Air Compressor 'pulses' instead of staying on...

[Kstills]

I've had intermittent issues with the AC on the 97 for a while. I had thought it needed to be replaced, but after jiggling the connections it fired back up and has worked reliably all summer.

However, now it's starting to act up again. Usually, the ac is fine at start up, but once it needs to reflate the bags after the car slows down from 60mph, I'm getting the check air message.

Yesterday, I noticed that the compressor isn't pumping continuously, that is 'pulses' on start up.

It's been pretty hot and humid here (first time this summer) so I'm thinking water in the system. I'm checking the connections again today, but aside from those two fixes I'm at a loss as to why I'm getting intermittent action from the ac.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

 

[topher5150]

If you think there is water in the system I would check the dryer

 

[Kstills]

If you think there is water in the system I would check the dryer

I'm waiting to pull the ac until after the boy goes back to school and I have the second car available full time, but that's certainly on the table. I also have a second unit from the project car which I was delaying getting rebuilt because of funds, but I'll probably send that out to American Air in the next few days as a backup.

What I'm wondering is if anyone has had a similar issue with the ac, and what it turned out to be?

 

[Kstills]

Ok, heres what happened this AM.

Started the car, ac fires up and runs for ~30 seconds. After it shuts off, then I hear the pulsing noise coming out of the front end (same side as the ac). That runs for ~60 seconds, then the check suspension message comes on.

I shut off the car, then turn it back on again. AC kicks in, runs for ~30 seconds again. Pulsing starts after ac shuts off, but stops after about 10 seconds. No check suspension message.

Does that sound like something is venting that shouldn't be? Bags all hold air, the car isn't down on either front or back or either side.

 

[chicken]

ok dont call it ac, i was confused as hell at first (ac=make inside of car cool) im wondering if the compressor is getting weak and the car isnt seeing enough movement before it times out (90 sec) thus tripping the message.

 

[Kstills]

ok dont call it ac, i was confused as hell at first (ac=make inside of car cool) im wondering if the compressor is getting weak and the car isnt seeing enough movement before it times out (90 sec) thus tripping the message.

The problem is definitely the compressor. For the last two days it's worked fine, either on start up or after hitting 60 mph. The pulsing that I thought was air venting is coming from the compressor, I just have no idea what is causing it to do that.

I'll get the old one rebuilt, swap them out and re-charge the dessicant on the one that's giving me problems.