Troubleshooting A/C clutch?

[yellocoyote]

I haven't had working A/C in the the KJ since spring of '09. I knew I had a crack in the condenser, of which I replaced with a new one over the weekend. I took my jeep into the trusted place in town to do the recharge. Charging the system went well this time - no leaks anywhere. However, when they tested for cool air in the cabin, they found that the A/C clutch would not engage. They cleaned out the plug above the compressor, and they replaced the fuse with a new one (just in case), and had no luck.

My question is... aside from replacing the relay, what other things can I try to get the clutch to work? I checked out my FSM, and did not find a good troubleshooting checklist...

 

[Mangate]

You could connect the clutch direct to the battery momentarily to see if it clicks in if you don't have a multimeter to check it's resistance.

 

[tjkj2002]

Jump the low pressure switch and see if the clutch starts engaging.Common issue for any AC system.

 

[yellocoyote]

Update: I left work, and while on my way to my class, I turned on the AC just to see if it might work... and it DID! For all of about 15 minutes, and then it went back to the temerature that it was outside. (banghead) It did the same thing again on my way from class to home... for about the same duration of time.

Is it possible that the clutch isn't spinning as freely because it has not been in use for over a year? Is there some way I can check that for sure, or lubricate the clutch?



Troy - where do you find the low pressure switch that you're talking about?

 

[tjkj2002]

1st don't lubricate the clutch,then it will slip.

1-low pressure switch
2-receiver/dryer(passenger side by firewall)

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[yellocoyote]

Thanks for that - I'll give that a try.

Based on the intermittiant working AC, do you the clutch is on it's way out?

 

[tjkj2002]

Thanks for that - I'll give that a try.

Based on the intermittiant working AC, do you the clutch is on it's way out?

Sounds like a overcharge/undercharge or the compressor is on it's way out.

 

[yellocoyote]

Sounds like a overcharge/undercharge or the compressor is on it's way out.

(censored)ing fantastic...

I'm playing my optimist card for now. The AC has been working all day today - no intermittent stuff either. So I'll run with it for now.

But, just as a little insurance, I'm going to pick up a shorter belt for the day that the compressor craps out. I want to have a compressor bypass handy so I don't get stranded somewhere.(banghead)

Thanks for the insight, everyone.

 

[kb0nly]

Could be a bad clutch coil, but if it keeps working then see what happens...

Also since it hasn't been used in a while, it might have taken the clutch a while to work free and work like it should, i have seen that happen before also.

 

[yellocoyote]

Also since it hasn't been used in a while, it might have taken the clutch a while to work free and work like it should, i have seen that happen before also.

This is what I'm hoping for...