So my A/C recently stopped working, I do have a Power FC but I'm not entirely sure what this does to the A/C system, but I don't think I've ever heard that it completely disables it...

anyways, what happens is when i turn on the AC in 3 or 4 fan speed the revs will drop a little bit, and when i switch it to 1 or 2 the revs will drop even more. neither of these speeds results in cold air.

i took it to a mechanic and he says that my compressor clutch is broken, and that i would have to replace the entire A/C compressor, and that it would cost 2500?!?!
he said putting in more freon would be useless, as it would leak out in a matter of hours...


should i pay the 2500? any other suggestions?

 

There is nothing here.

 

I like it!
Doesn't take up any space!

Steve

 

ORIGINAL POST (by Arise00):

"So my A/C recently stopped working, I do have a Power FC but I'm not entirely sure what this does to the A/C system, but I don't think I've ever heard that it completely disables it...

anyways, what happens is when i turn on the AC in 3 or 4 fan speed the revs will drop a little bit, and when i switch it to 1 or 2 the revs will drop even more. neither of these speeds results in cold air.

i took it to a mechanic and he says that my compressor clutch is broken, and that i would have to replace the entire A/C compressor, and that it would cost 2500?!?!

he said putting in more freon would be useless, as it would leak out in a matter of hours...

should i pay the 2500? any other suggestions?"

 

It is most likely not the compressor. Search this forum for the AC fix on the PowerFC. It is an electrical problem where you have to enhance the ground signal using a relay to allow the clutch to engage normally. You add a relay near the ECU.
Mike

 

What did your mechanic do to come to the conclusion that your "compressor clutch is broken"? Step #1 when diagnosing an A/C system that isn't working/blowing cold air under any blower fan setting would be to hook up a manifold gauge set to your A/C service fittings and read the static pressures (i.e., with engine/compressor not running). Did he do that? If so, the low & high side pressures should read about 60~100ish psig (ballpark figures, temperature dependent). That would tell you have at least enough refrigerant in the system to allow the compressor to run - if it was less than ~20psi, the pressure switch would prevent the compressor clutch from energizing to protect the compressor from seizing (no refrigerant means no lube circulating thru the system). If it was significantly low on refrigerant, you'll need to find out where it's leaking from, fix the leak and evacuate/re-charge the A/C system.

Was the PowerFC a recent addition, and did the A/C work perfectly normally before the PowerFC was added? If so, then I agree with mikejokich that you may need the PowerFC A/C fix.

 

If the clutch were broken, engaging the AC would not change the RPM very much since there is no load except for the electrical drain from the heater/AC fan.

 

My AC was working with my PowerFC for several years before it quit working back around 2010. So a recent change doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t be the AC ground problem.
Mike