 2:01 PM

Post #5 of 9 (2856 views)
Re: Compressor clutch not engaging Sign In

If only that I've had them last near forever just adjusting them but A/C doesn't work as hard here either. Cycling clutches do cycle a lot as it's not that hot for that long here to just stay on so I think it's harder on the dang things. Worth checking. I found they quit at about .030 or so or are intermittent for a while before that,

T



ksimmons
New User

Aug 5, 2013, 11:33 AM

Post #6 of 9 (2821 views)
Re: Compressor clutch not engaging Sign In

Thanks for all the great information. Here is some new information to see if this confirms or deny anything previously said. It appears the coil is working as when the AC is on the clutch is magnetized, The gap between the clutch face and the pulley is .097 which I understand to be much too large. When I tapped it with a hammer it did attempt to slowly spin and then stopped. So based on this it would still appear that I need a new compressor clutch? Once again thanks for all your help.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 5, 2013, 1:10 PM

Post #7 of 9 (2817 views)
Re: Compressor clutch not engaging Sign In

If you adjust the air gap tighter it will probably work but the coil has likely lost some power also.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.



ksimmons
New User

Aug 5, 2013, 1:23 PM

Post #8 of 9 (2815 views)
Re: Compressor clutch not engaging Sign In

Are you saying I would be better off replacing both the clutch and coil? Or with as many miles as the Jeep has should I replace the compressor too? Don't want to pour alot of money into it, but also don't want to be penny wise, pound foolish. Thanks.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 5, 2013, 2:19 PM

Post #9 of 9 (2811 views)
Re: Compressor clutch not engaging Sign In

Not yet. That's a wild gap and surprised it worked at all up to that. It must have been slipping but if correct now just watch the thing it may or may not. You can ohm out the coil and get an idea but still expect troubles somewhere down the road but only that it won't engage.

If this is cycling constantly and it's warm/hot enough out it's time to find out why,

T







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