What Should I Do If AC Compressor Clutch Is Not Engaging?
Imagine you’ve got a car, and it all works so fine. However, when you turn on the air conditioner, it only blows warm air. What could be the problem? If all of a sudden, the AC compressor clutch stops working and doesn’t engage; this could be the reason your AC isn’t functioning properly.
The compressor could have a serious issue or a small one. If the compressor clutch doesn’t engage, that usually means there’s an electrical or mechanical problem with the compressor. Here are a few things you can do if your AC compressor clutch is not engaging:
- Do a Visual Inspection of the compressor: (Check for rust around the clutch plate, check the wiring to the clutch, and check the compressor clutch relay)
- Turn On the Engine Inspection
- Inspect low coolant content or pressure
- Inspect your compressor for an internal mechanical or electrical problem
- Check other compressor parts: The condenser, the drier / receiver, the evaporator coil, the AC expansion valve, or the fuse box.
- Hire A trusted mechanic
If the AC is not blowing cool air into the car, you may want to inspect the AC compressor clutch and determine if you can see what might be causing the clutch not to engage.
Even if you just filled up the AC system with refrigerant, you’ll get warm air if the AC compressor can’t operate correctly. You may decide to check the engine coolant and the engine oil to rule out other issues, but the clutch is the component that must function for the AC to work.
We’ll talk about the possible problems and solutions for a compressor clutch that is not engaging. It could be anything from an obstruction in the refrigerant circuit to a loose wire. Let’s make sure your AC is working well and get started.
Do a Visual Inspection
With an engine off:
- If you want to purchase a power probe for the clutch, you can do that or try to use a wire, such as in the video above. Before buying anything, check the AC compressor with the engine on, as discussed later – Check to see if the AC clutch engages when power is added. (CAUTION – Be aware that if you’re unsure about what circuits to test, get help or try another method so you don’t cause more problems.)
- Look at the compressor and check that the belt going over the pulley is in good condition – If the belt is slipping or worn, it will need to be adjusted or replaced.
- Check for rust around the clutch plate – Rust could be an indicator that the compressor is old and may just need to be replaced because it has worn down and become broken.
- Check the wiring to the clutch – If wires aren’t connected properly, this could impact how the compressor is working. The wire needs to be connected and in good condition to provide enough power. (In addition, the high-pressure switch and evaporator temperature sensor could be faulty or have loose wires)
- Before you take the next step, it is important for you to know the basics of a few components. In some of the cars, the compressor clutch relay goes on and off due to the low-pressure switch. The relay is, however, grounded by a computer in a controlled system. Carefully inspect all the components of the system to diagnose the issue faster.
- You could get a digital multimeter and check the voltage and the ground at the removed connector. If you are unable to get the voltage reading, check the fuse. The car may need to be turned on, although the engine can still be off.
- You need to check the clutch relay if all is fine with the fuse. Pull it and check for both power and ground on the relay through its terminals in the socket.
- Check for leaks in your AC system – look for leaks from the condenser, receiver, or any areas where the metal piping connections are made.
What to Look for During Your Visual Inspection?
Look at these visuals for more information on how your AC compressor works and what you can look for. Always make sure the engine has had time to cool off before working on or inspecting the engine. Using gloves will come in handy when physically inspecting parts.
LOOK AT THE COMPRESSOR
LOOK AT THE BELTS
LOOK AT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING
Turn On the Engine Inspection
After your visual inspection, turn on the engine:
- With the engine on, turn the AC to high – You’ll be looking at the serpentine belt for any issues. Then look at the compressor clutch. The pulley should be turning, and then you’ll need to wait, maybe a minute or so, and the compressor clutch should engage and start spinning, also.
- If you’ve waited several minutes while the engine is on and the AC is turned to maximum, and the clutch still isn’t engaging, there’s something not working correctly.
- If the clutch is engaging, but the AC isn’t cold, there could be a leak in the AC system. In that case, you’ll need to find the possible leak. Here’s a video that explains how to find a leak using a florescent dye – How to Find AC Leak
- You can also try a refrigerant leak detector and then get a can to stop the leak. Make sure it is compatible with your refrigerant type.
AD
Here is a refrigerant leak detector. It can come in handy if you don’t know where a leak is
AD
Here is a refrigerant leak stopper and refill. Using this can help refill the AC and stop small leaks.
Being Low on Refrigerant
Low coolant might be another reason why the AC compressor clutch is not engaging. The sensors in your AC will measure if the pressure is correct. If something is off, the AC compressor may not switch on.
Low coolant content or pressure can be dangerous for the system of your car. The compressor relies on the oils in the refrigerant to cool down parts and lubricate the mechanical parts.
