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A/c clutch not engaging

U

ubnpast

CEG'er
Joined
Apr 1, 2007
Messages
148
Location
West NJ
I bought a 96 mystique 2 months ago, decided to get it on the road (due to having 2 other cars). I started it up today and there is no cold air. The compressor clutch is not engaging, and the fan does not come on.
Now in my other 2 cars when the key is in the acc position and I turn the a/c on the fans still come on w/o the cars running.

Now I think I know 2 things that are the cause, possibly not enough r134/leak, or clutch is bad/out of adjustment.

Does anyone know a way to jump the low pressure switch to see if the clutch engages? I believe this will tell me wether the r134 is low or not.
I checked in the owners manual, there seem to be no fuses associated with the a/c, only relays. I found a blue relay, somewhat small I believe it was for the clutch engagement, i felt it and it felt fairly warm, is this normal?
 
Does anyone know a way to jump the low pressure switch to see if the clutch engages?

A paper clip works. Pull the connector off the switch and jump it with a paper clip. If that engages the clutch, don't run it that way for more than a very few seconds so you don't damage the compressor.
 
Big Jim said:
Does anyone know a way to jump the low pressure switch to see if the clutch engages?

A paper clip works. Pull the connector off the switch and jump it with a paper clip. If that engages the clutch, don't run it that way for more than a very few seconds so you don't damage the compressor.
Click to expand...

Would this be the switch on the upper left side of the a/c lines up on top, it is a square plug and 2 wires?
 
Driver's side, radiator's edge. Follow the hard metal AC lines towards the driver's side, then they curve downwards and go to the a/c receiver/drier. The plug is plugged in to the top of the receiver/drier.
 
Thanks for the info! I bypassed the low pressure switch, added some r134, then plugged the switch back in.
The A/C is COLDER THAN ICE COLD on the pass side vent, now in the middle one that is on the right it is cold, the 2 on the drivers side are warmer than the cold ones? :confused:
Ive noticed that the compressor cycles on for about 4 seconds and 4 seconds off. I believe this is due to low pressure. :confused:
I only had 1 can from wal-mart, and I cant seem to get the last 1/3 out, I probably need another can.
Anyone have any insight on what I can do, and if it is normal for the 1 vent to be extreamly cold, the other cold, and the other 2 on the drivers side warmer than the cold ones (lol, sorry for the confusion)?
 
If one side of the car baked in the sun, yes, it is normal. I usually run with the flow reduced a little to the passenger and center vents, to keep me cooler to the left side. All the air comes out of the same large hole under the dash, then goes to the vents. You need more R134 after leak fixed. Likely cause of the leak is the reciver/drier (accumulator) tank that the pressure switch goes into. Gets rusted out.
 
FavoriteMystaque said:
If one side of the car baked in the sun, yes, it is normal. I usually run with the flow reduced a little to the passenger and center vents, to keep me cooler to the left side. All the air comes out of the same large hole under the dash, then goes to the vents. You need more R134 after leak fixed. Likely cause of the leak is the reciver/drier (accumulator) tank that the pressure switch goes into. Gets rusted out.
Click to expand...

I let it run for about 8 minutes and it was colder on one side. Is it possible to get that last 1/3 out of the can, or is there not enough pressure in the can?
I tried to pull some of that foam off the accumlator, but I didnt see much if any rust, ill take a better look tommorow.
Thanks for the great info guys.
 
To raise can pressure, set the can in a pan of hot tap water. Should let you empty it. Make sure the small thumbwheels are all set open (white mark towards top) on the vents.
 
ubnpast said:
Thanks for the info! I bypassed the low pressure switch, added some r134, then plugged the switch back in.
The A/C is COLDER THAN ICE COLD on the pass side vent, now in the middle one that is on the right it is cold, the 2 on the drivers side are warmer than the cold ones? :confused:
Ive noticed that the compressor cycles on for about 4 seconds and 4 seconds off. I believe this is due to low pressure. :confused:
I only had 1 can from wal-mart, and I cant seem to get the last 1/3 out, I probably need another can.
Anyone have any insight on what I can do, and if it is normal for the 1 vent to be extreamly cold, the other cold, and the other 2 on the drivers side warmer than the cold ones (lol, sorry for the confusion)?
Click to expand...


YES TAKE IT TO A SHOP AND LET THEM CORECTLY FIX THE A/C SYSTEM

the system is suppose to cycle depending on the ambient temp .... also if you had to add refrigerant then you have a leak .... you can not just add refrigerant to the system .... low and high side pressures need to be adhered to the system needs to be vacuumed down to fill correctly, remaining refrigerant recovered, etc ...

PLEASE DO NOT WORK ON THE A/C SYSTEM IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT TOOLS OR KNOWLEDGE .... YOU CAN'T JUST "DUMP" REFRIDGERANT INTO THE SYSTEM ....

over charging is as bad as undercharging ...
 
BrApple said:
YES TAKE IT TO A SHOP AND LET THEM CORECTLY FIX THE A/C SYSTEM

the system is suppose to cycle depending on the ambient temp .... also if you had to add refrigerant then you have a leak .... you can not just add refrigerant to the system .... low and high side pressures need to be adhered to the system needs to be vacuumed down to fill correctly, remaining refrigerant recovered, etc ...

PLEASE DO NOT WORK ON THE A/C SYSTEM IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT TOOLS OR KNOWLEDGE .... YOU CAN'T JUST "DUMP" REFRIDGERANT INTO THE SYSTEM ....

over charging is as bad as undercharging ...
Click to expand...
well I am certainly going to give it a try :rolleyes:
 
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