A/C Compressor cycling on and off !HELP!!!

[lakerzpew]

Took a look at my a/c compressor ( after symptoms of months of AC going from hot to cold all the time )

It cycles off and on a lot. I read about the air gap fix, well, when my engine is off but key in ignition ON with A/C on the air gap doesn't engage or close at all no matter how many times i try ( even if i hit it with a mallet ). In order for me to remove the 8mm bolt for me to remove one of the shims, I need the air gap closed. since the bolt can't come off until its engaged.

If i lightly hit the compressor with my mallet while the engine is on, it forces it to engage fine. When i do this with the car on but engine off I get nothing, I can't close it!!!! What do i do ?

The reason I am attempting this is because I am assuming the air gap is too big now for the magnet to close it, am I even right?

 

[Dangerfield]

It's very possible the Freon level is low. There is a low pressure limit switch that will shut off the compressor. I had a car that did the same thing.

 

[briwayjones]

It's very possible the Freon level is low. There is a low pressure limit switch that will shut off the compressor. I had a car that did the same thing.

What he said. Generally it means the freon is low when the compressor cycles a lot.