Even though DIY kits can be used to recharge your system, caution must be taken since overfilling your system can create problems as well. An overcharged AC system will not have correct pressures and cause the clutch not to engage, and the pressure can wear out parts faster.
TIP:
Try not to use DIY kits that work by hot wiring the switch of low pressure and then forcing the clutch to engage. This might sometimes work but is considered a dangerous move because of the lack of oil in the compressor at the same time. By this time, you might have caused serious damage to your compressor. A lack of oil in the compressor can permanently destroy it, calling for a more extensive repair and replacement.
Tip on Adding Refrigerant
Use refrigerant if you have done your homework and clearly understand how much pressure your car’s AC system requires. If you suspect there has been a lot of AC refrigerant leaking, you may want to read this article about AC system oil.
The best solution might be to go to a mechanic to evacuate your AC system (since this is the legal way to remove refrigerant) before adding refrigerant. This way, you can be sure you’re adding the correct amount of refrigerant to your system.
Another way to check if your refrigerant levels are correct is by checking how much pressure your system is under. Using an AC diagnostic gauge (amazon.com link) will give you a clear indication of what the high and low pressures are.
Tips:
If there is a leak in the AC system, you need to get it repaired at the earliest. A leak causes moisture and air to make their way into the system. Moisture can combine with your coolant and generate acid or sludge. This can potentially wreck the system. If this has already happened, you would need to evacuate the system and make sure there are no obstructions.
When connecting a diagnostic tool to your AC system, make sure to follow directions exactly. Then you can run the AC system and turn the AC set to HI. The AC should cycle the refrigerant, and the pressure reading will fluctuate some as the clutch engages.
Is My Compressor Broken?
There can be several reasons your compressor may not work. Still, if you’ve checked the electrical system for any leaks, and the clutch, then it may be that your compressor has an internal mechanical or electrical problem that needs to be fixed.
My recommendation is to replace the entire unit if the compressor is bad. This is because you’ll likely save time and money by replacing the old one with a new one. Fairly frequently, a rebuilt AC compressor will go bad again, sometimes not too much later after it is reconditioned.
The labor is intensive when taking one out and putting in a new one. If you have to do that twice, you end up losing quite a bit of money. And a new compressor doesn’t cost much more money than repairing an old one.
So getting a new compressor will be your best bet in the long run and sometimes short term as well. Watch this video (How to Replace an AC Compressor in your Car) if you are interested in installing your own compressor. Here’s another video with more information to help you along the way. (Fixing a Locked-Up AC Compressor)
Other Parts to Check
If your compressor has locked up, you’ll also need to check the condenser around the connection where the compressor outline goes into the condenser. You will likely find a small bit of metal that can clog your condenser. So you may need to replace it because you may not be able to get the metal bits out.
The drier / receiver, which helps filter and store the liquid refrigerant as it starts to turn back into a gas, can be checked for noises or bad smells coming from the AC inside the car. Replace it if it is not functioning correctly.
The evaporator coil is usually located inside the car cabin, and the air is blown over it to cool the air down. You might hear a hissing sound if it is not working correctly, or there might be a bad smell when turning on both the heat and AC. This may be quite expensive to replace but should be fixed or replaced if leaking or broken.
The AC expansion valve helps the refrigerant turn into a gas. If it is not functioning properly, you might find the AC compressor never shuts off, and frost might cover the AC vents. On the other hand, you could get warm air. Replacing this valve may not be too expensive and is definitely an easier job than replacing an AC compressor.
The fuse box may contain fuses associated with your AC compressor. If a fuse is blown, you can easily replace it.
Using a Mechanic
When you’ve investigated the problem, done your research, and don’t want to do the repair work, you can be more confident when outsourcing work to a mechanic.
Since you know a lot more about what is wrong and what to expect when repairs are done, you can discuss with the mechanic in a way that shows you’ll be expecting a professional job for the cost. Asking them to fix an AC compressor will cost a bit, but it will hurt less for some, knowing what is involved with repairs.
A trusted mechanic can help you replace your compressor and give you the peace of mind of not trying to solve something you may not be prepared for. This type of job comes with a big learning curve, so caution is to be used.
If you still want to install it yourself, do all the research you need before and get a friend to help.
Our Advice
Start with the simplest ways to check the AC compressor and see if this will help you find out what is wrong. Then continue different inspections until you feel you are no longer interested or qualified.
You want to be able to finish a job that you start so you do not let frustrated and fix problems that you’ve created on accident. Starting small can help you gauge your ability and willingness to do.
Try not to experiment too much on your own. If you cannot start and engage the compressor’s clutch on your own, a friend with experience or a mechanic is usually the right choice. Read more articles from our blog for more information on auto engines, auto parts, and associated automobile problems.
