Sparks were everywhere! (HELP)

[TimReno]

One day I was driving in a hot Nevada afternoon wiht the A/C on and my X starts smoking. I pull over and *sparks* are coming out of my air conditioning compressor and clutch. So I turned off A/C for a temporary fix until I had the time to perminately fix it.
Lately it started grinding all the time. So I went to the local autozone and bought a new A/C clutch, because it was burnt out.
I take off the old clutch and it was horrible. I mean there was **** all over it, and the bearing was missing balls. It was terrible.
I install the new cluth and it wont engage for some reason. So we hook it up directly to the battery and it engages. So the problem is there isn't enough power sent to it. It needs atleast 10v to engage. I checked the fuse box and the fuse it ok.

Any ideas where the problem is??????

 

[jimmiecakes]

Sounds like too much "air gap" between driven and driving members. Off the top of my head I would say about .012".

I hope you checked the nose of the compressor closely... I've cost myself a couple of clutches when things weren't quite kosher.

 

[TPLYNCH]

If the system fully pressurized? If you lost the freon, it won't run. There is a pressure switch that shuts off if there is not enough freon in the system.

 

[TimReno]

I did that

I checked the air gap and it was between .025" and .013" as the instructions sated. I'm pretty sure it has to do with the amount of power being fed to the compressor. Because like I said before the clutch engaged when we hooked the compressor directly to the battery. Could it be the compressor?

 

[Positive Vibes]

My compressor went out. I had the defrost on (I didn't know that the defrost cycles the compressor to keep the system pressurized) and when I got out of the car I smelt somthing burning. Poped the hood and my compressor was glowing red. I turned off the defrost and it was fine. Talked with my mechanic and he said it's the compressor and bingo that was it. Hope this helps.

 

[jimmiecakes]

Could it be the compressor?

Even if the compressor were seized solid, I'd expect the clutch to engage and give a very expensive sound. If the compressor was as hot as you say, there's a real good chance the seal on the shaft is baked and system pressure is too low to close the low pressure cutoff switch (two wire switch, either on the accumulator or on the AC line near it, right rear corner of the engine compartment). Unplug the switch and jumper the harness connector. If the compressor clutch engages, there's a better than average chance baking the clutch did more damage to the compressor.

 

[TimReno]

Ok

By jumping the harness wire, do you mean conecting the battery directly to the power source of the compressor. Because I connected the battery to where the power is delivered to the compressor and it engaged. So you think its the compressor also?

 

[jimmiecakes]

I'm starting to think compressor, but I actually mean to use a jumper wire to simulate a closed switch...... from one terminal in the connector to the other....

 

[TimReno]

Ok

I don't know what you mean. What should I do?

 

[jimmiecakes]

What should I do?

Unplug the connector from the switch on the accumulator and, using a piece of wire, short the two connections in the plug together......... just like closing the low pressure cut-off switch.

 

[TimReno]

Why would I want to short it?

 

[jimmiecakes]

If you short the two connections together, you are simulating the low pressure switch in the closed position. If the compressor clutch engages when you short this connector, then the refrigerant charge is low - most likely from a baked front compressor seal.

If the clutch doesn't engage, then there is a different problem and your diagnostics will be different.

 

[sharonis3]

Low Pressure cut off switch on AC

My AC compressor cycles on and off.
Either it is low on freon or the low pressure cutoff switch is set a little too high.
When I short out the low pressure cutoff switch, I always get cold air.
Question: Can I hurt anything by running the system with the switch shorted???
Also, what makes the clutch cycle off when the passenger compartment is cooled off? Is it also this switch? Again can this hurt anything, if it does not cycle off because the switch is shorted with a junper.

 

[jimmiecakes]

Shorting the low pressure cut out will cause the compressor to run continuously. This could result in high head pressures and compressor damage. The stuff that could break will cost more than getting a proper repair done now....

 

[thunderhorse]

Also Tim you'll need to replace the AC line with the filter in it. It's the line with the bulge in it on a 92 it is on the left between the engine and the over flow bottle.
If you don't replace this line after compressor failure you will blow the line and contamiate(sp) your system again.

 

[TimReno]

Hate the A/C!!!!

I'm fed up with it, when it starts to get hot, I'll just take my X to a little A/C shop and have them diagnose the problem. If its a big one, I'm just going to short belt it, and sell the clutch I put in.

Thanks for all your help everyone.
Tim-