It is getting a little warm around here so I tried the A/C and got nothing but hot air. I can see that the compressor clutch is not energized (yes the rotor is there). The compressor pulley is spinning. I checked the fuse which was good. I swapped the A/C relay with the horn relay (Same size unit). Still nothing. I don't hear the relay click. The light in the AC button turns on and off as it normally does. I can push the compressor around using a long wooden stick and it feels OK. What can cause the clutch to be not energized?

It is a 2003 X-type with 126K miles. The car runs fine otherwise.

Thanks.

 

I believe that the clutch is OK in the mechanical part. I can push the plate around while the engine is running. The pulley is spinning but the clutch is not.

If I pull the relay out while the engine is running and plug it back in I don't hear a click. I am not sure if it would be loud enough to hear anyway.

How can I tell is the ECM (Engine Control Module??) is commanding the compressor to turn on? The AC button seems to be working normally. I set the temp setting low.

I have an AC guage set but they are the old type. I understand that the threads are different on the new systems. So I don't have a good way to check the pressure. Is the car's computer able to detect low pressure? My (limited) understanding of car AC systems is that there is an over-pressure switch that causes the fuse to blow thereby forcing you to service the AC when there is a problem. Is that the way that this system works?

Thanks.

 

I did some further experiments. By carefully slipping two small screw drivers under the cover of the relay I could pop the cover off without breaking anything. Then I could press the relay flapper to energize the compressor clutch. This worked and the compressor ran. So now the fuse and circuitry are definately good. The clutch is good.

However the condensing coil in front of the radiator did not get hot and cold ait did not come out of the vents. It seems that I have lost my freon charge. I can't think of any other reason why I would get no cooling with the compressor running.

Thanks,

 

Here is the resolutionto my air conditioner problem.

After doing all the tests that I could myself, I made an appointment with
the dealer. They checked it out and said that I needed a new A/C
hose assembly, somethingthat needed to be ordered.

Whenit came in and they installed it everything worked fine.
I asked to have a look at the bad hose. They showed me
the place where it had leaked. It seems that a bolt had been
rubbing against the aluminum tubing portion of the hose assembly.
Eventually the bolt wore a hole right through. The rubber portion
was OK.

A couple of years ago the car was in a serious front end accident.
The A/C core and the radiator were smashed. I suspect that the
aluminum tube was bent at the same time.

Now the summer will not be so hot!

Thanks for everyones help.

 

Is this going to happen again? Is there something that I can do to move the bolt out
of the way?

Thanks.