My A/C compressor clutch is giving me problems, and I'd like to replace it. My compressor still seems to be in good shape, so I don't want to replace the whole works. Problem is I'm having trouble finding a source for just the clutch. Can anyone point me toward a good supplier for a new clutch? Thanks.

 

Your local auto parts store can probably fix you up. Or Google "A6 compressor clutch" and you'll get lots of hits. I don't know of a particularly good (or bad) supplier. Others will chime in.

Cheers
DD

 

The compressor clutch in my car gave up at the end of last summer (good time...). Anyway, I'm getting my parts together for the repair now. I, too, was just going to replace only the compressor clutch; but at 82,000 miles, 17-1/2 years and whatever caused the clutch to burn out, I've decided to just replace the compressor itself.

 

I've tried both routes. I haven't checked all the local auto parts stores, but the ones I have (O'reillys and Advance) can get the complete compressor with clutch, but not the clutch alone.

I've been on Google for two days with similar results. I have been able to find a couple of clutches for older XJs, but '89 is evidently a little different (single belt vs. two). Guess I'll keep looking.

 

Not as easy as I thought, sorry.

Which part of the clutch are you after? There's the coil, the drive plate, and the hub and pulley....as I recall

Try searching AC Delco 15-41 and AC Delco 15-45

Also try AC Delco 15-224....but I didn't get anywhere on that one

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks Doug. I'm looking for the whole works. I'll keep at it and let you know what I find.

 

It may come down to actually *calling* some a/c specialists. I'm sure somebody will have what you need.

It's been years but I don't recall that the hub, coil, and drive plate were ever sold together as one assembly. I might be wrong and/or an aftermarket vendor (versus GM/Delco) might offer a complete clutch unit. Be prepared to give them your pulley diameter.

Millions of these A6 compressors were built but they haven't been used, essentially, since the early 80s....except in Jags :-). I reckon few people are interested in individual repair components these days....so few vendors bother stocking them.

I can remember when repair/overhaul of these A6s was a routine matter at dealerships...especially clutch and front seal replacments.

Cheers
DD

 

After spending hours on the internet, I've found that complete clutches for XJ6's are available at several outlets. Price is around $80. These have the exact same Delco part numbers as the ones for XJ-S's, which aren't available as a set (??!!). I was able to find the individual pieces for an XJ-S for about $210 total. A new compressor with clutch is a little over $250, but that would require evacuation and recharge of the system.

But after a little more troubleshooting, I think I may have compressor or system problems that might have caused my clutch to go bad. I may be in the market for a compressor with clutch after all. I need to spend a little more time with it to make sure, but I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for all the help. It's greatly appreciated.

 

FWIW, here's a possible source for A6 parts

http://www.sunairusa.com/news/A6Sunairbulletin.pdf

Cheers
DD

 

Interesting, as I don't think there was ever anything Jaguar-specific about these compressors. Not that I'm doubting your word, mind you....it just seems a bit odd.

Anyhow......

Might be helpful to others for future reference if you posted some links.




You might consider one of the new aluminum A6 replacements. As I understand it these are 100% physically identical, externally, to original A6s but, of course, lighter....and supposedly more efficient ?

Mine certainly isn't the final word on A/C problems but I'm not sure what system problem would contribute to a clutch failure. The clutch is purely electro-mechanical and completely separate from the refrigeration portion of the system.

A failing compressor....like, a compressor starting to seize up....might have an adverse effect of the clutch, though!! :-)

Cheers
DD

 

I hope you can get the air blowing cool again, please do post the links to what you have found, they may be helpful for someone.

 

Bingo! Recently, my A/C belt would intermittently squeal on start-up. It wasn't every time and it only lasted a few seconds and then everything would operate normally. That is until my clutch refused to engage.

The question is whether it's the compressor or high system pressure. I don't have a complete gauge set, just the low side gauge that comes with the cheap recharge kit. With the engine off my low side pressure pegs the gauge. I realize I'm reading total system pressure, but since my clutch won't engage, that's the best I can do. When I connect the same gauge to my pickup with a properly operating A/C system (engine off again), the pressure only reads in the middle of the red (warning, high pressure) area, quite a bit lower than on the XJ-S. Maybe that's just the difference between the old Jag and the newer Ford systems?

I'm not sure how it would be possible for system pressure to increase without someone overcharging the system, and it hasn't been monkeyed with in the year and a half I've owned it. I don't think it can happen on its own, so I'm leaning toward the compressor as the culprit. I still want to bounce it off some experts, but that's what I know for now.

As far as sourcing clutch parts for an '89 XJ-S, here's what I've been able to come up with. As Doug mentioned earlier in this thread, there are three main components: Coil (AC Delco #15-45), Pully w/Bearing (15-224) and Hub (15-41). I've seen references that indicate the 15-41 hub has a coil included, but after talking with suppliers I don't think this is the case. You need to order both the 15-41 and the 15-45. These part numbers are the same for XJ6's of the same year.

