Force AC compressor clutch to engage?

[unity]

Anyway? Trying to fill the empty system, it will not engage. Fuses ok, etc.

 

[96hotrodlincoln]

A person could unhook the harness at the compressor and temporarily apply 12 volts to energize the clutch on the compressor, or you could just tap the wire that supplies 12 volts to the compressor and just jump it to the battery.

 

[unity]

Thought of that, or for that matter testing for voltage.

But got it to work. I think I have AC now, which would be nice. But its 60 degrees out now so I cant say for sure!

 

[Ace]

You are going to have to throw a vaccum on the a/c system for it can suck up the r134. If you do not have enough r134 in the system it will also not allow the clutch to operate on the pump.

 

[Moes8]

if you need to engage compressor ,pull the plug on the accumulator/drier and using a paper clip , jump the 2 leads of the plug with engine running,the compressor will turn right on.

 

[poniesviii]

My '93's ac didn't work, had a leak and didn't care to fix it. After awhile the f'g thing locked up while running defrost. What a PITMFA. Burnt the belt in half. No way to re route the new surpentine to bypass the compressor. My car was stuck where it sat til I put a new compressor in.

Anyways, if you're low on coolant it also contains a lubricant to allow it to spin. And make sure you vac everything out first to make sure you get the correct amnt of lube in. I've heard it's important.

 

[unity]

Yup. I vacuumed out - or so I thought. The AC recharge gauge set had bad instructions. It said to turn COUNTER clockwise to open the ports (like any faucet) when in fact it was turning them clockwise that opened them up. So I had the vacuum on there and could not get it to work right. On top of that the garage compressor is older than I and it could not keep the vacuum pump operating long enough.

I eventually gave up but as I closed the system ports (or so I thought) the R134a started to dump in. I was ticked that the directions were not right. At that point I just dumped three cans in there and called it a day.

The system has all new o-rings, etc. I never emptied the system of oil so I think it will be ok on that end of things. If the system does not chill right I will take it in for 134a recovery and then refill the RIGHT way. For now all is well.

 

[poniesviii]

Good that it's working, I read but figured I'd add-to.

I replied in Abraham Lincoln's thread right after this one about ac, you know, it only cost me $25 to have the system vac'd and filled the "RIGHT way.... at a truck repair shop.