mentality

hey guys i have no a/c the clutch is not engaging, from what ived read there is a 12.v coming from the pcm that engages the clutch which turns the compressor on, well i have tried to give it direct 12.v but still it wouldnt engage, i also did a countinuity test of the circuit it's complete which tells me the clutch is ok, i know there is a low pressure switch that wount turn the compressor on if freon is low but shouldnt it work if i bypass it? i also check the low pressure port freon is present. please help me here.

bobr19

your clutch is bad--bob

foggysail

I forgot the exact wiring for the clutch but this I know. You can pull one of the relays from the fuse panel under the hood and jump 12V to pin 3 if I remember correctly.

BEFORE YOU GET INTO THAT, ARE YOU SURE THE SYSTEM IS NOT OUT OF FREON????

There is a freon pressure sensor that will prevent the clutch solenoid from being energized IF the pressure is too low. If you do not have the background to start energizing solenoids with test wires, get a can of 'stuff" from Wally World and see what that does.

I put a can of oil into my system along with a can of freon. No gages, just guesses. It works, I think the oil helps keep the seals from leaking but heck, others who have refrigeration backgrounds might post better information. I was going to purchase a pump and gages but then I would need to also get a scale to weigh the amount of freon I install. Might still do that if my problems reoccur. If I do purchase this stuff, I can almost guarantee I will be tripping over it for the next ten years.

Good luck-

Foggy

EDIT: I really have forgotten the wiring but before I would redo the jumping tests, I would definitly look at the circuit diagram. It could be that 12V is constantly provided to the clutch and uses the relay to return the low side of the clutch solenoid to ground. This would complete the electrical circuit allowing the the solenoid to actuate. IF THIS IS THE CASE, APPLYING 12V TO THE SOLENOID WILL GET YOU NOTHING!

mentality

thanks for the reply guys, this is what the repair manual says:Check A/C Clutch Coil Current Draw
Using an ammeter, check Gray/White wire for current draw at A/C clutch coil connector. If current draw is 2.5
4.5 amps, check clutch air gap. Adjust as necessary and retest system. If current draw is not 2.5-4.5 amps, replace A/C clutch coil and retest system


now is there a ammeter on my multimeter? and if so should i put the positive test led on the blk/gray wire and the neg to ground? i notice that both wires come from the relay.

foggysail

Mental-- you will not measure JACK POOP if your system is low on freon. Don't get into brain surgery if you only need a hair cut.

Foggy

mentality

this taurus gl take 32 ozs each can has 6 ozs of freon and 8 ozs of oil, the oil takes the moisture out of the system. when u say clutch solonoid i think u mean clutch coil, if im applying direct 12.v to the coil im bypassing the a/c clutch cycling pressure switch. so the coil should engauge the clutch this way

mentality

what does freon has to do with me testing the coil? i think what ur trying to say is that if the a/c cycling pressure swtich says it's low on freon it's not going to send the 12.v needed for the coil, but that's not the case here cuz im getting 12.v at the coil.

Cuda_jim

If you put 12 volts to the clutch and it didn't work the clutch is bad. Just like Bob said.

Double check the air gap (.015) if it;s too large it won't pull the clutch in. Tap it with 12 volts applied. If it engages, you found your trouble. My .02

foggysail

As I said before, I forgot the circuit. What I suggest is to measure the voltage on the wires feeding the clutch. I forgot if the relay in the fuse box APPLIES 12V to the clutch OR RETURNS THE 12V TO GROUND when activated. For some reason, I think it returns one side of the clutch's 12V to ground rather than applying the power.

If the relay DOES SUPPLY A GROUND RETURN for the clutch, you will measure 12V on each side of the two (if I remember correctly) wires on the clutch connector.

EDIT: You will only have the 12V on both wires when the connector is connected, with the connector off, the 12V will only be on one wire.

Another common problem is the connector itself. Make sure wires in the connector are intact.

I am not trying to pick an arguement over this topic, I am trying to help save you from spinning your wheels. My suggestion for checking the freon first was simply because there is a freon pressure switch that prevents the clutch from activating when the freon is low. What ever the problem is, I wish you teh best in fixing it. Summer is almost here and aircondition is important.

Foggy

mentality

thanks fog, i finally got the clutch to work, it was the blend door acuator fuse that was blown, now the only way to stop the clutch from kicking in is either i have the control switch on off position or on vent, other wise all other position the clutch it running, is that the way it works?