I haven't been able to find a complete AC Delco clutch assembly, but Four Seasons and Napa both have them. The Four Seasons part number is 48284 and Napa's number is 261250. These are both remanufactured units. I haven't been able to find them listed for XJ-S, but they are listed for the XJ6, which uses the same individual pieces. Odd.

Here is a link to the Frugal Mechanic site that in turn has links to several suppliers of the Four Seasons clutch. I think they're probably all the same part, so the cheapest is likely the way to go. Hope this helps.

Four Seasons 48284 Remanufactured Clutch Assembly | Frugal Mechanic

Thanks!

 

I played with my A/C a little more last night and have a little more information. I bled a little pressure off the system so that it matches my pickup's "engine off" system pressure. This didn't help, but I did notice that when I turn the A/C on with the engine running, the clutch engages for just a second and then lets go. It will do this over and over as I switch the A/C on and off, but it won't stay engaged.

I've traced the wires back and found that I'm not getting a signal from the ECM to the A/C relay (relay is good). This leads me to believe that I've got a switch somewhere telling the ECM to shut the compressor off. It's probably not the high side/low pressure switch unless it's malfunctioning since I've got plenty of system pressure. Anyone have any ideas as to who the culprit might be? I'm praying it's not the ECM.

 

I let this issue drop almost a year ago without closing the loop. It turns out my problem was a bad A/C ECU. I was able to find a used one from an XJ6 on ebay for a reasonable price. The XJ6 unit is shaped a little differently than the XJS, but it still fits and the connectors are the same. I've been running it for nearly a year without any problems.

But, the squealing on start up that I mentioned earlier has gotten worse. It now happens almost every time I start the car. It lasts 10-15 seconds, then stops suddenly and doesn't come back until the next time I start the car (if it's been sitting for a while). 15 seconds doesn't sound like very long, but when it's an embarassing ear piercing sound, it's an eternity.

A couple of weeks ago I had the radiator out for a leak repair, and while I had lots of room I changed the belts hoping to cure the squeal. No luck. It sounded like it was coming from the top front of the engine, so the A/C compressor clutch was the likely culprit. It's been dragging a little as long as I've owned the car, so I've always wanted to replace it anyway.

In my earlier posts, I was having trouble finding a source for the clutch for an XJS. Through my research, it looked like the individual parts (clutch, pully, coil) had the same part numbers as an '89 XJ6, but when I checked on an XJ6 set on the internet (several different suppliers), it always indicated that it wouldn't fit an XJS. I took a chance and picked up an XJ6 set from O'reillys for $69.95 and installed it today. Perfect fit, and relatively easy to do. It takes a couple of special tools, but Oreillys loans them out for free (refundable deposit required).

The bad news is it didn't fix the squeal. Now I suspect the air pump, but I don't want to randomly replace parts until I get lucky and get the right one. So my question to the forum is, is there a procedure for tracking down a squealing bearing? I have a mechanics stethascope. Is that the right tool? Has anyone else had the same problem and can point me in the right direction? Thanks.

 

Have you checked the belt tensioners?
In my experience squealing is usually down to a slipping belt; as it slips it heats up which increases the tension and makes it 'bite' properly and then the squealing stops. Until it cools down and you start it again.
When the compressor seized on my old XJ12 there was no warning, just two showers of sparks from the bonnet (hood) sides; in the dark in the fast lane of the motorway.
Happy days.
Never had a stethoscope so for tracing odd noises I always use a large screwdriver (honestly). Press the large end against your ear and touch the other end to whatever you think is making the errant noise and it is surprising what you can pick up and differentiate. Squinting helps a bit too and obviously don't stick it in anything that is going round or has high tension going through it.

 

That was my first thought too. The first thing I did was check the tension on my belts and even tightened them up some with no improvement. While I was at it I looked for a belt that looked like it had been slipping. Also no luck.

Plan B was to replace the belts. While I had them off, I spun all the pulleys by hand and didn't find anything that seemed to hang up or grind while it was spinning. I'm thinking it's either the tension of the belt or the speed that's causing an otherwise undetectable bearing problem.

 

What about loosening each belt in turn until the squealing is identified to a given belt, then going from there?

Greg

 

That sounds too much like common sense. I'm going to give it a try anyway.

 

Try belt spray on each belt in turn first.

The compressor in my '89 XJ-S V12 is identical with my '75 XJ12, and from memory XJ6 too.

BTW, do remember that the tools for changing the clutch assy is readily available on the net. Just loosen the belt, undo the bolts holding the compressor and lift the fron a bit and rest it on a piece of wood. Then use the special tools to change/adjust the clutch. I used an impact wrench to loosen the main nut holding the clutch wheel with an oil filter removal strap type tool.

 

It turned out to be the alternator belt. After a little research it sounds like the ridges in the pulley tend to be a little too tall, and the ribbed belt won't seat correctly for a good grip. My problem might have been partially due to the fact that my radiator was leaking on that side, and I may have gotten antifreeze on the belt and pulleys.

"The Book" has a recommendation to file the pulley ridges down a bit (both alternator and harmonic balancer, I presume) to correct the problem. I didn't do this since I was able to stop the squeal by tightening the belt a little more. If it turns out be be a persistent problem, I may have to get the file out.