a/c clutch keeps engaging ever min | Ford Explorer Forums

  • Register Today It's free!

a/c clutch keeps engaging ever min

PUR PONY

Explorer Addict
Joined
November 30, 2000
Messages
1,232
Reaction score
39
City, State
CT
Year, Model & Trim Level
96 LTD, 96 XLT, & 98 XLT
I am wondering if anyone has had this problem and or knows the fix......

my a/c clutch keeps engaging every min for 10 seconds or so. Makes my idle drop about 300rpms everytime it happens.... some times it does this sometimes not......

and I can shut the a/c off and it still does it....

whats going on?
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year or try it out for $5 a month.

Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





Are you saying that even with the HVAC controls on "off" then the compressor still cycles? If so, I can't help you and I have never heard of that before.


But if you're saying it cycles on other positions than a/c, then that is normal because the compressor runs on every position but off and floor.

The cycling usually comes from having low refrigerant, and the low pressure switch cycles the compressor off to protect it from burning up. You should probably have the refrigerant recharged.
 






HVAC controls to "off" and still cycling

I have had that happen on my truck. On my 1st gen it's a little different, but on my truck, it was a switch in the dash that the a/c/heater control lever is attached to.
I would check for such a switch in your truck.

The switch was stuck in the a/c on position, so the a/c thought it was supposed to run all the time. It was difficult tearing into the dash to get at one tiny switch, but I cleaned it and it's worked since.
 






What Jason said. Also in the early X's if you have the defrost on that will engage the ac to cycle on and off.
 






With the engine off, try turning the compressor clutch (center hub with three circles) by hand. It should turn with ease and be silent.

If this is not the case, sorry to inform you, but your FS10 compressor is on its way out. The 300rpm drop leads me to believe this is the case. Unfortunatley, this means big bucks, as you will need much more than a new compressor to get your A/C back.

In the meantime, to keep the compressor from trying to engage, disconnect the wires from the low-pressure cycling switch on the accumulator. If there is a short in the circuit, just unplug the electrical connector from the front of the compressor. Wiretie it to the P/S hose so it doesn't get caught in the belt.
 






add a can of coolent. If the pressure is not high enough the pump kicks on trying to keep pressure in the line.
 






Featured Content

Back
Top