Turning on A/C causes Explorer to quit

[dolphans1]

I have a 1994 Ford Explorer, and when I push the A/C button on down, the motor quits running. What would causes this, a bad alternator or voltage regulator?

I appreciate any input.....

d-1

 

[cloaked_chaos]

Does the fan belt squeal when that happens? What rpm does it idle at? Does revving it up before pushing the button help?

 

[Tilt168]

I would say this has to do with the belt....but thats just my drunken 2 cents...

 

[dolphans1]

It has done it when I am sitting idle and or going full speed.........Have not looked at it (the serpentine belt) while someone else turns the A/C switch on.....

Will post when I do....

d-1

I would say this has to do with the belt....but thats just my drunken 2 cents...

 

[shamaal]

You can remove the serpentine belt and start it up, ignore the lights. If you turn it on and it dies the compressor clutch is the probable culprit, less likely is the LP cut-out switch. With the belt off, the compressor clutch should turn freely by hand, you should also be able to turn the compressor by hand with a 10mm wrench. There should feel some resisitance as you turn it. The tensioner should turn easily along with slight resistance from the alternator.

If it happens only when the serpentine belt is on, that points to a bad compressor (too much torque). Also a consideration is the idle is set too low or the computer for some reason does not sense the compressor on/drop in RPM and does not compensate.

Good Luck and let us know what you find.

 

[TedJ]

There could be a myriad of other problems, but I'd bet on the compressor simply being siezed. My dad's '78 pontiac did that, the compressor seized solid and even going past A/C to get into heat would stall the engine at idle. He just went out and cut the belt off it. I still gotta fix that lol.

On the 4.0, there is no idler for engines w/o A/C, the belt is just shorter. You can stick a non-ac belt on it and try turning the a/c on and seeing what happens, and this is also helpful if you need to drive the truck when working on the A/C or if you have to take the compressor out.

If you take the belt off the compressor pulley should spin freeley when the clutch is disengaged and it should be turnable by hand when the clutch is engaged. If you can't budge it then its seized and you need a new compressor

-Ted

 

[dolphans1]

Upon getting vehicle inspected here, the guy doing the inspection turned on the A/C and the front part of the clutch on the compressor sheared off. So that was the problem.

Question, should I replace the entire compressor or can the clutch assembly be rebuilt?

I do not know much about A/C units...


Sorry it took me more than a year to reply.

I do not drive Explorer as often.

d-1

There could be a myriad of other problems, but I'd bet on the compressor simply being siezed. My dad's '78 pontiac did that, the compressor seized solid and even going past A/C to get into heat would stall the engine at idle. He just went out and cut the belt off it. I still gotta fix that lol.

On the 4.0, there is no idler for engines w/o A/C, the belt is just shorter. You can stick a non-ac belt on it and try turning the a/c on and seeing what happens, and this is also helpful if you need to drive the truck when working on the A/C or if you have to take the compressor out.

If you take the belt off the compressor pulley should spin freeley when the clutch is disengaged and it should be turnable by hand when the clutch is engaged. If you can't budge it then its seized and you need a new compressor

-Ted

 

[TedJ]

You can replace the clutch, but the compressor is seized, so replacing it would do no good. You need to either replace the compressor or if you have no interest in fixing the a/c, just take the compressor off and use the smaller belt.

 

[dolphans1]

Thanks any idea what a rebuilt compressor would go for...?

Can an average Joe change one out...?

d-1

You can replace the clutch, but the compressor is seized, so replacing it would do no good. You need to either replace the compressor or if you have no interest in fixing the a/c, just take the compressor off and use the smaller belt.

 

[safn1949]

Changing the compressor is not that big of a deal,but...evacuating and recharging the AC is.And if the compressor failed it may have barfed a bunch of metal into the system,that's a big deal and can get doggone expensive.

 

[dolphans1]

Thanks I will look into having it replaced....

d-1